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As California strides into 2025, the state has enacted a series of new employment laws aimed at enhancing workers’ rights, promoting fair wages, and adapting to the changing dynamics of the workforce. Below is a comprehensive overview of these significant changes, backed by the relevant statutes and codes. 1. Minimum Wage Increases: California has mandated…

Tom Homan, Donald Trump’s incoming “Border Czar,” wants officials in Chicago, America’s third-largest city, to “get the hell out of the way” of his plans for mass deportations or risk prosecution. Homan announced to a group of Chicago Republicans on December 9, 2024, Monday night, Chicago and the state of Illinois are “in trouble” because…

USCIS has recently updated its DACA FAQs to expressly provide that DACA recipients may obtain Advance Parole to travel to their consular employer-sponsored nonimmigrant visa appointment. The specific FAQ states: Q60: As a DACA recipient, can I travel outside of the United States? A60: Not automatically. If you want to travel outside the United States…

reprinted from USCIS website: The Department of Homeland Security today announced a Federal Register notice to implement Keeping Families Together, a process for certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens. This is part of an effort to promote the unity and stability of families, increase the economic prosperity of American communities, strengthen diplomatic relationships with…

The EB-1A employment-based category is reserved for aliens of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. Under INA §203(b)(1)(A), qualified applicants may skip obtaining a labor certification or evidence of an offer of employment. In other words, just like the EB-2 National Interest Waiver, an employer sponsor is not required. In many…

Increased Statewide Minimum Wage Beginning January 1, 2024, all employers operating in California will be required to pay a minimum wage of $16 per hour, regardless of their size. Note that several cities in California, such as Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Francisco, and West Hollywood, have their own minimum wage requirements that exceed the…

In 1990, Congress created a green card path for people whose work is deemed to be in the national interest. The National Interest Waiver (NIW) category has been both highly popular and nearly dead at various times over the last three decades depending on the views of the government at various moments in time. NIWs…

If you are a temporary visa holder who wants to apply for a green card or marry a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may have heard of the USCIS 90-day rule. This is a guideline that USCIS uses to determine whether you misled the government officials when you obtained your visa or entered the…

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chamber of Commerce v. Bonta, 20-15291 held yesterday in a 2-1 decision that California businesses may require an agreement to arbitrate employment disputes as a condition of being hired or continued as an employee. The Court affirmed a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of AB 51. This bill…

The first day a new H-1B visa can be registered to be filed is Wednesday, March 1, 2023, and the last day is Friday, March 17, 2023. Since persons who miss this year’s window will have to wait until March 2024 (a year later) to apply for a new H-1B, it is imperative for individuals…