- First-time H-2 visa applicants (temporary agricultural and non-agricultural workers).
- Visa applicants applying for any nonimmigrant visa classification, provided that the applicant:
- was
Mayer Brown Partner Carl Risch Interviewed About State Department’s Domestic Visa Renewal Pilot Program
In this Law360 article, Mayer Brown Partner Carl Risch comments on the H-1B visa renewal pilot program introduced by the US Department of State. “According to Mayer Brown partner Carl Risch, who was assistant secretary of state for consular affairs from 2017-2020, renewals became an issue once the COVID-19 pandemic led to processing backlogs
State Department Extending Visa Validity for Certain Nationalities
The State Department has recently extended the validity of certain visas for citizens of France, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cuba. This trend may signal an effort is underway to adjust visa validity periods for other nationalities and visa types. Travelers are advised to monitor the State Department’s website for announced changes.
UK Immigration and Nationality Fees: The Only Way is Up
- Work and visit visas – increasing by up to 15%
- Family visas, settlement and citizenship fees – increasing by up to
US Government Launches Fraud Investigations into Dozens of Companies for H-1B Lottery Abuse
To retain the best global talent, many employers leverage the annual H-1B visa lottery to secure work authorization for new employees. The nature of a lottery, however, leads some employers to search for ways to improve their chances of securing that “winning ticket”—and a pathway to retaining key talent in the United States. Recently, the
Critical Research Results about DACA Recipients
Mayer Brown’s Andrew Pincus contributed to Forbes’ recent article, “Immigration Research: DACA Recipients Do Not Harm U.S.-Born Workers.” In the piece, Andrew explores the repercussions of ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). He states that more than 600,000 people could lose the ability to participate in society and also face the
Right to Work checks – what are employers now supposed to be doing?
With the regular changes to the UK Right to Work (“RTW”) checks over the last year or so, employers may be forgiven for having lost track of what the latest requirements are.
As mentioned in our last blog on RTW checks (You’re Joking – Not Another One! Further Changes to the Right to Work
Ukraine: the UK Government’s Immigration Response
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK Government has published details of how it is assisting Ukrainian nationals who find themselves in challenging UK immigration scenarios.
We set out below a summary of the current guidance which we will look to update on a regular basis. The full guidance can be found here:
Israel Releases Updates to the Short-Term Employment Authorization (SEA) B-1 Work Visas
The Israeli Ministry of Interior released a new set of regulations for the Short-Term Employment Authorization (SEA) B-1 Work Visa. The new regulations include shortened visa processing times, increased duration of stay, and overall simpler application processes for candidates wishing to obtain a work visa for short stays.
Continue Reading Israel Releases Updates to the Short-Term Employment Authorization (SEA) B-1 Work Visas
Republic of Korea Introduces K-ETA
Starting September 1st, 2021, Korean immigration will require visa waiver entrants (traveling for tourism or business) to obtain an electronic travel authorization, known as, K-ETA, at least 24 hours prior to travel. Currently, K-ETA is an optional program but will become mandatory on September 1st.
Continue Reading Republic of Korea Introduces K-ETA