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We are happy to announce the promotion of Mi-Rang Yoon as Partner effective January 1, 2023. Mi-Rang has been practicing for over 20 years with a number of reputable immigration practice groups and joined Clark Lau LLC in 2019 as a Senior Immigration Associate. Mi-Rang's clients recognize her for taking the time to tackle complex immigration matters and her thorough approach. Mi-Rang joins Magaly Cheng, Eric Lockwood, and Vince Lau on the leadership team at Clark Lau LLC as we head into 2023.

On November 12, 2021, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that spouses of nonimmigrants in the E-1, E-2, E-3, and L-1 status did not have to file for separate employment authorization documents to prove that they were eligible to work in the United States. Their status alone was sufficient. That said, non-spouse dependents of such nonimmigrants remained unauthorized to work. The practical question then was how the spouses would be able to prove to prospective employers their employment authorization.

On January 30, 2022, USCIS and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agency that handles the admission of nonimmigrants into...

Everyone needs permission from the US government to remain in the US and to work in the US. US employment-based immigration laws govern who and how one can obtain work permission, i.e., work visas. The ability to remain in the US and the ability to work in the US however are not necessarily entwined. Spouses of individuals who receive work visas are given visas that allow them to accompany the principal visa holder, i.e., the worker, but does not always allow them to work.

Spouses of E-1 (treaty trader), E-2 (treaty investors), E-3 (specialty occupation individuals who are citizens of Australia)...

Biden Administration Just Announced New STEM-Friendly Policies

J-1 visas are available for individuals entering the U.S. temporarily, measured in months and years, in connection with a wide range of purposes, including training and research. The Biden Administration just announced the following

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA) will have an “Early Career STEM Research Initiative” to facilitate nonimmigrant BridgeUSA exchange visitors coming to the U.S. to engage in STEM research. There will be new guidance that will facilitate additional academic training for undergraduate and graduate students in STEM fields on a J-1 visa for periods up to...

Today the White House announced the overarching details of the long-awaited lifting of the “travel ban.” Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House has prohibited entry into the United States of individuals who had been present in a list of countries within 14 days of seeking admission into the United States, with certain exceptions. These countries include the United Kingdom, Ireland, countries of the Schengen region, China, Brazil, India, and South Africa. As of November 8, 2021, this ban will no longer be in place. Instead, the White House is requiring travelers to the United States to...

The White House just announced today that it will be taking an individualized approach, versus a categorical approach, to curb the spread of COVID-19 arising out of international travel.

Currently, individuals who have been in any of the restricted countries within 14 days of traveling to the U.S. are prohibited from entering unless they meet certain exceptions. Such countries include China, Brazil, South Africa, India, the U.K., Ireland, and the Schengen countries. The White House announced today that starting in early November these restrictions will be dropped. Instead, all adults traveling into the United States will need to provide proof...