News

On Friday, January 27, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order entitled, "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States." In the week that followed much confusion and complication have ensued for international travels. While matters are still in flux, and your Clark Lau team continues to monitor its latest developments, including a current federal court order issued by a court in Washington state that has national impact and that could be challenged, below are highlights of the Executive Order and some practical implications in regards to international travel. Highlights of the Executive Order • Suspend issuance...

Federal Court Halts Executive Order Tonight a federal court in New York granted a motion which temporarily halts the effects of the Executive Order banning the entry of certain individuals (see posting from earlier). This order retrains the U.S. government from removing any individuals with a refugee application already approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, holders of valid immigrant visas (green cards), nonimmigrant visas, and "other individuals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen legally authorized to enter the United States." With that said, and in light of uncertainties ahead, Clark Lau cautions individuals fitting...

Additional Executive Order Impacting Travel Yesterday afternoon President Trump signed another Executive Order; this one is entitled "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States" and takes effect immediately. Of note is the fact that this Executive Order bans the entry of nonimmigrants (people who have different visa status) and immigrants (people who already have U.S. green cards) from entering the United States if they are from certain designated countries. Reports indicate that this has also been practically applying to dual citizens. Such countries include Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. This ban takes effect...

Today, President Trump signed two executive orders that will affect our current immigration system and many individuals who are in the United States without status. Through these orders, President Trump seeks to curtail immigration efforts and keep his campaign promise to build a wall in the southern border. Among many of the provisions in these orders, the most notable provisions are the following: The Secretary of Homeland Security ("Secretary") will begin construction of a physical wall between the United States and Mexico; The Secretary will immediately construct facilities near the southern border to detain foreign nationals entering the United States...

New Options for Entrepreneurs Formalized Back in August we reported that the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") proposed an "International Entrepreneur Rule" which would allow individuals, and their families, who met certain criteria to be admitted, to remain, and to work in the United States for an initial period of two years, with a possible extension of three years. Today, the DHS published that proposal as a final rule which will take effect on July 17, 2017. Please see our posting of August 27, 2016 for highlights. (http://www.clarklau.com/index.cfm/News/dspNewsDetail/66) Please consult Clark Lau LLC to for more information and whether this...

Good News for the New Year Happy New Year! It's always good to start the new year off with a bit of good news. Clark Lau LLC assists many individuals in seeking permanent residency in the U.S. While most are employer- or family-sponsored, there are those who are able to self-sponsor based on their own accomplishments. One such avenue is the National Interest Waiver ("NIW") route. Due to one's accomplishments, one may be able to waive the labor certification application, i.e., waive having to prove to the U.S. Department of Labor that there is a shortage of U.S. workers in...