The Department of State announced that the United States and Japan have established a new J-1 Exchange Program – the Japanese Specialist Program. The new program specifically facilitates the exchange of Japanese language and culture specialists to observe U.S. educational methods and to share their knowledge of Japanese educational methods with U.S. colleagues. The program is expected to expand cultural exchange opportunities and promote long-term mutual understanding and international cooperation with Japan throughout the United States. The State Department’s J-1 Specialist programs are for e ..read more

It is not unusual for employers to require foreign employees to sign repayment agreements that require the employee to repay some or all required immigration process costs if the employee terminates employment before the end of the contract term. Employers often use the contracts as a deterrent to employees leaving as soon as the immigration benefit is secured, not intending to enforce or collect damages. Employers may want to reconsider this retention strategy. Civil claims brought under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) have argued that these repayment agreements, also known as c ..read more

Since 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been working on improving the systems used to document the entries and exits of nonimmigrants to and from the United States. There is no comprehensive easy-to-use system in place to collect exit data, although there are ways to report departure that the CBP characterizes as burdensome, impractical, and inconvenient. CBP is seeking public comment on a new program to make it easier for those subject to I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) requirements to document their exits and improve data collection by implementing a new capability within CB ..read more

President Joe Biden’s Executive Order regarding the “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence” directs departments and agencies throughout the government, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State, to develop plans and policies to establish new standards for artificial intelligence (AI) use. In response, DHS has announced new programs to “strengthen national security, improve . . . operations, and provide more efficient services.” DHS has been using AI to identify patterns in vehicle-crossing histories and to speed ..read more

Italy and Japan have joined the list of countries making it possible for employees to spend time abroad on digital nomad visas (DNVs). These visas give individuals the ability to work abroad remotely and temporarily while remaining on their current company’s payroll and without having to go through a lengthier work permit and visa process. Japan instituted its digital nomad visa as of April 1, 2024. It allows eligible foreign nationals to work remotely in Japan for up to six months. The visas are not renewable. These visas may include family members. Japanese DNV eligibility requirements: Ind ..read more

USCIS has released the new Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. The new form must be used to file starting June 3, 2024. Among the form’s various changes, two are particularly notable: Social Security Update: Applicants will have the option to complete additional questions to request an original or replacement Social Security card and to authorize USCIS to update their immigration status to U.S. citizen with the Social Security Administration (SSA) without having to visit a local SSA office or provide documentation of citizenship status. Those who do not request this benefit on the for ..read more

Medical examinations and vaccination records properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon after Nov. 1, 2023, can be used indefinitely, USCIS has announced. There is no longer any expiration date. Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, is used by some foreign nationals, including green card applicants, to show they are free from any conditions that would render them inadmissible to the United States on health-related grounds. USCIS eliminated the expiration date because technological advancements now enable civil surgeons who do the medical examinatio ..read more

On April 12, 2024, USCIS issued a Federal Register notice establishing procedures for Palestinians eligible for Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) valid through Aug. 13, 2025. President Joe Biden had announced in February 2024 DED for up to 18 months through Aug. 13, 2025, for Palestinians who had been present in the United States since Feb. 14, 2024. There is no application for obtaining DED classification. Palestinians are covered by DED if they meet the eligibility requirements set out in President Biden’s directive and the Federal Regis ..read more

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended and redesignated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia until Dec. 12, 2025. The decision to renew and redesignate is based on the ongoing armed conflict in the Amhara Region and violence in other regions of the country that includes human rights abuses and indiscriminate attacks, as well as drought, flood, and disease conditions. The extension affects about 2,300 individuals while the redesignation will allow around 12,800 individuals who are otherwise eligible to apply for TPS. Applications for re-registration and employment autho ..read more

Good news for those applying for or with pending Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewals. DHS is temporarily reinstituting its 540-day automatic extension of work authorization for eligible individuals. Although DHS has streamlined its EAD process and extended EAD validity periods for certain applicants from two years to five years, the government still struggles to timely process EAD applications that has resulted in processing times that are still too long. Up to 800,000 employees were in danger of employment gaps. Accordingly, DHS resumed the 540-day automatic extension for qualify ..read more