The Labor Commissioner has posted a mandatory workplace poster and FAQ about the additional paid sick leave for COVID-19 in 2022. The new law took effect on February 19, 2022 for employers with 26 or more employees. Notifications may be sent to the employee electronically if the employee does not go to the physical workplace…
Continue reading ›On February 9, 2022, Governor Newsom signed legislation extending COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to California workers, which becomes effective February 19, 2022, 10 days after enactment. The legislation extends up to 40 hours of paid sick leave to full-time employees of companies with 26 or more employees. Employees who are eligible will receive up…
Continue reading ›U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is publishing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on eligibility, filing, and adjudication requirements addressing Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions to update practices and align USCIS policies with recent court decisions. USCIS is updating its interpretation of the requirement for shared residence to occur during the qualifying spousal…
Continue reading ›The Biden administration is making a series of policy changes in order to make it easier for foreign students and professionals in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields to remain in the U.S. The new policies are aimed to retain foreign students in the STEM fields to compete against other countries who have…
Continue reading ›The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) started postponing non-detained and non-represented cases on January 10, 2022. Currently, the EOIR announced that non-detained and non-represented cases are further postponed till February 7, 2022, due to COVID-19. Hearings will continue via phone or online for detained cases and non-detained individuals who are represented. Please note that…
Continue reading ›U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on January 28, 2022, that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern time on March 1 and run through noon Eastern time on March 18, 2022. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit…
Continue reading ›The USCIS updated guidance on how it evaluates requirements for O-1A eligibility petitions for extraordinary ability in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) fields and whether an O-1 beneficiary’s prospective work is within their area of extraordinary ability or achievement. O-1A classification is applicable for individuals of extraordinary ability in science, education, business, or athletics.…
Continue reading ›The USCIS updated guidance on adjudicating “National Interest Waivers” regarding the requirements for job offer and labor certification for certain advance degree professionals and individuals of exceptional ability, including those with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and entrepreneurs. Under President Biden’s Executive Order 14012, the USCIS is outlining the importance…
Continue reading ›On January 13, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced clarifying guidance on how they determine whether an O-1B beneficiary will be evaluated as a person of extraordinary ability in the arts or as a person of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry when a case has elements of both. Individuals of…
Continue reading ›The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the Biden administration from enforcing its vaccine-or-testing mandate for large employers, dealing a blow to a key element of its plan to address the pandemic. However, the court approved a more modest mandate mandating vaccination of health care workers in facilities that receive federal money. The emergency temporary standard,…
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