USCIS will begin accepting H-1B electronic registrations beginning March 9, 2021 from employers. The registration period closes on March 25. Those employers selected will be notified electronically by March 31. This selection process will be a random draw – not based on highest wages offered.
Employers wishing to file H-1B applications on April 1, 2021 must participate in this electronic registration process.
Yesterday, January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden’s Administration issued a 100 day moratorium on most deportations beginning on January 22.
A Memorandum from the Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security directed an immediate pause on deportations for persons with final orders of removal except for persons; suspected of engaging in terrorism or spying; or who were not physically present in the US before November 1, 2020; or who voluntarily waived all rights to remain in the US.
On October 16, 2014 the government announced it was extendin Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Honduras for an additional 18 months, effective Jan. 6, 2015, through July 5, 2016.
If you currently have TPS from Honduras you must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period from Oct. 16, 2014 through Dec. 15, 2014. The 18-month extension allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) which will be valid until July 5, 2016.
To re-register, current TPS beneficiaries must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. Re-registrants must pay abiometric services fee of $85 or submit a fee-waiver request if they are age 14 or older.
To obtain a work permit, TPS re-registrants must submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. TPS re-registrants requesting an EAD must submit the Form I-765 application fee of $380 or a fee-waiver request.
On Tuesday, September 23, Attorney Theodore J. Murphy and Immigration Judge Charles Honeyman joined together for a continuing legal education class entitled “Introduction to Immigration Court Practice”. The event was sponsored by the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians and held at Cozen & O’Conner law firm in Philadelphia, PA.
Judge Honeyman discussed the history of immigration court and the processes involved in a typical immigration court case, as well as the forms of relief available in the immigration court.
Attorney Murphy discussed effective representation from initial consultation to representation in court and elaborated on the forms of relief available.
Those in attendance were attorneys with limited experience in immigration law, usually one to five years. Many were completely new to immigration but were interested in helping with the mass migration of unaccompanied minors coming across the border from the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
Attorney Murphy discussed his experiences representing these children and how to prepare their cases. Concerns for representing the unaccompanied minors include effective communication, counselling, and court preparation. Many of the children have trouble talking about their ordeals because of their age and personal experiences. In addition Spanish is often not their primary language. Many of these children speak indigenous Central American dialects and only learned Spanish in school, if they have even been to school at all. There are over 24 separate Mayan dialects just in Guatemala! Many of these children need psychological counselling due to trauma from witnessing violent crimes including rape, torture, and murder. These children have often been victims of violent crimes themselves.
The presentation was broadcast to audiences in Seattle, San Diego, and New Jersey via WebEx.