Samantha Wolfe

By Samantha Wolfe

The U.S. Department of State (State Department) has directed consular sections worldwide to suspend the scheduling of new interviews for international student and foreign exchange visitor visa applicants as it prepares to implement expanded screening of applicants’ social media activity. The directive, issued via internal cable and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, applies to F, M, and J visa categories, which cover academic, vocational, and exchange programs. The suspension is effective immediately but does not impact applicants who already have interviews scheduled.

This action follows a broader effort by the Trump administration to intensify scrutiny of international students and the institutions that host them. The cable instructs posts that “in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting,” consular officers should not “add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity” until further guidance is issued. Read more >>

Chris Thomas

By Chris Thomas

Employers should be aware that we anticipate a flood of Social Security Number (SSN) no-match letters in the coming weeks. In the world of I-9 compliance, companies are stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. On the one hand, if they fall short in their compliance efforts, they face potential scrutiny from the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations (DHS/HIS). On the other hand, if they go too far in their vetting efforts, they face the wrath of the Department of Justice/Immigrant & Employee Rights (DOJ/IER). A few years ago, DOJ/IER published FAQs on how employers should navigate an SSN no-match notification.  Some question whether DOJ/IER under the current administration would continue to enforce such rules, and yet, even if that’s true, nobody should question whether the private bar would be willing to take on such cases. Read more >>

Samantha Wolfe

By Samantha Wolfe

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), through its Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS), regularly conducts unannounced site visits to employers who sponsor foreign workers. If your organization employs H-1B, L-1, or other nonimmigrant workers, it’s critical to be prepared.

What Is an Administrative Site Visit?

An Administrative Site Visit (ASV) is an on-site inspection designed to verify the facts in an immigration petition and ensure compliance with immigration rules. These visits often occur without advance notice and may take place at your headquarters, HR department, client sites, or even a remote work location listed in the petition or associated Labor Condition Application (LCA). Read more >>