immigration

ARTICLE UPDATE 4/11/25: As of today, April 11, 2025, the Alien Registration Requirement is in effect. All noncitizens aged 14 or older who are in the United States for 30 days or longer must register with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Noncitizens subject to the registration requirement who are 18 years or older must carry proof of registration at all times. Additionally, each noncitizen required to register must also notify DHS of each change of address and provide their new

On May 7, 2025, Washington residents flying domestically or accessing some federal facilities such as USCIS for biometric appointments and interviews, will need to have an enhanced Washington State driver’s license, a U.S. passport, permanent residency card, Trusted Traveler document, or driver’s license issued by another state in compliance with the Real ID Act. An added benefit of obtaining the enhanced Washington State driver’s license is that it can be used as a substitute for a U.S. passport for the purposes of

The new administration has expressed a priority in enforcing I-9 compliance. Employers should be prepared for an increase in Form I-9 audits or worksite visits and mitigate risk of incurring fines for violations. All employers in the U.S. are required by federal law to complete and retain Forms I-9 for each employee on their payroll, which proves that the employee is eligible to work in the U.S. For current employees, employers are required to maintain original Forms I-9 on paper

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the initial H-1B registration period will start at 9:00 AM Pacific Time on March 7, 2025, and end at 9:00 AM Pacific Time on March 24, 2025. We recommend that employers start the H-1B registration process early, to ensure sufficient time for counsel to assess the case and identify any potential challenges to an H-1B filing, and to ensure that organizations filing for the first time have sufficient time to create

In recent weeks, there have been reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting unexpected visits at U.S. businesses and worksites.  This alert provides general guidance on how employers should prepare for and respond in the event of an ICE visit or raid at their workplace. PREPARE FOR A VISIT OR RAID BY ICE BY MINIMIZING RISK AND HAVING A DETAILED RESPONSE PLAN: Prepare a detailed response plan. Employers should work closely with an immigration attorney to prepare a