On January 21, 2022, the Biden administration announced updated policies designed to enhance immigration opportunities for foreign nationals in STEM fields - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
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A recent settlement between Microsoft Corporation and the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division provides guidance to companies for avoiding discrimination liability when screening candidates for immigration work authorization as part of their hiring process.
Foreign national spouses in H-4, L-2 and E-2 status will now benefit from new interpretations of rules regarding employment authorization. On November 12, 2021, USCIS issued a Policy Alert granting L-2 and E-2 spouses employment authorization incident to status and providing automatic extensions of employment authorization documents (EADs) for a small segment of H-4 spouses.
Starting on November 8, 2021, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the U.S., with only limited exceptions.
On September 20, 2021, the White House announced that it will rescind the current geographic COVID-19 related travel bans. New vaccination-based requirements for international visitors to the U.S. will be implemented in early November 2021.
On May 3, 2021, USCIS announced its intention to suspend the collection of biometrics for applications submitted by the dependents of nonimmigrant workers in the H-4, L-2, and E-1, E-2, and E-3 categories effective 5/17/21.
F-1 foreign students can now file applications for optional practical training (OPT) employment authorization online.
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that Presidential Proclamation 10052, which suspended the entry of certain nonimmigrants, expired on March 31, 2021. Visa issuance may resume for applicants in H-1B, H-2B, J, and L visa categories. The expiration of this Presidential Proclamation marks the end of the bans on visa issuance for both immigrant (green cards) visas and nonimmigrant (temporary) visas.
Good news for travelers from Europe's Schengen area, the United Kingdom and Ireland. On Tuesday, March 2, 2021, President Biden carved out an exception to COVID-19 travel restrictions for those whose work supports “critical infrastructure.”
