In this blog, our lawyers catch you up on important immigration law news for the month of May.
SSA Resumes Issuing No-Match Letters
Social Security Administration is once again issuing employer Correction Request Notices, also known as “Social Security No-Match Letters.” Employers that receive No-Match Letters in 2019 should take the following steps:
- Check the reported no-match information with personnel records.
- Tell the employee about the letter and ask them to confirm their name/SSN.
- Advise the employee in writing and tell them to contact the SSA to correct and/or update their SSA records. The employee should be given a reasonable period of time to resolve it.
- Submit corrections to the SSA.
- Contact immigration counsel to discuss what to do if the employee does not respond or fails to resolve the issue.
If an employer doesn’t address a No-Match Letter or fails to follow up with an employee, ICE can accuse them of knowingly employing unauthorized workers.
USCIS & CBP Extend I-129 Pilot Program to Canadian L-1 Nonimmigrants
The pilot program for Canadian citizens seeking L-1 nonimmigrant status under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was extended by USCIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to April 30, 2020. The program was initially scheduled to run from April 30, 2018, through October 31, 2018.
Under the pilot program, Canadian citizens can request that USCIS remotely adjudicate their petitioning employer’s Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, or Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, before or when they arrive at the Blaine POE.
Enforcement of Unlawful Presence Memo Targeting International Students Temporarily Blocked by Federal Judge
USCIS was temporarily blocked from enforcing a new policy that penalizes students in F, J, and M status who violate the terms of their nonimmigrant status. Thanks to a nationwide preliminary injunction that was issued by a federal district court judge, the agency must go back to using its prior guidance related to unlawful presence while a challenge to its new policy is litigated in federal court. The federal government is expected to appeal this decision.
USCIS Expands Fee Payment Changes to Additional Field Offices
USCIS recently updated the fee payment system used in field offices throughout the country. USCIS offices will no longer accept payments in the form of a cashier’s check or money order. Only the following forms of payment will be accepted:
- Personal check
- Attorney check
- Business check
- Debit card
- Credit card
- Reloadable prepaid credit or debit card
Corporate Immigration for U.S. Citizens to Colombia
Colombia has been facilitating migration processes in recent years to encourage individuals from different countries to do business and make investments in Colombia. With the increase of foreigners, Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has created immigration statuses to allow them to stay and/or engage in various types of activities.
U.S. nationals may enter Colombia with an entry and stay permit (PIP), which is granted for 90 days and may be extended for another 90 days. This permit is obtained upon entering Colombia and is granted to those foreign individuals who wish to attend conferences or meetings, assist in trainings, participate in job interviews, or provide urgent technical assistance.
When the activities to be performed in Colombia take longer than 180 days or require specific conditions such as concluding a local contract, U.S. nationals may request a visa, which will authorize the person to enter and remain for up to 2 or 3 years in the national territory, depending on the type of visa. When a visa is required for a stay of more than 180 days and the activities to be performed are business-related, the foreign national can opt for a business visitor visa.
If the foreign national will be working in Colombia, a local contract likely will be required to obtain a migrant work visa. A foreign individual interested in obtaining an investment visa must make a foreign direct investment of 100 to 600 times the Colombian monthly legal minimum wage, which means approximately $26,000 to $174,000 USD.
Do you need help with your immigration case? Call our legal team at Panteva Law Group LLC to set up your consultation with a Chicago immigration lawyer. We are here to serve you and fight for your rights.