2018 U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW: BASICS & BEYOND

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "2018 U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW: BASICS & BEYOND"

Brandon Osborne
5 years ago
Views:

1 2018 U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW: BASICS & BEYOND Moderator/Speaker David H. Nachman, Esq. Nachman, Phulwani, Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C. (Ridgewood, Branchburg; New York City) Luncheon Speaker John E. Thompson USCIS, Newark District Office (Newark) Speakers Snehal Batra, Esq. Nachman, Phulwani, Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C. (Ridgewood; Branchburg; New York City) Melvin R. Solomon, Esq. Parsekian & Solomon, P.C. (Hackensack) Ludka Zimovcak, Esq. Nachman, Phulwani, Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C. (Ridgewood; Branchburg; New York City) Kerry Walsh Hartington, Esq. Hartington King English, LLC (Freehold, Vineland) Raymond G. Lahoud, Esq. Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A. (New York City) Alan J. Pollack, Esq. Frank & Pollack, LLC (Newark) In cooperation with the New Jersey State Bar Association

3 Table of Contents Page Historical Perspective of U.S. Immigration 1 Animation: Visualizing Two Centuries of U.S. Immigration 3 U.S. Immigration Trump Style 7 White House Fact Sheet on President Trump s Visit to Southern Border 9 Introduction to Terms and Resources 11 Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa Categories 13 USCIS Fees 14 Historical National Average Processing Times for All USCIS Offices 17 Key Definitions and Concepts Updated Richard A. Boswell 23 Agencies That Affect Immigration Law Updated by Margaret H. McCormick 33 Key Contacts at USCIS, ICE and EOIR 39 USCIS Newark District Office Profile 41 Case Management Assignments Newark Field Office April 27, June 12, December 15, Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review 48 Ethical Considerations for Immigration Law Practitioners 49 Modern Ethics Challenges for Immigration Practitioners David H. Nachman, Esq. 51 What Should You Look for When You Are Seeking to Hire an Immigration Law Professional to Handle Your Immigration Law Case? 61 Ethical Considerations in Declining Representation Timothy D. Widman 63 New 30/60 Day Rule on Misrepresentation 67 Practice Alert: 30/60 Day Rule Eliminated from FAM Provisions on Misrepresentation 69

4 Nonimmigrant Visa Processing Background and Updates Citizenship and Immigration Services 75 Electronic Travel Authorization (eta) Required for Visa-Exempt Travelers 77 Special Instructions for B-1/B-2 Visitors Who Want to Enroll in School 79 Assisting Clients in B-1 or B-2 Visitors Who Want to Enroll in School in the United States AILA s CSC Liaison Committee 81 Study in the U.S. With an Academic Visa 84 E-2 Temporary Visas for Investors 85 USCIS Updates for F-1 Students: Automatic Termination of Optional Practical Training If Transfer to a Different School or Begin Study at Another Educational Level 86 USCIS Changing Policy on Accrued Unlawful Presence by Nonimmigrant Students and Exchange Visitors 87 Policy Memorandum: Accrual of Unlawful Presence and F, J, and M Nonimmigrants 89 H-1B Nonimmigrant Work Visa Classification 103 Optional Checklist for Form I-129 H-1B Filings 105 ABCs of H-1Bs David Nachman, Esq. Ludka Zimovcak, Esq. Part Part Part Part Part Part Part Part Types of Fraud, Technical Violations and/or Misrepresentation That May Trigger Administrative Processing/Visa Refusal at Consular Posts 139 H-1B Visas for Tech Workers 141 H-1B Nonimmigrant Work Visa Update: With a Looming Cloud of Anticipated Investigations, Audits and Site Visits, the USCIS Reaches FY 2019 H-1B Cap. 142 The H-1B Visa Lottery Explained 143 Policy Memorandum: Matter of S- Inc., Adopted Decision (AAO March 23, 2018) 144 Matter of S- Inc. 145

5 FY H-1B Cap Reached: Now is the Time to Think About Your H-1B Backup Plan David H. Nachman, Esq. Ludka Zimovcak, Esq. 151 Renewing Your H-1B Visa 156 USCIS Updates: Policy to Ensure Petitioners Meet Burden of Proof for Nonimmigrant Worker Visa Extension Petitions 157 Traveling With Your Family on an H-1B Visa 158 USCIS Student and Exchange Visitor Program 159 The Exchange Visitor Program and J-1 Visas 161 Foreign Media Representatives: How to Be an I Visa Holder in the U.S. David Nachman, Esq. Ridhima Goyal 167 USCIS Clarifies Proxy Vote Use for Certain Intracompany Transferee Visa Petitions 170 O Nonimmigrants: Individuals of Extraordinary Ability or Achievement 171 P Nonimmigrants [Including Performing Groups, Cultural Unique Performers 175 Changing from One Nonimmigrant Visa Status to Another David Nachman, Esq. Ridhima Goyal 179 Visa Overstays 181 Entrepreneurial Pathways David Nachman, Esq. 183 Spiritual Enlightenment and U.S. Immigration: Understanding the Religious Visa (R Visa) 187 Memo re: Requirements for Agents and Sponsors Filing as Petitioners for the O and P Visa Classifications 189 O, P, Q Visa Classification Overview USCIS/SCOPS 193 USCIS Issues Clarifying Guidance on NAFTA TN Status Eligibility for Economists 213 H-1B Enforcement and Investigations (USCIS, FDNS, DOS, DOL) 215

6 HR Professionals: H-1B Visa and Audits / DOL Audits Ludka Zimovcak, Esq. Snehal Batra, Esq. 217 DHS Proposed Major Changes to the H-1B Visa Program Impacting Highly Skilled Workers and H-1B Employers 238 New Bill (Protect and Grow American Jobs Act) Targeting H-1B Dependent Employers 239 Will the Dependent Spouse H-4 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Come to an End? 242 H-1B Signatory or Signatory Representative Questionnaire 245 Employment-Based Immigration Visa Processing Background and Update 253 What is the Difference Between a Nonimmigrant and an Immigrant Visa? 255 Employment-Based Immigrant Visa 257 U.S. Immigration Law Basics & Recent Updates David H. Nachman, Esq. Snehal Batra, Esq. 259 Comparing the EB-5 and L-1 Visas David H. Nachman, Esq. Snehal Batra, Esq. 273 USCIS to Start Accepting Applications Under the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) 281 Another Nail in the Coffin for Immigrant Entrepreneurs 284 What Does It Take to Qualify for an EB-5 Entrepreneur/Investor s Visa? 285 How Do I Qualify for an EB-5 Visa? 287 Chart, Getting into EB Family-Based Immigration Visa Processing Background and Update 289 Family Immigration (Immigration Visa Processing in India) 291 Obtaining a Green Card Through Marriage 292 Green Card Through Marriage Consequences of Separation or Divorce Michael Phulwani David H. Nachman 293 Getting the Green Card Through Family Sponsorship: One Way to Immigrate to the U.S. 297 USCIS Update: Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence 299 Practice Pointer: Obtaining a Temporary I-551 Stamp Due to the Delayed Adjudication of an I-751 Petition 301 Comparing the Potential Plans for Family-Based Immigration Reform 303

7 In Focus: The VAWA Act 304 USCIS to Recall Incorrectly Dated Green Cards 305 In Focus: The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support 307 Waivers: 212(a)(9)(B) Three- and Ten- Year Bars 309 The Three- and Ten- Year Bars: How New Rules Expand Eligibility for Waivers 311 Inadmissibility Basics & Extreme Hardship Waivers Ludka Zimovcak, Esq. 315 I-601A Flowchart 325 Inadmissibility Chart 327 USCIS Policy Manual: Volume 9 Waivers, Part B Extreme Hardship Consular Processing Issues and Concerns 331 DOS Update: Visa Bulletin for May DOS Update: Visa Bulletin for April DOS Update for the Visa Applicants Traveling to the United States During Administrative Processing G or Administrative Processing at the U.S. Consulate s Office 341 Refugee and Asylum Considerations and Updates 345 U.S. Attorney General Curbs Asylum for Immigrant Victims of Violence 347 Seeking Asylum in the U.S. 350 USCIS to Take Action to Address Asylum Backlog 351 Executive Order (October 24, 2017) 353 Deferred Action Submissions 357 Deferred Action Submission Checklist (Information & Customer Service) 359 Executive Office of Immigration Review EOIR 361 Administrative Closure Post-Castro-Tum 363 Attorney General Sessions Delivers Remarks to the Executive Office for Immigration Review Legal Training Program 373 Fact Sheet: Observing Immigration Court Hearings 377 An Overview of Discretionary Reprieves from Removal: Deferred Action, DACA, TPS, and Others 379 Credible Fear Lesson Plans Comparison Chart: Practice Pointer: Matter of Castro-Tum, 27 I&N Dec. 271 (A.G. 2018) 421 Sample Intake Criminal/Immigration What Constitutes a Conviction for Immigration Purposes Matter of Rosa

8 Lewin v. Attorney General of the United States of America Consequences of Criminal Issues in Immigration Law 431 What You Should Know About Immigration and Crimes Robert Frank Alan Pollack 433 Removal Proceedings: What is It About? Alan Pollack Robert Frank 443 Asylum in the United States 447 Press Release: Queens Immigration Attorney Charged With Asylum Fraud 455 Form I-130 Form I-130A Form I-131 (Expires 12/31/18) Form I-485 Form I-765 Form I-864 I-9 Form and Employment Eligibility Verification and IER 457 USCIS Releases Revised FORM I Verifying Employee Eligibility to Work 460 USCIS and Justice Department Formalize Partnership to Protect U.S. Workers from Discrimination and Combat Fraud 461 HR Professionals: Updates on Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification in a Trump Era David H. Nachman, Esq. 463 Employers That Hire Illegal Immigrants Beware: ICE Plans to Increase Prosecutions 495 E-Verify Overview USCIS 497 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 523 The End of Immigration Enforcement Priorities Under the Trump Administration 525 Trump s Immigration Crime Hotline Raises Concerns for Immigrants 531 VOICE Victims of Immigration Crime Enforcement Toll-Free Hotline 533

9 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Victim Information Notification Exchange (DHS-VINE) 539 Immigration Enforcement at Hospitals 540 New Guidance Memo on Function Manager in L-1 Classification 541 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 543 Know Before You Go: NPZ Law Group Helps Ease the Stress of Holiday Travel for Certain Foreign Nationals 545 USCIS Online Filing Initiatives 549 USCIS Expands Credit Card Payment Option for Fees 551 USCIS Expands Online Filing: Applicants Can Now Request Replacement Naturalization Certificate and Naturalization Hearing Outline 553 USCIS to Implement Online Processing of FOIA Requests 555 File Your Form N-400 Online!: You Can Now Apply Online for U.S. Citizenship 557 New E-Verify.gov Website a User-Friendly Source to Verify Employment Eligibility 559 USCIS Expands Online Filing: Applicants Can Now Request Replacement Naturalization Certificate and Naturalization Hearing Online 561 TPS Temporary Protected Status Updates 563 What Comes Next: Temporary Relief Options After the Termination of TPS 565 Trump Administration Ends 17-Year Protections for Salvadorans 569 Trump Revokes Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans 570 Trump Administration Ends Protections for Thousands of Hondurans Living in U.S. 571 USCIS Update: Re-Registration Period Now Open for Hondurans With Temporary Protected Status 572 The Trump Travel Ban 573 In Focus: Trump s Travel Ban 575 The U.S. Supreme Court Allows President Trump s Travel Ban to Take Effect 577 New Immigration Law Initiatives 581 Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen Statement on the National Vetting Center 583 USCIS Redesigns Citizenship and Naturalization Certificates 585 Unauthorized Border Crossers to Be Prosecuted 587 About the Panelists 589

FAMILIES & IMMIGRATION: A PRACTICAL GUIDE 5 TH EDITION TABLE OF CONTENTS

Families & Immigration Chapter 1 FAMILIES & IMMIGRATION: A PRACTICAL GUIDE 5 TH EDITION TABLE OF CONTENTS Qualifying Family Relationships and Eligibility for Visas 1.1 Overview of the Family Immigration