Mark A Ivener, A Law Corporation

Category: DHS


DHS Announces Security Enhancements to Visa Waiver Program

On August 6, 2015, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh C. Johnson announced the agency’s intent to implement security enhancements to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). He said that DHS, along with the Department of State and other federal agencies, will begin introducing “a number of additional or revised security criteria” for all VWP… Read More

District Court Strikes Down DHS Rule Extending STEM OPT, But Stays Action Until 2016

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia recently struck down an interim rule promulgated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in April 2008 extending, for eligible science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students, the duration of optional practical training (OPT) by 17 months. However, the court stayed that action until February 12,… Read More

Obama Administration Moves Forward With Executive Actions

On July 15, 2015, the White House announced progress and next steps in an effort begun in November 2014 to address problems in the U.S. immigration system through a series of executive actions. The next steps in this effort are summarized in a new report, “Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st… Read More

USCIS Seeks Comments on Proposed Expansion of Eligibility for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is seeking public comments on a proposed rule that would expand eligibility for provisional waivers of inadmissibility based on the accrual of unlawful presence. The proposed rule would expand eligibility to all foreign nationals who are statutorily eligible for an immigrant visa and for a waiver of inadmissibility based… Read More

DOL, DHS Publish Rules on H-2B Temporary Nonagricultural Worker Program, Related Prevailing Wage Methodology

In response to recent court decisions that the U.S. Departments of Labor and Homeland Security say have created significant uncertainty about the H-2B temporary foreign nonagricultural worker program, the agencies published an interim final rule on April 29, 2015, to reinstate and make improvements to the program, and a final rule the same day to… Read More