In response to the growing rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Brazil, on May 24, 2020, the President signed the “Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Novel Coronavirus.” This marks the fifth presidential proclamation to limit the…
Articles Posted in Nonimmigrant Visas
What is happening with US Consulates and Embassies? When will they Reopen?
We have received an outpouring of emails, comments, and messages from our loyal followers asking when Consular posts and Embassies worldwide will reopen. We understand the frustration that our readers feel and sympathize with the world situation. While USCIS has announced that in person appointments will resume on June 4th,…
USCIS Asks Federal Government for $1.2 Billion Bailout, Proposes Fee Increases by Summertime
The economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic has been felt by nearly all sectors of the economy, but perhaps the most unexpected victim has been the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Unlike many other government agencies, USCIS does not depend on government funding to survive. Instead, the agency…
House Passes HEROES Act: What Is It and Will it Survive the Senate?
The House of Representatives has introduced a new bill called the HEROES Act, (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act), that provides short term financial relief during this health crisis. In this post, we discuss who would be covered under the HEROES Act and what type of relief would…
Republicans Urge President Trump to Restrict Immigration Further for New Petitions for H-1B Workers, H-2B Workers, OPT Students, and EB-5 Investors
On May 7th just days after the President signed his controversial April 22nd executive order limiting the immigration of certain aliens to the United States for 60 days, Republican senators rallied together to urge the President to pass more immigration restrictions—this time targeting nonimmigrant foreign workers. Republican Senators Tom Cotton…
I am in the U.S. on an E-2 visa, can I apply for a small business loan under the CARES Act? Is there a Public Charge impact to applying for loans under the CARES Act if I am on a Visa?
In this post we would like to address some of our clients frequently asked questions regarding the Payment Protection Program, a loan forgiveness program created by the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the United States government recently passed a bill…
FY 2021 H-1B Updates: Now that Selection is Completed, What’s Next?
Welcome back to Visalawyerblog! As you all know, USCIS recently announced that it has completed the selection process to meet the 65,000/20,000 annual numerical limitations for H-1B fiscal year 2021. All accountholders should have been notified of selection via their USCIS online accounts by March 31,2020. We can confirm that…
The Latest COVID-19 Updates: US Government Seeks Medical Professionals from Abroad, Social Distancing Extended, and USCIS Updates
In this post we bring you the latest immigration related COVID-19 updates. During this difficult time, we would like to extend our heartfelt regards to you and your families. We hope you are staying safe and taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The sooner we abide…
CARES Act: What’s Inside the Coronavirus Aid Package? Are Aliens Eligible?
It has been nearly two weeks since the President of the United States declared a public health emergency for COVID-19, forcing the American economy to come to a screeching halt. Thereafter, states enacted their own measures requiring non-essential businesses across the country to shutter temporarily until the virus has been…
Sapochnick Law Firm COVID-19 Business Continuity Statement
As the impact of COVID-19 grows, we think it is important that you hear directly from us about the mitigation efforts that we the Sapochnick Law Firm have enacted to reduce the risk of infection to our clients, attorneys, and valued staff members. At this critical juncture, our focus remains…