H-1B Lottery Reminder

As a reminder, Employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions for Fiscal Year 2022 cap, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register. USCIS has opened an initial registration period from March 9 through noon ET on March 25, 2021. The H-1B random lottery process, if needed, will then be run on those electronic registrations. Only those with selected registrations will be eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions.

Through H-1B sponsorship, U.S. Employers can employ qualified noncitizen in Specialty Occupations—jobs that require at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in a specialty.  Approved H-1B employees can work for the sponsoring employer for 3 years in the first instance.

USCIS Announces Flexibilities for Certain Applicants Filing Form I-765 for OPT

On February 26, 2021, USCIS announced flexibilities for certain F-1 students affected by delayed receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. These flexibilities apply only to applications received on or after Oct. 1, 2020, through May 1, 2021.

USCIS has experienced delays at certain lockboxes in issuing receipt notices for Form I-765 for optional practical training (OPT) for F-1 students. USCIS notes that these delays are a result of COVID-19 restrictions, an increase in filings of certain benefit requests, postal service volume and delays, and other external factors. USCIS is extending the following flexibilities:

• 14-month OPT Period Flexibilities

 F-1 students may participate in up to 12 months of post-completion OPT, which must be completed within 14 months from the end of their program. Due to the delays at the lockbox, some applicants may only be eligible for a shortened period of OPT within that 14-month period. To allow F-1 students to complete the full period of requested OPT (up to 12 months), USCIS will allow the 14-month period to commence from the date of approval of the Form I-765 for applications for post-completion OPT.

As of February 26, 2021, USCIS will approve applications for post-completion OPT with validity dates reflecting the same amount of time originally recommended by the designated school official (DSO) from their school on the Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.

F-1 students requesting post-completion OPT who receive an approval of Form I-765 for less than the full amount of OPT time requested (not to exceed 12 months) due to the requirement that the OPT be completed within 14 months of the program end date may request a correction of the EAD due to USCIS error. USCIS will issue a corrected EAD with a new end date, as requested, to cover the full amount of OPT time recommended in the original application.

• Refiling Following Rejection

Applicants for OPT must file the Form I-765 during certain timeframes. However, due to the lockbox delays, some applicants who timely filed Form I-765 for OPT and whose applications were later rejected are unable to timely refile within the required application timeframes.

USCIS will accept a refiled Form I-765 for OPT and STEM OPT as filed on the original filing date if:

• The original, timely filed application was received on or after Oct. 1, 2020, through May 1, 2021, inclusive; and

• USCIS subsequently rejected it.

Refiled applications must be received by May 31, 2021, for USCIS to treat the application as though filed on the original received date.

Applicants refiling a Form I-765 for OPT or STEM OPT do not need to obtain a new Form I-20 with an updated OPT recommendation from the DSO, as long as they originally submitted an application for post-completion OPT within 30 days of the DSO’s recommendation or an application for STEM OPT within 60 days of the DSO’s recommendation as required by the regulations.

Applicants refiling an application should include a copy of the rejection notice to facilitate review of the case.

• Missing or Deficient Signatures

Applications with missing or deficient signatures are generally rejected at the lockbox. This policy remains unchanged. However, if the lockbox accepts a Form I-765 application for OPT or STEM OPT with a missing or deficient signature, USCIS will issue a Request for Evidence rather than deny the application, to give the applicant the opportunity to respond and provide the necessary signature or correct the deficiency. Applicants filing Form I-765 are encouraged to review the form instructions to ensure their application is complete before filing it.

Restrictions on Travel by Land to Canada and Mexico

On February 22, 2021, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced continuation of land travel restrictions from Mexico and Canada into the United States at land ports of entry along the United States-Mexico border. Such travel will be limited to “essential travel”.  These restrictions remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on March 21, 2021.

The guidelines for what qualifies as essential travel issued by the Dept. of Homeland Security can be found in the Federal Register Notice issued on February 23, 2021.  Any travel for tourism purposes is not considered essential.

H-1B visa ban in place until 3/31

Although President Biden rescinded Presidential Proclamation 10014 (suspending the entry to the United States of certain immigrant visa applicants) on February 24, 2021, Presidential Proclamation 10052, which suspends the entry of certain nonimmigrant visa applications, remains in effect until at least March 31, 2021. The suspensions in Presidential Proclamation 10052 applies to applicants for H-1B, H-2B, and L-1 visas; J-1 visa applicants participating in the intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel programs; and any spouses or children of covered applicants applying for H-4, L-2, or J-2 visas. DOS updated its guidance related to National Interest Exemptions for individuals subject to PP 10052, although the eligibility requirements do not appear to have changed.

Immigrant visa ban lifted

On February 24, 2021, President Biden rescinded Presidential Proclamation 10014 which prohibited the entry of certain immigrants into the United States due to possible harm to economic interests due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Although the immigrant visa ban has been revoked, Presidential Proclamation 10052 suspending the entry of nonimmigrant workers for the same reasons remains in effect.

The Department of State provided instructions to visa applicants who were previously subject to a ban on entry pursuant to PP 10014.

Travel Ban for foreign nationals present in the Schengen Area, China, Iran, Brazil, UK still in place

The geographic COVID-19 travel bans outlined Presidential Proclamations 9984, 9992, and 10143, which suspend entry into the United States of foreign nationals who have been physically present in the People’s Republic of China, Islamic Republic of Iran, Schengen Area, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Brazil, and South Africa, in the 14-day period before seeking entry into the United States, remain in effect.  Immigrant visa applicants who are spouses or children of U.S. citizens (IR/CR-1, IR/CR-2, IR/IH-3, and IR/IH-4), as well as spouses and minor children of Lawful Permanent Residents (F2A), are excepted from the geographic COVID-19 travel bans.  All other immigrant visa applicants and K fiancé nonimmigrant visa applicants remain subject to these geographic COVID-19 travel bans unless another exception applies.

Federal District Court of Massachusetts Finds Plaintiff Paroled into United States Based on TPS Was an “Arriving Alien”

The U.S. District Court for Massachusetts issued a ruling in Michel v. Mayorkas on March 2, 2021 that an applicant for Adjustment of Status from Haiti with TPS status was considered an “arriving alien”, and her adjustment of status fell under USCIS jurisdiction.

USCIS argued that the plaintiff’s adjustment fell under the jurisdiction of an Immigration Judge and not USCIS because she was an “alien placed in deportation proceedings or in removal proceedings".  While the plaintiff was placed in removal proceedings after she entered the U.S. without inspection, her removal is prohibited while TPS is in effect. The court found that this statutory provision suggests that any ongoing removal proceeding against someone in TPS status that has not yet been heard by an immigration judge is temporarily suspended.  Additionally, although the plaintiff initially entered the U.S. without inspection, she subsequently left and was inspected when she returned on advance parole.  Since the was “inspected and paroled” into the United States, she is considered an “arriving alien” and USCIS has jurisdiction over her adjustment application.  Based on this, the court ordered USCIS to re-open the plaintiff’s application for adjudication. 

1st Circuit Upholds Border Searches of Phones and Laptops

In February a panel of the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that border agents can search and confiscate a U.S. citizen’s electronic devices such as laptops or cell phones without a reason to suspect that the owner is guilty of a crime.  This ruling supports current government policy, allowing agents to turn on and search phones and laptops without reasonable suspicion of a crime.  However, the agents cannot use the device to access the internet during these searches.  An agent would need to have reasonable suspicion of a crime before the agent could use an external device to extract data from or view deleted or encrypted files on the phone or laptop.  Border agents can hold a device for a “reasonable” period but would require a supervisor’s approval to keep a device after the owner has crossed the border and would need additional approval to keep the device for longer than 15 days. The ruling does not state whether border agents can force people to share their passwords for their devices. 

DHS Designates Burma and Venezuela for TPS for 18 months

On March 8, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security announced that Venezuela has been designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, effective 3/9/21 through 9/9/22. Applicants are required to register during the 180-day registration period from March 9, 2021, to September 5, 2021. More information on how to apply can be found on the Federal Register Notice for this announcement. 

On March 12, the Department of Homeland Security also announced the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Burma for 18 months. A Federal Register notice, which will explain the eligibility criteria and procedures necessary to submit an initial TPS application and apply for work authorization documentation, is forthcoming. 

All individuals applying for TPS undergo security and background checks as part of determining eligibility. The Federal Register notice will explain the eligibility criteria applicants must meet and describe procedures necessary to submit an initial TPS application and apply for work authorization documentation.

USCIS Reverts to 2008 Version of Naturalization Civics Test

On February 22, 2021, USCIS announced that the revised naturalization civics test (2020 civics test), implemented by the previous administration in December 2020, has been rescinded and replaced with the previously used 2008 civics test.  USCIS has reviewed the 2020 civics test and found that the “…development process, content, testing procedures, and implementation schedule may inadvertently create potential barriers to the naturalization process.”  This decision is pursuant to President Biden’s Executive Order on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems, which calls for a “…comprehensive review of the naturalization process to eliminate barriers and make the process more accessible to all eligible individuals.” 

Applicants who filed their application for naturalization on or after Dec. 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2021, likely have been studying for the 2020 test; therefore, USCIS will give these applicants the option to take either the 2020 civics test or the 2008 civics test. There will be a transition period where both tests are being offered. The 2020 test will be phased out on April 19, 2021, for initial test takers. Applicants filing on or after March 1, 2021, will take the 2008 civics test.

The test items and study guides can be found on the Citizenship Resource Center on the USCIS website. USCIS has also updated the Policy Manual accordingly; see Volume 12, Part E, English and Civics Testing and Exceptions, Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing."