Starting in 2024, US citizens traveling to 30 European countries (most of western Europe except for the UK), will need to get pre-approval from the EU authorities before traveling.
Continue Reading European Travel Authorization Coming in 2024
COVID-19 UPDATE: Countries take steps to allow more international travel, but barriers remain
In the 10 weeks since we last wrote about international travel, some countries have moved to allow more fluid international travel. For example, the United Kingdom has introduced a set of quarantine exceptions and the United States clarified who is eligible for exemptions to the Presidential Proclamations limiting visa issuance and travel.
Continue Reading COVID-19 UPDATE: Countries take steps to allow more international travel, but barriers remain
President Halts Certain Nonimmigrant Admissions and Extends Immigrant Admission Ban Through End of Year
UPDATES as of July 1, 2020: Please see our new piece, Entry Ban Update, for additional information that has become available about how the proclamation is being enforced for Canadians, visa renewals, and exceptions.
COVID-19 UPDATE: How Does the Outbreak Affect International Travel?
We last wrote about international travel during COVID-19 in March, with a general overview and a separate article about travel in North America. Since then, many changes have occurred (for example, those traveling to Canada and the United Kingdom must now quarantine for 14 days after arrival), while other elements of travel have remained
COVID-19: Impact of Closures, Delays, and Executive Order on Diversity Visa Program
Since 1990, the United States has granted up to 50,000 green cards each year to immigrants selected through the “Diversity Visa Lottery.” Recently, the US Department of State announced delays in processing these cases due to COVID-19. This development further exacerbates challenges caused by COVID-19, including the temporary suspension of visa appointments and USCIS in-person services, which we reported on last month, and the April 22 Executive Order halting immigrant visa admissions for 60 days. See our analysis of the Order here.
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COVID-19: Are Nonimmigrants Eligible for Unemployment Benefits?
Unemployment insurance, as described in a recent blog post by our Labor and Employment colleagues, is a “joint federal-state program, administered separately by each state following guidelines established by federal law.” While the requirements of these programs vary from state to state, eligibility criteria generally exclude nonimmigrants whose work authorization is tied to a specific position with a specific employer (e.g., TN, H-1B, and L-1 workers).
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COVID-19: How Does the Outbreak Affect Travel Between the United States and Mexico or Canada?
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, multiple travel restrictions are in effect for travel in and out of the United States and its neighboring countries.
Continue Reading COVID-19: How Does the Outbreak Affect Travel Between the United States and Mexico or Canada?
COVID-19: How Does the Outbreak Affect Appointments at USCIS and Visa Appointments at US Consulates?
UPDATE – Thursday March 20 – Department of State Officially Announces the Suspension of ALL Routine Visa Appointments WORLDWIDE
Effective today, Friday March 20, the US Department of State is suspending routine visa services at all embassies and consulates worldwide. All routine (non-emergency) visa appointments will be cancelled until normal operations resume. If applicants whose appointments are cancelled have already paid the MRV application fee, that fee will remain valid for a future appointment within one year.
COVID-19: How Does the Outbreak Affect International Travel?
Overview
As of mid-March 2020, countries are responding in various ways to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Concerning immigration and movement of people around the world, these responses generally fall into a few categories, including travel warnings, travel restrictions, health screenings and quarantines, and extensions of immigration status for impacted individuals.
This article addresses the impact of the outbreak on international travel, with specific information from several countries. In a separate article, we addressed how the outbreak affects immigration workplace compliance. All of our COVID-19 articles will be updated as new information becomes available.
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COVID-19: How Does the Outbreak Affect Immigration Workplace Compliance?
Employers face many urgent issues in responding to the US outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID‑19. The disease has forced employers to develop and implement workplace safety, mitigation, and business continuity plans. These may include allowing employees to work from home or from alternate unaffected worksites, as well as outsourcing I-9 document reviews to agents in remote locations. Economic slowdowns have occurred in some sectors due to the global pandemic, requiring some companies to consider or implement temporary employee furloughs or even reductions in force.
Continue Reading COVID-19: How Does the Outbreak Affect Immigration Workplace Compliance?