Immigration Update

Apr 26, 2021 | Immigration Updates

Please see below for updates and changes from SSA, DHS, ICE and CBP!

SSA Ends “No-Match” Letters

Good news!  The Social Security Administration (SSA) has ended the practice of sending employers “no-match” letters, called Employer Correction Request Notices. SSA said it will instead work to make it better, easier and more convenient for employers to report and correct wages electronically. The letters, which inform employers when W-2 information doesn’t match SSA’s records, were discontinued in 2012 but resurrected in March 2019. Advocates had asked the agency to eliminate the letters, which they said caused problems such as workers losing their jobs due to mistakes in the database.

DHS to Make Additional 22,000 Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Visas Available

In light of increased labor demands, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a supplemental increase of 22,000 visas this fiscal year for the H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker program. DHS said the additional visas will be made available in the “coming months” via a temporary final rule. Six thousand of these visas will be reserved for nationals of the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, DHS said. The additional visas will only be made available to employers that attest that, if they do not receive workers under the cap increase, they are likely to suffer irreparable harm, DHS. Additionally, the temporary final rule will allow employers to immediately hire H-2B workers who are already present in the United States without waiting for approval of a new petition. The supplemental increase does not affect the H-2B program in future fiscal years.

President Biden Orders CBP, ICE to Change Terminology

Will the agencies become more friendly?  Under orders of the Biden administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued memoranda to their employees to stop using certain terms and replace them with others.

Examples include:

  • “alien”—use “noncitizen” or “migrant”
  • “alienage—use “noncitizenship”
  • “illegal alien”—use “undocumented noncitizen,” “undocumented individual,” or “migrant”
  • “unaccompanied alien children”—use “noncitizen unaccompanied children”
  • “assimilation”— use “integration” or “civic integration”
  • “immigrant assimilation”— use “immigrant integration”

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DHS Provides Relief for Venezuelan and Syrian F-1 Students

Venezuelan and Syrian students will find some relief soon. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has suspended certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Venezuela or Syria. DHS said it took this action for Venezuelan students who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, and for Syrian students who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the civil unrest in Syria since March 2011. DHS said that affected Venezuelan and Syrian lawful F-1 nonimmigrant students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course loads while continuing to maintain F-1 status.  These provisions will remain effective for Venezuelan students until September 9, 2022, and for Syrian students until September 30, 2022.

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Rapid-Fire Wednesdays Q&A |TPS Programs: Venezuela & Haiti| 2/26/2025

The transcript version of our weekly Q&A livestream for corporate immigration professionals. Join our Immigration News Digest Newsletter for more immigration updates. By Kimberley (Best) Robidoux & Miki Kawashima Matrician 🔥 Question: What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and how does it work? Response: TPS is a program that Congress created in 1990 to provide temporary protections to nationals of countries experiencing humanitarian disasters, environmental emergencies, or armed conflicts. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reviews conditions in these countries and determines whether they should be designated under TPS, typically for 6, 12, or 18 months. Sixty days before a designation expires, DHS decides whether to extend or terminate TPS based on conditions in the country. If conditions have not improved, the designation may be extended; if they have, it may be terminated. 🔥 Question: Who is eligible for TPS, and what benefits does it provide? Response: Foreign nationals eligible for TPS must be from a designated country, have been continuously present in the U.S. since the effective date of TPS, and must not be inadmissible for criminal or national security reasons. Eligible individuals must register during the specified period and may also apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), […]

WR Immigration News Digest

New Visa Restrictions Disrupt International Student Pipeline The Trump administration has paused all new F, M, and J visa interview appointments as it considers expanding mandatory social media screening. This move is expected to delay fall arrivals and impact onboarding for OPT/STEM OPT hires. Additionally, the administration plans to revoke visas of certain Chinese nationals in sensitive fields, increasing scrutiny and uncertainty for students and early-career professionals. Impact: In-house mobility teams should prepare for delays, reevaluate timelines for student visa holders, and communicate potential risks to business stakeholders. These changes may also accelerate talent shifts toward more welcoming global destinations. Supreme Court Clears Path to End Humanitarian Parole for CHNV Nationals On May 30, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can terminate the humanitarian parole program for over 500,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) currently in the U.S. The 7–2 decision allows the government to end protections while legal challenges are still pending. Justices Jackson and Sotomayor dissented, warning of the serious humanitarian and legal consequences of removing protections before the courts resolve the issue. Impact: Employers should review whether any employees or candidates are on CHNV parole and prepare for possible work authorization disruptions. Alternative […]