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WR Immigration News Digest

May 29, 2025 | Immigration Updates

Policy Watch: Rising Scrutiny on International Students and OPT Compliance

The Trump administration recently moved to restrict international student access at Harvard, including suspending student visa eligibility and SEVP certification though a federal court has temporarily blocked enforcement. At the same time, ICE has begun issuing warning notices to F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) who have not reported employment, threatening SEVIS termination and potential removal if no action is taken within 15 days.

Impact: These developments underscore the need for clear guidance and support to help F-1 OPT hires stay compliant and maintain valid status.

Supreme Court Allows Venezuelan TPS Wind-Down to Proceed

On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court permitted the Trump administration to move forward with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans, while litigation continues. The timing of when TPS protections and work authorization will be formally revoked remains uncertain.

Impact: Employers should monitor developments closely and support TPS-holding employees with clear communication and contingency planning to maintain work authorization and business continuity.

E-Verify System Error Impacts SSA Mismatch Cases

On May 19, 2025, E-Verify announced a technical issue affecting cases referred between April 9 and May 5, where Social Security Administration (SSA) mismatches or dual SSA and DHS mismatches—may have incorrectly resulted in Final Nonconfirmations (FNCs), despite employees taking appropriate steps to resolve them.

Impact: Review affected FNCs and reinitiate E-Verify cases if needed. Do not take adverse action based on impacted results, and monitor case statuses for delays.

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Launching Q1 2025 Benchmarking Collective Survey | The Business Immigration Benchmark (038)

By Laura Bloniarz Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe here to get the latest updates on the Business Immigration Benchmark podcast and more! In this week’s episode of The Business Immigration Benchmark, I sat down with WR’s Community Manager, Sydney Bridger, SHRM-SCP, to explore the latest trends in global mobility and how teams are adapting to the new administration. We discussed the early themes emerging from our 2025 Q1 Benchmarking Survey (still fielding responses, so reach out if you’d like to participate), including communication strategies, managing foreign national anxiety, and updating policies to stay compliant in a rapidly changing environment. For global mobility professionals navigating uncertainty, this episode provides actionable insights into how technology, compliance, and change management are shaping industry priorities. Key Takeaways: 1. Adapting to the New Administration: With the Trump administration’s return, global mobility teams are facing renewed compliance challenges. The survey reveals that many organizations are already making process updates, anticipating policy shifts, and refining their communication strategies to keep employees informed. 2. Leveraging Technology & Compliance Strategies: Companies are increasingly relying on technology to streamline immigration processes, audit compliance, and improve data management. Ensuring accurate reporting systems and proactively updating records will be critical […]

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WR Immigration News Digest

USCIS Releases Updated Form I-9 On April 2, 2025, E-Verify announced minor updates to Form I-9 to align with statutory language and an updated DHS Privacy Notice. The revised form (edition 01/20/25, expiration 05/31/2027) is now available. Prior editions (including 08/01/23) remain valid until their listed expiration dates. Key Changes: E-Verify Alignment: Impact: Global mobility teams should ensure systems reflect the new Form I-9 edition and expiration date, coordinate with E-Verify partners to align terminology, and begin transitioning to the updated form while still accepting valid older versions. Court Order Extends Venezuela TPS and Work Authorization On April 2, 2025, USCIS announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela remains in effect following a federal court order issued on March 31, 2025. The order delays the previously published termination of the 2023 TPS designation. As a result, TPS for Venezuela will continue until the Department of Homeland Security obtains relief from the court’s decision. In connection with this ruling, USCIS also confirmed that work permits issued under Venezuela’s TPS designation, specifically those with expiration dates of September 10, 2025; April 2, 2025; March 10, 2024; or September 9, 2022 are automatically extended through April 2, 2026, while litigation is ongoing. […]

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