BAL Immigration Report

The Supreme Court rules in a visa denial case involving a U.S. citizen and her non-immigrant spouse. An American Immigration Council report reveals increasing reliance on H-2A workers. And BAL's Steven Plastrik breaks down the results from our election survey. Get these insights and more in the latest episode of BAL's podcast, the BAL Immigration Report, available on Apple, Spotify and the BAL new...

President Biden announces a policy to protect undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens.   The administration moves toward streamlined work visa processes for some DACA beneficiaries.   And we sit down with the American Immigration Lawyers Association's new president-elect, BAL's Jeff Joseph, to survey the immigration landscape and discuss AILA's focus on becoming more inclusive. Get this news and mor...

U.S. business leaders tell BAL it has become easier to meet foreign talent needs.   A new report examines the human and economic costs of ending DACA. And Lynden Melmed, the head of BAL's government strategies team, joins us to discuss one organization's vision for a second Trump administration.   Get this news and more in the latest episode of BAL's podcast, the BAL Immigration Report, available...

USCIS announces a trial launch of E-Verify Plus. A new study finds that immigrants are strongly linked to economic growth and innovation. And more from the head of BAL's sports and entertainment practice on the stalled WNBA debut of basketball star Nika Mühl and the challenges foreign female athletes face with the visa process.   Get this news and more in the special extended episode of BAL's podc...

Business groups push for easier green card processes.   A college basketball star makes her WNBA debut after visa delays.   And how changes to immigration rules could help solve labor shortages in the hospitality industry.

The State Department expects significant delays in visa processing in France.   Advocates call for a legislative solution for DACA.   And with graduation season upon us, BAL Senior Associate Chad Li discusses student visa trends .  

The State Department is on pace to issue a record number of nonimmigrant visas this year. DACA recipients can apply for federal healthcare coverage this fall. And BAL's Tiffany Derentz and Brendan Kinne offer tips and reminders ahead of the busy summer travel season.

Nonimmigrant visa issuance continues to rise.  Diversity Visa results are now available. And updates to the Department of Labor's Schedule A occupation list could help the green card process for workers in critical industries. Guest: Mark Ellis.

The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear another immigration case. BAL makes a big announcement. And what new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data tells us about this year's H-1B registration lottery. Guests: Frieda Garcia, Steve Plastrik BAL to Welcome Leading Partners from Seyfarth Shaw LLP's Immigration Practice This Summer: www.bal.com/perspectives/bal-to-welcome-leading-partners-from-s...

The Supreme Court hears arguments in a case about U.S. citizens' rights in visa denials. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reaches an H-2B cap for returning workers. And why a small USCIS policy change could have important consequences for green card applicants. Guest: Melissa Boggs. United States | USCIS lifts limits to Form I-693 validity period: https://www.bal.com/perspectives/bal-news...

The U.S. State Department suspends visa services in Haiti. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico moves to reduce visa wait times. And BAL Senior Associate Steven Quezada discusses his Immigration Journeys  series. Guest: Steven Quezada  

Federal authorities increase the automatic extension period for certain employment authorization documents. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services releases data showing its progress in reducing processing times. And a ruling out of Georgia draws the attention of the immigration law community. Guest: Maggie Murphy

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is now accepting H-1B petitions for cap-subject visas. The U.S. Embassy in India moves to streamline appointments. And why now is a good time for U.S. employers to rethink immigration strategies. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report.  Guest: John Hamill. Fee Hikes Give U.S. Employers a Chance to Rethink Immigration Strategies...

H-1B registration has closed and petition filing begins next week. The government opens an H-2B cap for returning workers. And a look at how employers have been preparing for major USCIS filing fee increases. USCIS fee calculator: https://www.bal.com/insights/uscis-fee-calculator/ Fee impact on companies: https://www.bal.com/perspectives/impact-of-the-new-uscis-fee-increase-rule/ BAL H-1B and fee...

A lawsuit aims to stop U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services fee hikes. State Department data shows a continued increase in green card issuance. And with March Madness tipping off, the BAL Sports & Entertainment team creates a tournament bracket of their own. Guests: Gabriel Castro & Tiffany Derentz. NCAA Tournament highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH5ltiHSJqE; https://www.youtube.c...

A federal judge dismisses a lawsuit challenging a Biden administration immigration program. H-1B denial rates rose slightly in 2023. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announces it has reached the H-2B cap for the second half of the fiscal year. And an H-1B cap update with BAL Senior Associate Matt Dillinger. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report.  Guest: Matt...

H-1B registration opens. Canada imposes a visa requirement on some travelers from Mexico. And a new study from the Cato Institute shows that just 3% of immigrant applicants for green cards will receive them in 2024. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report.  Guests: BAL's Brittney Quezada-Reed, the Cato Institute's David Bier.  Updates from USCIS Doug Rand, Senior Adviso...

Certain Ukrainian citizens in the United States are now eligible to apply for re-parole. H-1B denial rates rose slightly in 2023. And the Society for Human Resource Management, or SHRM, pushes for much-needed reforms to employment-based immigration. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report.  Guests: BAL's Kelli Duehning, SHRM's Emily M. Dickens. BAL USCIS fee increases s...

President Biden moves to allow certain Palestinians to stay in the U.S. Premium processing fees are about to go up. And why national interest waivers are increasingly common in the green card process. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report.  Guests: Storm Estep, Naz Ali.  USCIS fee and H-1B rules webinar: https://bal.cventevents.com/event/2024feeincrease/summary? Refid...

USCIS reduces its case backlog. The Department of Labor extends a deadline for input on its Schedule A job classification list. And how a pair of Supreme Court cases about the fishing industry could reshape immigration processes. Guest: Jeff Joseph.   

The business community shows support for DACA. BAL provides analysis on how immigration filing fees will impact U.S. companies. And why it may be a good idea for some U.S. residents to think about applying for citizenship. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report.  Guest: Tiffany Lam-Bentley. Impact of the new USCIS fee increase rule: https://www.bal.com/perspectives/imp...

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announces that H-1B registration will open March 6.  The State Department kicks off its domestic visa renewal pilot. And the government publishes two regulations with big implications for immigration programs.  We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report.  Guest: Amy Lighter. USCIS Fee Calculator: www.bal.com/insights/uscis-fee-calc...

A new USCIS fee schedule clears White House review. Companies are in the midst of H-1B contingency planning. And Bloomberg Law's Andrew Kreighbaum joins us to discuss calls for increased work permit options for migrants. Guests: BAL Partner Michelle Funk, Bloomberg Law's Andrew Kreighbaum H-1B domestic visa renewal pilot pre-assessment tool:  H-1B Domestic Visa Renewal Pilot | BAL Immigration Law...

A final H-1B rule is under White House review. The Supreme Court hears a pair of cases that could have a big impact on immigration. And a look at the impact of immigration filing fee increases on touring artists and musicians. Guest: Gabriel Castro. Immigration outlook: Five questions for 2024: www.bal.com/perspectives/immigration-outlook-five-questions-for-2024/

USCIS moves a step closer to raising immigration filing fees.  The U.S. Embassy in Israel returns to its normal staffing level. And how Biden administration guidance on STEM workers is making it easier for recent graduates to stay employed. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report.  Guest: John Hamill.