On December 04, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the third version of President Trump’s travel ban will be allowed to go into effect. Although other legal challenges are still making their way through the court system, as of December 08, 2017, restrictions went into effect limiting travel for people from eight nations. Effect of the Supreme Court’s order: In practical terms, the orders issued by the U.S. Supreme Court,...

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has amended the regulations regarding Optional Practical Training (OPT) for certain F-1 students who earned a degree in Science, Technology Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) from a U.S. college or university. The amended rule allows F-1 Students currently on OPT who possess a degree in a STEM field to extend their period of OPT for an additional 24 months. The 24 month STEM-OPT extension will be...

On October 16, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released an advanced copy of its proposed rule for an extension of Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 nonimmigrant students with STEM degrees. The proposed rule will be published on October 19, 2015 and the DHS will accept comments through November 18, 2015. The rule in its current form is a proposed rule and is not yet final. The proposed rule...

Many foreign nationals residing in Colorado have likely noticed the “black bar” across the foreign national’s Colorado driver’s license reading “not valid for federal identification, voting or public benefit purposes” and thought to themselves – “wait, I shouldn’t have a black bar on my license, I never had a black bar before, this is a mistake…” It is not a mistake.  U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents residing in Colorado continue...

As part of the President’s administrative action on immigration, the administration announced a program to reform the Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) program. OPT is a program for F-1 student visa holders to seek an additional 12 months in status to seek temporary employment in their field of study. Secretary Johnson has asked USCIS and ICE to develop a program to extend benefits and expand programs eligible for OPT, as well as...