San Francisco Immigration Law Blog

The EB-5 visa program allows investors to come to the U.S.

On behalf of Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

There are many different visa programs to help people immigrate to the United States, each of which can apply to different personal and career situations. Many people are familiar with the HB-1 visa, which allows for skilled workers to enter the United States. Others are also aware of the L group of visas, which help those with existing work relationships with a company to transfer to the United States.

However, exceptional professional careers do not always result in employment. Sometimes, the most exceptional professionals are actually job creators, as opposed to individuals accepting jobs from others. For many years, individuals who were job creators and not employees had a difficult time gaining legal entrance into the United States for work.

Does your company need an L-1A or L-1B visa for a transfer?

On behalf of Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

For many businesses, it makes more financial sense to transfer internal employees when a position opens up. Whether you are taking an employee with years of experience and promoting them to a new position or having that person move into a similar position in a new location, it can be much easier then training someone new.

It is also more cost-effective, as you will not have to spend weeks or months familiarizing somebody with your company's standard practices.

I-9 Verification Places Employers at Risk of Severe Penalties for Failing to Notice Errors in Paperwork

On behalf of Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation on Sunday, August 12, 2018.

Employers are responsible for ensuring the employee completed section one of the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and for completing section two of the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form, as well as to verify that proper documentation has been provided to demonstrate an employee's eligibility to work in the U.S. Failing to properly verify their employees places employers at significant risk of civil and criminal penalties.

The Department of Homeland Security Has Twenty Days to Provide a Rational Explanation to Deny DACA to Dreamers

On behalf of Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation posted in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on Tuesday, August 7, 2018.

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia again concludes that DHS's September 2017 decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was both subject to judicial review and arbitrary and capricious. However, the Court will continue the stay of its order of vacate for twenty days to permit the government to determine whether it intends to appeal the Court's decision and, if so, to seek a stay pending appeal.

What do you need to do to get the E-2 classification?

On behalf of Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation on Friday, July 20, 2018.

If you are planning on investing in the United States but live in a foreign country, one thing you should look into is an E-2 treaty investor visa. This classification identifies you as a person who is allowed to be admitted into the United States for the purpose of investing capital into U.S.-based businesses.

The E-2 nonimmigrant classification only works for those who are nationals of countries involved in the treaty. If your country is part of the treaty, then you and qualifying family members may be able to come to the United States to live.

Visa programs allow immigrant workers to stay with their families

On behalf of Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Growing companies often need to have a broad approach to securing the best possible talent for open positions. In some cases, that could mean hiring workers from another country to fill a skilled role within your business. Whether that person has an existing relationship with your company or is a new hire, securing a work visa is only one critical step to hiring an international worker.

One of the biggest concerns for people from other countries considering a job in the United States of America is the potential for long-term separation from their families. Thankfully, most of the professional visa programs do have special processes in place to allow for family members to accompany workers with a valid visa during their time in the United States.

Trump's Immigration Policy Divides Immigrant Families

By Donny Smith of Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation posted in Immigration Policy on Monday, May 14, 2018.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recently announced "zero tolerance immigration policy for illegal entry on our Southwest border" is counter to America's immigration policy favoring family unification because it will ultimately divide more families than unify them.

May 7, 2018, the US Attorney General Jeff Sessions further indicated this administration's position on immigration and families when he announced that the Department of Homeland Security will now refer 100% of its deportation proceedings for unlawful Southwest Border crossings to the Department of Justice for prosecution.

USCIS Director Announces Pending Changes to the H-1B Visa Program

On behalf of Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation posted in Immigration Policy on Wednesday, April 25, 2018.

On April 4, 2018, the Director of USCIS, Lee Francis Cissna, wrote Congress on USCIS' efforts to comply with the April 2017 Executive Order, "Buy American, Hire American." Below is Litwin & Smith's summary of the existing, pending, and proposed changes that have occurred since the Executive Order:

USCIS Reports That H-1B Approvals Historic Low

By Donny Smith of Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation on Monday, April 23, 2018.

For many employers and employees the H-1B Visa has become an elusive thing of the past decade as H-1B approvals have gone from an all-time high of around 87% to an all-time low under 60%.¹ These charts tell the story of how the H-1B visa became evermore available over the past ten years to plummet 20% below the numbers 10 years earlier.

Trumpification Adds Social Media Profile Requirement

By Donny Smith of Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation posted in Trumpification on Friday, March 30, 2018.

In response to the Trumpification of America's immigration policy, the Department is also adding several additional questions for immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants.