Immigration law is at the forefront of public dialogue these days. Womble Bond Dickinson’s Immigration Solutions team helps employers navigate high-stakes, constantly shifting immigration challenges to avoid potential problems and secure the talent they need to make their companies thrive. The following newsletter, drafted by Womble Bond Dickinson Immigration Solutions attorneys, covers some of the recent and most important developments in immigration law.

4/30/2024    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) published a final rule amending the requirements and procedures for victims of human trafficking seeking T nonimmigrant status. The rule is effective August 28.  

4/29/2024    U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued a final rule on the temporary employment of H-2A nonimmigrant workers employed in temporary or seasonal agricultural employment and the enforcement of the contractual obligations applicable to employers of these nonimmigrant workers. The rule is effective June 28, 2024.  

4/25/2024    USCIS provided instructions and a form for requesting a refund for Form I-765 filing fees for certain Ukrainian parolees who arrived under Uniting for Ukraine and other Ukrainian parolees who meet specific criteria listed on the website.  

4/23/2024    U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) issued a final rule, effective May 23, 2024, on the Exchange Visitor Program regulations that apply to sponsors designated to conduct international educational and cultural exchange programs and allow for digital signature and electronic transmission for Form DS-2019.

4/23/2024    USCIS announced it will open international field offices in Doha, Qatar, and Ankara, Turkey, to increase capacity for refugee processing, strengthen strategic partnerships, and facilitate interagency cooperation.

4/19/2024    DOS published a notice of a new J-1 Japan Specialist Program in accordance with existing Exchange Visitor Program regulations. During their program, J-1 exchange visitors from Japan will share their specialized knowledge of Japanese language and education in the United States. DOS is waiving the regulation that limits participation in the J-1 Exchange Visitor program for Specialists to one year, to allow participants to conduct their programs for up to 36 months.  

4/15/2024     The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti suspended routine visa services.

4/15/2024    USCIS issued a notice of Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) extension and redesignation of Ethiopia that begins on June 13, 2024, and will remain in effect for 18 months until December 12, 2025.  

4/10/2024    USCIS determined that for May 2024, adjustment of status applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart and all employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart.

4/8/2024    U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published a temporary final rule, effective April 8, 2024, increasing the automatic extension period applicable to certain expiring employment authorization documents (“EADs”) to up to 540 days from the expiration date stated on the EADs.

4/4/2024    USCIS issued guidance effective immediately clarifying that a properly completed Form I-693 Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023 does not expire.  Forms that were signed prior to November 1, 2023 are valid for two years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature.

4/3/2024    DOS published the May 2024 Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin includes a note that the preference category for certain religious workers was extended until September 30, 2024.

4/1/2024    USCIS announced that it has received enough registrations in the H-1B lottery to reach the fiscal year 2025 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap).