Mayer Brown announced that Elizabeth (Liz) Espín Stern, managing partner of the firm’s Washington DC office, has been recognized in Corporate Counsel’s 2021 Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards in the “Innovative Leadership” category. The awards honor general counsel, in-house leaders and law firm partners who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the empowerment
Several news outlets, including Reuters, AP and NBC, are reporting that a condition of reopening travel to the United States may include vaccination against the SARS-COV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. These reports come only ten days after the White House confirmed that the travel bans currently in place for travelers from 33 countries will remain
Starting May 3, South Korea implemented the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) pilot program, an optional system for foreign nationals from 21 visa-exempt countries, including the United States. In April, the South Korean Ministry of Justice confirmed the pilot program would continue until August, after which the program would become mandatory for visa-exempt foreign nationals in September 2021.
Continue Reading South Korea Will Mandate Electronic Travel Authorizations for Foreign Travelers Beginning in September
In a May 18, 2021 Press Statement, the US Department of State announced an updated interpretation of the provision of the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA) that recognizes birthright citizenship to children born abroad. Under this interpretation, a child born abroad to parents, at least one of whom is a US citizen and who
In response to the rise of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan, the country’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced the implementation of new entry restrictions for foreign visitors. Specifically, foreign nationals without a valid Alien Resident Certificate (ARC card) will be temporarily barred from entry to Taiwan. This means holders of visitor or residence visas with COVID-19 special permits, as well as transit travelers, will be banned from entry, including those travelers who plan to apply for ARC cards following arrival in Taiwan. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis for emergencies and on humanitarian grounds. This travel ban is in effect from May 19 to June 18, 2021.
Continue Reading In Response to Rising COVID-19 Cases, Taiwan Further Bans Foreign Visitors
US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual instructing officers to give deference to prior determinations when adjudicating extension requests involving the same parties and facts unless there was a material error, material change, or new material facts. With this update, USCIS is reverting in substance to prior
India has reported the highest number of COVID-positive cases in any single day, in any country, since the pandemic. New strain variants first identified in India have also appeared in other countries. In reaction, multiple countries across the globe have announced restrictions on travel from India, and more are likely to follow in quick succession,
Effective April 1, 2021, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has again extended its remote I-9 verification policy that defers the physical presence requirements of the employment verification process. Under a policy first introduced on March 20, 2020, the requirement that employers inspect employees’ Form I-9 identity and employment eligibility documentation in-person applies only
International travelers are continuing to face Covid-19 entry requirements, however, China has recently announced that it will simplify its visa applications for foreign nationals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, specifically Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines.
According to the Chinese embassy located in the Philippines, they will be returning to pre-pandemic visa requirements for those fully vaccinated.
The UK Government unveiled its economic recovery plan in a policy proposal entitled, “Build Back Better: our plan for growth”, detailing specific courses of action and priorities essential to the rebuilding and uplifting of the British economy out from underneath Covid-19 and into the post-Brexit world. In doing so, the proposal sets out a series