JSP Principal Claire Pratt Elected Chapter Chair of AILA’s Northern California Chapter

On May 8, 2018, JSP Principal Claire Pratt was elected Chapter Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Northern California Chapter (“AILA NorCal”) at the Chapter’s Annual Meeting. AILA is an association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members. Member attorneys represent tens of thousands of families, U.S. businesses, foreign students, researchers, entertainers, entrepreneurs and asylum seekers.

AILA NorCal encompasses the majority of Northern California counties, has nearly 1,000 members, and is one of the largest and most active AILA Chapters. As an elected board member for the past three years, and now as Chapter Chair, Claire is responsible for coordinating educational programming and conferences, liaison relationships to government agencies, advocacy and lobbying efforts, media involvement, pro bono opportunities, member engagement, and coordination with the national organization. Congratulations to Claire!      

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2018

JSP congratulates its most recent Certified Specialist!

Jewell Stewart & Pratt is pleased to announce that attorney Chris Beckerson has been accorded the status of a “Certified Specialist, Immigration & Nationality Law” by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. This is a rare distinction that only 38 immigration lawyers in San Francisco have achieved (including JSP's three principals, Phyllis Jewell, Wendy Stewart, and Claire Pratt). The legal specialization process is wholly voluntary. It is also arduous, requiring a written exam, professional references, and case experience that includes the full range of immigration matters, from deportation/removal proceedings to naturalization. Very hearty congratulations to Chris!

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2018

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H-1B cap update – USCIS reports 190,098 petitions received

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Today USCIS announced that it received 190,098 H-1B petitions in the filing period that began on April 2. On April 11 USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process (commonly known as a “lottery”) to select a sufficient number of petitions needed to meet the cap. USCIS says that it conducted the selection process for advanced degree exemption petitions first; all advanced degree petitions not selected were then made part of the random selection process for the 65,000 limit. Any petitions not randomly selected will be rejected and returned with the filing fees.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2018

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H-1B cap reached for FY 2019, lottery triggered

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap for fiscal year (FY) 2019. USCIS has also received more than 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of persons exempt from the cap under the U.S. advanced degree exemption. USCIS will not accept H-1B petitions subject to the FY 2019 cap or the advanced degree exemption after today.

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JSP Principal Wendy H. Stewart Recognized by Who’s Who Legal

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Jewell Stewart & Pratt is happy to announce that firm principal Wendy H. Stewart was selected by Who’s Who Legal in Corporate Immigration for 2018. Nominees are selected based upon a comprehensive, independent survey of both general counsel and private practice lawyers worldwide.

Only specialists who have met stringent independent research criteria are listed. According to Who’s Who, this year’s research features leading corporate immigration attorneys who come highly regarded for their experience in assisting corporate entities navigate the increasingly complex regulatory environments in jurisdictions around the world through sophisticated immigration planning and counselling advice. 

Wendy is a Certified Specialist in Immigration & Nationality Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and she leads the firm’s employment-based permanent residency practice group. Congratulations to Wendy! 

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2018

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USCIS Suspends Premium Processing Service for H-1B cap-subject petitions

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On March 20, 2018, USCIS announced that starting April 2, 2018, it will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B cap-subject petitions. This suspension may last until at least September 10, 2018. The temporary suspension applies only to FY19 cap-subject H-1B petitions (i.e., petitions submitted in the annual lottery). Non-cap-subject H filings, such as for extensions and change-of-employers, will be able to use premium processing. While premium processing is suspended, petitioners may submit a request to expedite an H-1B cap-subject petition if they meet certain criteria. USCIS indicated that it needs the suspension to focus on reducing backlogs and processing times.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2018

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Update on work authorization for certain H-4 dependents

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The Trump administration was due to propose new regulations by the end of February 2018, eliminating the ability of certain H-4 dependents to work.  Although it has not yet issued proposed regulations, there is now a potential timeline for that to occur.  In ongoing litigation over the regulation allowing H-4 employment, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ordered the case to be held in abeyance following a motion from the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) requesting time to issue a proposed “rescission” regulation in February 2018.  Although DHS did not issue such a regulation in February, the Circuit Court order, issued February 21, 2018, gives the DHS 90 days, or until May 22, 2018, to provide an update on rulemaking.  

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New California Employers’ Requirements under AB 450: Immigration Worksite Enforcement Actions

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California Assembly Bill No. 450 (AB 450) regarding California employers’ obligations when subject to federal immigration worksite enforcement actions was signed by Governor Brown on October 5, 2017, and took effect on January 1, 2018.  As part of a group of immigration-related bills recently signed into law, AB 450 is hailed by advocates as solidifying California’s status as a Sanctuary State.  The law introduces several requirements applicable to public and private employers in California.  How the California Labor Commissioner or California Attorney General will enforce the law is still an open question, given that federal law ordinarily preempts state law in the area of immigration, and because there is uncertainty surrounding which federal immigration enforcement agents must be refused entrance or documents under the new California law.  Below we detail a few of the new requirements for employers:

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H-1B “cap” season and the government shutdown

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Although many businesses have become accustomed to the seasonality of sponsoring H-1B visas, there is a new reason for employers to identify candidates and employees potentially needing H-1B sponsorship early this year: the looming government shutdown.  Although U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS, the agency that adjudicates H-1B visa petitions) is fee-funded, and operates as usual during a shutdown, a government shutdown affects the issuance of a critical H-1B prerequisite document by the U.S. Department of Labor.  Without this document, the H-1B “cap” case cannot be filed.  Currently the government is funded until February 8, 2018, and future shutdowns appear possible before the April H-1B filing window opens.  Therefore, it’s imperative to initiate cases, now, while the government is “open for business.”

As background, the H-1B visa is the U.S.’s workhorse visa for professionals.  Not all jobs and all individuals are H-1B-eligible.  In general, the job must be one that ordinarily requires knowledge and skills obtained by earning a Bachelor’s or higher degree in a specific field, and the individual must have the required degree or equivalent.  For first-time H-1B applicants, there is a narrow application window in the first week of April for employers to submit H-1B petitions to USCIS.  Depending on the issues in a case, it can take several weeks for an application to be ready to file.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2018

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USCIS Restricts Availability of NAFTA Work Authorization (TN Status) for “Economist” Category

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On December 18, 2017, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a policy change affecting the adjudication of applications for TN visa status under NAFTA. 

Background on TN visa status

TN visa status allows citizens of Canada or Mexico to work legally in the U.S. if their employment fits within any of 62 occupational classifications and they have the corresponding educational and/or professional qualifications.  One such occupational classification is “Economist.”  The full list of eligible occupational classifications is found in Appendix 1603.D.1 of the NAFTA treaty, as well as in the federal regulations at 8 C.F.R. Section 214.6.