I could do a whole blog on how much I love Positano. This seaside town on the Amalfi Coast is one of my favorite places to visit. We try to come here every year for at least a few days. This year I spent a lot of time on the water which is one of the best ways to see the region. Yesterday, I went on a lovely boat ride and stopped at several places along the coast for a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is refreshing (“fresca” as they say here). Afterwards, with a Bellini in hand, we admired the great views of the coast from the sea and slowly made our way back to Positano. I will miss this view (until next year).
5 Quick (But Important) Tips for ESTA
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (or ESTA, as it is commonly known) is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The VWP enables most foreign nationals from participating countries to travel to the US for tourism or business without first obtaining a visa, if they meet certain requirements. These prospective travelers are required to demonstrate their eligibility for the VWP by applying for travel authorization via ESTA prior to boarding a plane or vessel bound for the US. Through ESTA, the US government compares the applicant’s personal information against various databases in order to determine whether there is a law enforcement or security reason to deem that person ineligible to travel to the US under the VWP. While the ESTA is valid for two years or until the applicant’s passport expires, the actual permitted stay in the US on the VWP is only ninety days at a time.
Read moreUSCIS: “Deadline to Submit DACA Renewal Requests Approaching On Oct. 5”
US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a statement reminding eligible Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients that the deadline to file DACA renewal requests and employment authorization applications is October 5, 2017. This deadline comes in response to President Trump’s decision to end the Obama administration’s DACA program, which has protected approximately 800,000 young immigrants who were brought to the US as children and who hold no legal status. DACA also provided these individuals with work authorization. In a memorandum on September 5, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that they would begin to wind down the program until it officially expires on March 5, 2018. After the DACA program expires, it is unknown what will happen to those who were granted deferred action. The Trump administration has repeatedly stated that in the meantime it is up to Congress to develop a solution. The Trump administration would support legislation allowing DACA recipients to obtain lawful permanent status and eventually citizenship, according to testimony by a DHS official to Congress earlier today.
Read moreUSCIS: “Premium Processing Now Available for All Petitioners Seeking H-1B Visas”
Effective today, October 3, 2017, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has resumed premium processing for all H-1B visa extension of stay petitions. Premium processing is now available for all H-1B petitions. Earlier this year, USCIS had suspended premium processing for all cap and cap exempt cases, but resumed premium processing in stages for certain H-1B petitions. Prior to today, USCIS resumed premium processing for H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap, petitions filed on behalf of physicians under the Conrad 30 waiver program, as well as for interested government agency waivers and certain H-1B petitions not subject to the cap.
Read moreThe Chance to Feel Safe
Autumn Nights in Prague!
As fall begins, I spent a few days in Prague. Of course, it was hard to miss the stunning Prague Castle (not to mention the beautiful 14th century Charles Bridge). Prague Castle is said to be the world’s largest castle area, with three courtyards spread over eighteen acres. Along with admiring the beauty of the city, I also admired Roger Federer's singles and doubles win at the Laver Cup. It was the first (and will likely be the only) time Roger played doubles with his rival, Rafael Nadal, and it was a joy to watch the camaraderie between the two throughout the weekend!
Reuters: “Trump administration red tape tangles up visas for skilled foreigners, data shows”
US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), under the leadership of the Trump administration, has been challenging a significant number of visa applications for skilled workers since President Trump vowed to investigate the “fraud and abuse” of the H-1B visa program by American-based companies this past April. Although neither the Trump administration nor Congress have instituted any changes to the H-1B program, data provided by USCIS reveals that the agency has issued 85,000 challenges, or “requests for evidence” (RFE’s), regarding H-1B visa petitions between January 1st and August 31st of this year. This is a forty-five percent increase since the same period of time last year. These RFE’s have also been issued at a rate greater than any point during the Obama administration, apart from 2009. RFE's can delay cases by months, and often interfere with hiring plans and business operations for American companies.
Read morePresident Trump Issues New Travel Restrictions for Nationals of 7 Countries
On September 24, 2017, President Trump issued a presidential proclamation that details new travel restrictions targeting nationals of seven countries, including Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, as well as places some travel restrictions or increases scrutiny for certain nationals of Venezuela and nationals of Iraq. Under this proclamation, most citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen will be banned from entering the US. Certain government officials from Venezuela who seek to visit the US will face restrictions and Iraqi nationals will face heightened scrutiny.
Read moreSlowly Over Time
National Cheeseburger Day
Thanks, Shake Shack!
In honor of National Cheeseburger Day this past Monday, September 18, we had a couple of, you guessed it, cheeseburgers (and fries). While the origins of National Cheeseburger Day are unclear, we nevertheless were excited to celebrate this special day by getting some cheeseburgers from Shake Shack, one of our favorite places. The origins of the cheeseburger itself are also unclear, with one story saying that Lionel Sternberger invented it in 1926 while working at his father’s Pasadena, California sandwich shop, The Rite Spot, when he dropped a slice of American cheese on a sizzling hamburger. O'Dell's, a Los Angeles restaurant, and Kaelin's, a Kentucky restaurant, also make a claim for its invention. Whatever the origin, cheeseburger, we honor you!