uams immigration insider...revised immigration heck-in process we have revised our immigration...

IMMIGRATION UPDATES

UAMS Immigration Insider

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Office of Immigration Services September 2020

Inside this issue:

Immigration Updates 1-2

Announcements

from our office 3

Congratulations 4

Upcoming Holidays 5

USCIS Filing Fees Increasing

October 2nd

USCIS announced on August 3rd that it is

changing the fees for many of its nonimmi-

grant and immigrant petition forms to be

effective on October 2nd, 2020. Most of the fees are increasing, but a few are decreasing

slightly. This change also affects the premium processing service. Premium processing

will now guarantee a response to an application within 15 business days instead of cal-

endar days. Below is a table showing the previous and new fee amounts for many of the

forms we frequently file at UAMS.

USCIS Field Offices Reopened

USCIS Field Offices have reopened for in-person services, including biometrics appoint-

ments, as of June 4th. See the USCIS website for information on specific offices: https://

www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings.

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closingshttps://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings


Continuing Travel Restrictions

and Visa Restrictions

Over the past several months, we have provid-

ed guidance on the new and often-changing

travel and visa restrictions put in place by

presidential proclamations and embassy closures. Below is a summary of the restrictions

that are still in place and may impact you or your employees. Since travel and visa re-

strictions are frequently changing, we encourage you to reach out to us if you have ques-

tions about a specific employee’s travel plans or visa issues. For detailed information on

specific travel restrictions or visa processing delays, please visit the NAFSA website:

https://www.nafsa.org/regulatory-information/covid-19-restrictions-us-visas-and-entry

Travel restrictions for certain countries

There are restrictions on non-U.S. Citizen travelers coming from China, Iran, European

Schengen Area, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Brazil. Travelers from these countries are

not allowed to enter the U.S. if they were physically present in that country during the 14

days prior to trying to enter the U.S. There are some national interest exemptions to these

restrictions, but they are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Visa services reopening in phases

Most U.S. Consulates and Embassies suspended visa services worldwide in March. In July,

the U.S. Department of State announced it would be resuming visa services on a post-by-

post basis. Foreign nationals should see each individual US Embassy or Consulate’s web-

site for information regarding operating status.

Suspension of Entry into the U.S. for H-1B Workers and Others to December 31, 2020

On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order suspending entry into the

United States of foreign nationals on certain nonimmigrant employment-based visas until

December 31, 2020. This suspension applies to foreign nationals outside of the United

States who do not already have a valid nonimmigrant visa who seek entry into the Unit-

ed States under several visa categories, including but not limited to the following:

IMMIGRATION UPDATES

https://www.nafsa.org/regulatory-information/covid-19-restrictions-us-visas-and-entry


• H-1B "specialty occupation" workers

• J-1 exchange visitors (including interns, trainees, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs, or summer work

travel program participants, but NOT including research scholars or short-term scholars)

The EO does allow for some exceptions for individuals involved in medical care for patients infected with

COVID-19, and medical researchers involved in helping the United States combat COVID-19. This executive

order DOES NOT impact foreign nationals already in the U.S. applying for a change to or extension of H-1B

status. However, if an H-1B foreign national in the U.S decides to travel internationally, this order COULD im-

pact their ability to return to the country. Please contact our office if you have questions related to interna-

tional travel.

Announcements from our office

New Office Location and Office Hours

Great news! Our office has moved to a new location recently, which is locat-

ed in the Shorey Building, Room S8-20B/C. Our new office hours are Monday

through Thursday: 9:00am-12:00pm; 1:30pm-4:30pm, Friday: office is closed

(email and phones only).

Revised Immigration Check-in Process

We have revised our Immigration Check-in process recently, and from now on

the new foreign national employees don’t need to request an immigration check-in appointment with our

office. Instead, they just need to bring their I-9 documents to our office within three (3) days of their employ-

ment start date at UAMS.

UAMS International Fest

UAMS International Fest will take place virtually this year on September 25, 2020 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Central Time. If you are interested in joining the meeting, please click the following link.

Join Zoom Meeting https://uams.zoom.us/j/91413294678 Meeting ID: 914 1329 4678 One tap mobile +13017158592,,91413294678# US (Germantown) +13126266799,,91413294678# US (Chicago) Join by SIP [email protected]

https://uams.zoom.us/j/91413294678mailto:[email protected]


Welcome Wing!

Welcome to Wing Chow, our newest HR Senior Con-

sultant in Immigration Services! Wing will be joining

UAMS at the end of September, and we are very excit-

ed to be adding her expertise to our team!

“Hi, my name is Wing Chow. I am going to be a new member of

the Immigration Services team at the end of September 2020. I

am originally from Hong Kong and graduated with a Master of

Arts in Asian and International Studies from City University

of Hong Kong. I moved to Arkansas in 2015 and have fallen

in love with this beautiful State ever since. For the past

three and a half years, I was working as an international

advisor in University of Arkansas Fort Smith. I enjoy work-

ing with foreign nationals and feel a strong connection with

them. During my free time, I like reading, exercise, and

chilling with my cat. Feel free to let me know if you have

any good books to recommend or funny cat pictures to

share. I can’t wait to meet you all and be part of Team

UAMS very soon. “

4301 W. Markham Street

Slot# 564

Shortey Building, 8th Floor,

Room # S8/20 B & C

Little Rock, AR 72205

Phone: 501-686-8132

Fax: 501-603-1317

E-mail: [email protected]

hr.uams.edu/immigration

UAMS Immigration

Services


Upcoming Holidays

Wednesday, Nov 11, 2020 Veteran’s Day (UAMS Holiday) Thursday, Nov 26, 2020 Thanksgiving Day (UAMS Holiday) Thursday & Friday, Dec 24-25, 2020 Christmas Eve & Christmas Day (UAMS Holiday)

Arkansas Outdoors

All of the Arkansas Outdoors events have been suspended due to COVID-19.

Page 5
http://hr.uams.edu/other/work-life-balance/immigration/

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