Tag: Immigration

Employers await effects of Executive Order on immigration

While political wrangling over President Barack Obama’s newest Executive Order rages, employers need to understand the impact the immigration order will have on their workplaces. Obama announced what he’s calling the Immigration Accountability Executive Actions in an address November 20. A fact sheet from the White House says the order will “crack down on illegal […]

What employers need to know about immigration reform

by Christine D. Mehfoud Turn on the news. Open the paper. Click on cnn.com. For months, if not years, immigration has been one of the top stories. Specifically, immigration reform: Will immigration reform happen? When will it happen? And what will it look like if it does happen? As the 2014 midterm elections draw closer, […]

What’s on the immigration horizon for employers?

by Elaine Young During the month of May, the Senate Judiciary Committee marked up the comprehensive immigration reform bill that the “Gang of Eight” proposed earlier in the year. In June, we saw the House of Representatives debate over what to add or take away from the bill. Here’s a quick Q&A on how some […]

Georgia employers face July 1 E-Verify mandate

by Geetha Adinata Yet another domino has fallen in the changing landscape of Georgia immigration law. Beginning today, all Georgia employers with more than 10 employees (as of January 1, 2013) must use the federal E-Verify system to ensure employees are authorized to work in the United States. E-Verify checks employees’ work authorization through Department […]

Bridging work permits for those awaiting permanent residence in Canada – finally!

By Gilda Villaran Immigration Canada announced a new policy on December 15, 2012, that allows for bridging work permits. Foreign nationals who are currently working in Canada and have applied for permanent residence (under certain programs) can now apply for such a permit. This will allow them to stay and work until their permanent residence […]

Are you using the new Form I-9?

by Elaine Young On March 8, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released the long-awaited new Form I-9 and its accompanying M-274 employer handbook. Employers were required to start using the new form on March 8, but USCIS is allowing a 60-day grace period in which the old forms (dated 02/02/09 and 08/07/09) will be […]

H-1B visa cap met in first week

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it reached the statutory H-1B visa cap of 65,000 for fiscal year 2014 during the first week of the filing period. This is the first time since 2008 that the cap has been met during the first week. The H-1B program allows U.S. businesses to employ […]

H-1B visa deadline looms

by Elaine Young Employers wanting to hire foreign workers through the H-1B visa program need to be ready to file petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on April 1. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields. The first […]

More changes in the Canadian immigration system

By Isabelle Dongier Winds of change keep blowing on Canadian immigration lands. In July 2012, we discussed several steps taken by the federal government relating to the rules and processes applicable to temporary and permanent immigration applications in Canada. More changes have been announced in the recent months. These changes aim to allow more foreigners […]

January 1 marks major deadline for North Carolina E-Verify law

by Richard L. Rainey North Carolina’s law requiring employers and local governments to use the federal E-Verify system when hiring new employees is taking effect in phases. January 1 is the next effective date. The requirement to use E-Verify begins January 1 for employers with at least 100 but fewer than 500 employees in North […]