Business Immigration Articles

Advisory – Caution using Advance Parole to travel https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/travel-g4d023f325_1920.jpg 1920 1231 Michele Franchett Michele Franchett https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/47fc3e82a0b841fd3a0b2971cf378e7f?s=96&d=mm&r=g February 4, 2025 February 4, 2025

Michele Franchett
February 4, 2025

Advisory – Caution using Advance Parole to travel

Many clients with pending adjustment of status applications (Form I-485) apply for and receive Advance Parole travel documents (Form I-512). The recent Executive Order pausing humanitarian parole programs does not apply to such Advance Parole documents. Nevertheless, there could be confusion over which parole documents remain valid in this rapidly-evolving immigration landscape. Individuals with underlying…

Upcoming Seminar: Immigration Issues and the 2024 Election https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/microphone-704255_1280.jpg 1280 853 Josie Gonzalez Josie Gonzalez https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8a42476a63f630115849e208299ab5ce?s=96&d=mm&r=g April 29, 2024 April 29, 2024

Josie Gonzalez
April 29, 2024

Upcoming Seminar: Immigration Issues and the 2024 Election

Presented by: Josie Gonzalez Two Wednesdays: May 15 and 22 • 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon Bethany Congregational Church 556 N. Hope Avenue, Santa Barbara Immigration is one of the top three issues impacting the outcome of the elections. Unquestionably, it is a contentious, divisive, emotionally charged, multi-faceted and seemingly insoluble issue. This two-part seminar…

USCIS Premium Processing Service Fee Increase Effective February 26, 2024 https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/uscis_data_on_application_and_petition_processing_times_feature.jpg 1000 559 Kathleen Grzegorek Kathleen Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7700b77752b8bc2ebbec4d0b9e4bfe3d?s=96&d=mm&r=g January 8, 2024 January 8, 2024

Kathleen Grzegorek
January 8, 2024

USCIS Premium Processing Service Fee Increase Effective February 26, 2024

The USCIS has announced an increase of the Premium Processing fee that applies to requests for expedited adjudications of eligible applications and petitions. The premium processing service is only available for applications/petitions and categories identified as eligible on the USCIS website. Any Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, received on or after February 26,…

Physical Inspection of Form I-9 Documents for Forms Prepared during Temporary Virtual COVID I-9 Flexibilities Must be Completed by August 30, 2023 https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/laptop-office-hand.jpg 1280 853 Kathleen Grzegorek Kathleen Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7700b77752b8bc2ebbec4d0b9e4bfe3d?s=96&d=mm&r=g July 18, 2023 July 18, 2023

Kathleen Grzegorek
July 18, 2023

Physical Inspection of Form I-9 Documents for Forms Prepared during Temporary Virtual COVID I-9 Flexibilities Must be Completed by August 30, 2023

Background DHS recently announced that the temporary flexibilities for virtual Form I-9 document review (temporary virtual option) will end on July 31, 2023, and employers must complete the required physical inspection for all Forms I-9 created under the temporary policy no later than August 30, 2023. Failure to timely complete inspection is a substantive I-9…

Planned Pilot Program for US-Based Nonimmigrant Visas Stateside Processing https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/stairs-building.jpg 1280 853 Kathleen Grzegorek Kathleen Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7700b77752b8bc2ebbec4d0b9e4bfe3d?s=96&d=mm&r=g July 18, 2023 July 18, 2023

Kathleen Grzegorek
July 18, 2023

Planned Pilot Program for US-Based Nonimmigrant Visas Stateside Processing

The Department of State is currently working on a pilot program to test the viability of renewing certain petition based NIV categories without having to leave the United States. The pilot program will initially include H-1B and L visas and is anticipated to roll out in Fall 2023, however the exact timeline and scope have…

California’s Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act and impact on Permanent Labor Certification Programs (PERM) https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/job-interview-g34b3d42d8_1920.jpg 1920 1220 Kathleen Grzegorek Kathleen Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7700b77752b8bc2ebbec4d0b9e4bfe3d?s=96&d=mm&r=g November 4, 2022 November 4, 2022

Kathleen Grzegorek
November 4, 2022

California’s Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act and impact on Permanent Labor Certification Programs (PERM)

On September 27, 2022, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1162, a broad pay transparency bill requiring employers to include pay ranges in all job advertisements effective January 1, 2023. It also requires employers to report mean and median pay data to “better identify gender and race-based pay disparities.” In addition to California, other states…

Major lawsuit settlement changes EAD policies for H-4 and L-2 spouses https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/hammer-620011_1920.jpg 1920 1440 Michele Franchett Michele Franchett https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/47fc3e82a0b841fd3a0b2971cf378e7f?s=96&d=mm&r=g November 10, 2021 November 10, 2021

Michele Franchett
November 10, 2021

Major lawsuit settlement changes EAD policies for H-4 and L-2 spouses

Plaintiffs in Shergill, et al. v. Mayorkas, No. 21-cv-1295-RSM reached a settlement today with the Department of Homeland Security that represents a major victory for H-4 and L-2 spouses in need of employment authorization. The settlement provides: L-2 spouses (not H-4 spouses) will have employment authorization incident to status[1], and Both L-2 and H-4 spouses…