Since the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, President Donald Trump has issued two Proclamations banning entry of a huge range of foreign workers and family immigrants. The proclamations are supposedly in response to unprecedented unemployment levels. More specifically, virtually no employment-based immigrants (H1s, L1s, Js and their families) or family immigrants (except for the spouses...
Jean Louise
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will be joining forces to investigate suspected cases of fraud of the H-1B specialty occupation visa program (H-1B program). The two federal departments have entered into an agreement under which DHS will share data and records on H-1B petitions in the...
Amidst the COVID-19 emergency guidelines and the current Trump administration, staying updated with immigration laws, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notices, and Presidential Proclamations is crucial for international students. Access comprehensive guidelines to navigate these challenges effectively. If you are an international student, you not only have to focus on your classes but also have...
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is modifying the temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online classes due to the pandemic for the fall 2020 semester. The modifications include the following: Nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United...
By the publication of a new policy memorandum on June 17, 2020 (the “new memo” or the “June 17, 2020 memo”), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has rescinded two policy memos responsible for most of the increase in the denials of H-1B petitions. The June 17, 2020 memo touches different requirements that were previously...
The Coronavirus Relief Fund (“Fund”) provides $139 billion to states and local governments for use toward expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19.[1] The funding is allocated by population proportions among the States, with a minimum of $1.25 billion for smaller states. Eligible local governments (see “Eligibility” below) can apply...
In an environment of a pandemic caused by COVID-19 (the “Novel Coronavirus”), buyers and sellers (collectively the “Parties”) are now implementing new terms and clauses in the multi-family contract to complete transactions. I have been working with numerous buyers and sellers to navigate these uncharted waters to continue with current purchase and sale contracts (“Contract”)...
On April 9, 2020, The Federal Reserve launched the Municipal Liquidity Facility (“MLF”), a credit facility that will purchase up to $500 billion of Eligible Notes (defined below) issued by eligible states, local governments, and instrumentalities (“Eligible Issuers”). The term sheet released by the Federal Reserve (available here) on April 9th further clarifies the terms...