By KoKo Huang and Gregory McCall

On August 12, 2020, the U.S. Department of State released implementation guidance related to two recent presidential proclamations restricting visa issuance and travel for foreign workers. (Presidential Proclamation 10014 and Presidential Proclamation 10052). In implementing these proclamations, the Department of State, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, released guidance related to national interest exceptions set out in the presidential proclamations.

By KoKo Huang and Gregory McCall

The Trump administration has implemented numerous immigration proposals via executive order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, President Trump has signed the following immigration-related executive orders, all which are currently in effect:

  • On January 31, 2020, a proclamation barring individuals from China from entering the United States.
  • On February 29, 2020, a proclamation suspending entry of individuals from Iran into the United States.
  • On March 11, 2020, a proclamation suspending entry of individuals from the Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) into the United States.
  • On March 14, 2020, a proclamation suspending entry of individuals from the UK and Ireland into the United States.
  • On April 22, 2020, another presidential proclamation limiting immigration for individuals outside of the United States seeking U.S. permanent residency. Please see our summary of this proclamation.
  • On May 24, 2020, a proclamation barring individuals from Brazil from entering the United States.
  • On May 29, 2020, a proclamation restricting the entry of certain Chinese national students and researchers into the United States pursuant to their visas to study or conduct research in the United States. Please see our summary of this proclamation.
  • On June 22, 2020, a proclamation temporarily barring certain non-immigrants who were outside of the United States and without valid nonimmigrant visas as of June 24 from entering the United States. Please see our summary of the proclamation.

By KoKo Huang and Gregory McCall

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released plans to furlough over 13,000 employees, representing roughly 70% of its workforce, unless U.S. Congress provides a $1.2 billion cash infusion before August 3. According to USCIS, the budget shortfall is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a 50% drop

By KoKo Huang

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a further extension of Form I-9 compliance flexibility. As previously detailed, on March 19, 2020, DHS began allowing certain employers to defer the physical presence requirement of I-9 documentation inspection and temporarily allowed electronic or remote I-9 documentation review. These provisions were

By KoKo Huang

There are indications that President Donald Trump may expand his April 22, 2020, proclamation, which temporarily suspended the entry of certain immigrants into the United States. The expansion could temporarily bar individuals outside of the United States seeking to enter pursuant to H-1B, H-2B, L-1, and J-1 visas, among other nonimmigrant