Immigration News Update Newsletter — April 2022

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Here is the Immigration News You NEED to Know Now

UP-TO-DATE IMMIGRATION NEWS

Biden Administration Announces Relief Measures for Ukrainians– President Biden announced that the United States will accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians and other displaced people fleeing the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

DHS Designates Ukraine for TPS for 18 months edits deadline to allow for more registrations – Only individuals who are already residing in the United States as of April 19, 2022, will be eligible for temporary protected status under this designation. This is the first time that the Department of Homeland Security has designated Ukraine for TPS.

State Dept., USCIS Announce Actions Related to Reauthorized EB-5 Regional Center Program; Visa Bulletin Revised to Include New Categories– The Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced several actions related to the reauthorized EB-5 regional center program.

DHS Designates Cameroon for TPS for 18 Months – Only individuals who are already residing in the United States as of April 14, 2022, will be eligible for temporary protected status under this designation. According to estimates, approximately 40,000 Cameroonians in the United States may qualify. This is the first time that the Department of Homeland Security has designated Cameroon for TPS.

USCIS Announces Online Filing for DACA Renewal Forms – Individuals who previously received deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals may now file renewal requests on Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, online. Such individuals must also file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and the I-765 Worksheet.

SEVP Asks Certain F-1 and M-1 Students to Verify Employment Data in SEVIS by May 16– The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) asked F-1 students previously on post-completion optional practical training and M-1 students previously on practical training to verify their employment data in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System by contacting the SEVP Response Center by May 16, 2022.

DHS Proposes Procedures Regarding Debarment of Vessels Violating Longshore Work Rules – The Department of Homeland Security proposes to amend its regulations to set forth procedures regarding the debarment of certain vessels from entering U.S. ports. Affected vessels include those owned or chartered by an entity found to be in violation of certain laws and regulations relating to the performance of longshore work by nonimmigrant crew members.

CBP Continues Vaccination Requirements at U.S. Borders With Canada, Mexico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to require non-U.S. travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

Foreign Student Measures Announced: Extension of SEVP Guidance, and Relief for Nonimmigrant Student Citizens of Sudan and Ukraine – Several measures related to foreign students were announced.

EOIR to Stop Holding Hearings in Pittsburgh – EOIR announced that it will no longer hold hearings in Pittsburgh, effective at the close of business on April 29, 2022.

For details on these news briefs,click here!

New Publications and Items of Interest

Training on Afghan arrival categories and documentation. The Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program will present a training on Thursday, December 2, 2021, 1-2 p.m. ET on the immigration documentation that each Afghan arrival category may have and how to use SAVE to verify newly arrived Afghans’ immigration status or parole. Topics will include an overview of Operation Allies Welcome; common Afghan arrival categories and codes; sample documentation; resources; and a question-and-answer session. Registration information “will be forthcoming.”https://www.uscis.gov/save

New E-Verify feature. A new E-Verify feature, myUploads, allows employees to upload required documents in JPEG, PNG, or PDF formats to help resolve Tentative Nonconfirmations (TNCs). Employees can access their my E-Verify accounts by logging into their USCIS online accounts and uploading the requested documents. They can still use fax or mail to submit documents if they prefer. The employer should provide the Further Action Notice (FAN) to the affected employee, discuss the TNC privately with the employee, and allow the employee to decide whether he or she will contest the TNC. The FAN includes the steps for using myUploads to help resolve a DHS TNC. Once uploaded, the employee must call the number on the FAN to resolve the case.https://myeverify.uscis.gov/

New SAVE features. Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) is enhancing its case search capabilities, including improved usability through a search bar and other features, and a more robust case search engine. SAVE will notify users by email at least three weeks before the go-live date for enhancements.https://save.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/SAVESearchCasesTipSheet.pdf

Helpful Links:

• Coronavirus.gov: Primary federal site for general coronavirus information
• USA.gov/coronavirus: Catalog of U.S. government’s response to coronavirus
• CDC.gov/coronavirus: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information
• American Immigration Lawyers Association: https://www.aila.org/advo-media/issues/all/covid-19 (links to practice alerts on this site are restricted to members)
• NAFSA: https://www.nafsa.org/regulatory-information/coronavirus-critical-resources

Immigration Agency Information

Department of Homeland Security:DHS.gov/coronavirus

• https://www.dhs.gov/coronavirus-news-updates
• https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/03/17/fact-sheet-dhs-notice-arrival-restrictions-china-iran-and-certain-countries-europe

USCIS: USCIS.gov/coronavirus

ICE:

• Overview and FAQs: https://www.ice.gov/coronavirus
• Requirements for ICE Detention Facilities: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/coronavirus/eroCOVID19response
• ReqsCleanFacilities.pdf

CBP:

• Updates and Announcements:https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/coronavirus
• Accessing I-94 Information: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home

Department of Labor:

• Office of Foreign Labor Certification:
• OFLC Announcements (COVID-19 announcements included here): https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/
• COVID-19 FAQs:
• § Round 1 (Mar. 20, 2020): https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/DOL-OFLC_COVID-19_FAQs_Round%201_03.20.2020.pdf
• § Round 2 (Apr. 1, 2020): https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/DOL-OFLC_COVID-19_FAQs_Round%202_04.01.2020.pdf
• § Round 3 (Apr. 9, 2020): https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/DOL-OFLC_COVID-19_FAQs_Round%203.pdf

State Department:https://www.state.gov/coronavirus/

• Travel advisories: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html
• Country-specific information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/COVID-19-Country-Specific-Information.html
• J-1 exchange visitor information: https://j1visa.state.gov/covid-19/

Justice Department

• Executive Office for Immigration Review: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/eoir-operational-status-during-coronavirus-pandemic

Agency Twitter Accounts

• EOIR: @DOJ_EOIR
• ICE: @ICEgov
• Study in the States: @StudyinStates
• USCIS: @USCIS

Immigrant and employee rights webinars. The Department of Justice’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER), of the Civil Rights Division, is offering a number of free webinars for workers, employers, and advocates. For more information, see https://www.justice.gov/crt/webinars.

Government Agency Links

Follow these links to access current processing times of the USCIS Service Centers and the Department of Labor, and the Department of State’s latest Visa Bulletin with the most recent cut-off dates for visa numbers:

USCIS Service Center processing times online: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

Department of State Visa Bulletin:

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/law-and-policy/bulletin.html

Visa application wait times for any post:https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/wait-times.html/

Kuck Baxter Immigration — In The News

Charles Kuck and Associate Attorney Emily Lund discussed the firm’s strategy in a new case in an article entitled, “Anna Sorokin fired her lawyer and hired a new team just as a court let her stay in the US a little longer” with the Insider. https://www.insider.com/anna-sorokin-delvey-hires-new-legal-team-not-deported-2022-4

Charles Kuck was quoted in Axios for his perspective on the latest twist and turns in Georgia politics. https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/04/15/trail-notes-georgia-kemp-abrams-fair-fight-lawsuit

Charles Kuck was interviewed by Daily Mail discussing the case of client, 21 Savage. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10697655/21-Savages-lawyer-says-rappers-immigration-case-indefinitely-delayed-ongoing-criminal-charges.html

Charles Kuck was quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding the use of electronic monitoring by ICE. https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/electronic-monitoring-of-immigrants-surges-in-atlanta/VDTULW4KEBED5CB4T6WIBPROVE/

Charles Kuck’s article Commentary: Congress Should Grant Temporary Protected Status to All Ukrainians, Washington is failing the Ukrainians just as it has failed Afghans seeking asylum in the U.S. last year was published by Global Atlanta. https://www.globalatlanta.com/congress-should-grant-temporary-protected-status-to-all-ukrainians/

Charles Kuck was quoted in an article entitled “Feds Can’t Nix Suit Over Manila Embassy’s Fiancé Visa Delays” discussing his representation of the couples and their suit against the U.S. Department of State. https://www.law360.com/immigration/articles/1476506/feds-can-t-nix-suit-over-manila-embassy-s-fianc-visa-delays(subscription required)

Charles Kuck authored an article entitled “COVID-19 Continues to Cause Havoc in the U.S. Immigration System.” published in the Immigration Law Expert Guide.

Charles Kuck was quoted in an article with Law 360 entitled “State Dept.’s Sluggish Diversity Visa Progress Sparks Outcry”. https://www.law360.com/immigration/articles/1454668/state-dept-s-sluggish-diversity-visa-progress-sparks-outcry(subscription required)

Charles Kuck was quoted in an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution entitled “Detained Migrants Bail Bonds are higher in Georgia” https://www.ajc.com/news/a-huge-burden-bail-bonds-for-detained-immigrants-higher-in-georgia/QAM6MJ4GQBESVIQEHGQZG3PPME/

Charles Kuck traveled to Peru in November and while there was interviewed by national media. One of those interviews can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-KQLqWNZA8

Charles Kuck’s opinion statement entitled “Action needed in Ga. and Congress on immigration relief” was published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-action-needed-in-ga-and-congress-on-immigration-relief/JCZKP4ODMVAZTFYFLUYPHHGW54/

Kuck Baxter Immigration LLC published its US legal guide for Corporate Immigration. It can be found at https://iclg.com/practice-areas/corporate-immigration-laws-and-regulations/usa

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