The May edition of the Insider Report discusses recent agency rulemaking, legislative maneuvers to block new and pending rules, and state efforts to enact labor and employment laws that have stalled at the federal level.
The DHS recently issued its long-awaited F–1 nonimmigrant student visa regulations on optional practical training for certain students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics from U.S. institutions of higher education.
The DHS recently announced its launch of the Known Employer Program, under which certain employers are eligible to use an online platform to submit information that can be used for multiple employees' visa applications.
According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on February 18, 2016, the list of countries or areas of concern associated with the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) has been expanded to include Libya, Somalia, and Yemen.
On February 5, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) issued an alert reminding employers to identify “returning workers” when filing H-2B petitions for non-immigrant workers.
The OSC recently issued an opinion letter clarifying that employers that carry out discriminatory employment practices, even indirectly by way of a third-party labor contractor, may still be held liable for certain INA violations.
