Shuyuan Tian, Esq. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to revert to administering the 2008 civics test to naturalization applicants, beginning March 1, 2021. Pursuant to the new policy, anyone who filed for naturalization before December 1, 2020, or on or after March 1, 2021, will take the 2008 civics test.  Applicants who filed the application on or after December 1, 2020 and before March 1, 2021, may have the [...]

On February 22, 2021, the Biden administration announced several changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) recognizing that the initial round of the PPP left several very small businesses out while larger, well-connected businesses received funds quickly.  In an effort to reach smaller, minority-owned businesses and sole proprietors, and to ensure that these entities are not crowded out by larger borrowers, only businesses with fewer than 20 employees have an exclusive [...]

FY2021 H-1B visa Cap Has Been Reached:On February 16, 2021, USCIS announced that it has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2021.USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise EXEMPT from the cap and are filed to:* Extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the [...]

Attorney Jamye Lindsey has been elected to serve as 6th Judicial District Delegate on the Section’s Executive Committee by the NYSBA Trusts & Estates Law Section! Congratulations Jamye!!   Jamye will be responsible for representing the interests of all the Section estate and trust planning lawyers in the ten counties in the 6th District, working on regional continuing education programs and hosting events for current and prospective Section members.   The Trusts [...]

A. Employer Experience RatingThe New York State Department of Labor (DOL) issued an Order dated January 14, 2021 regarding unemployment experience rating charges during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to this Order, the employer account of an employer liable for unemployment contributions shall not be charged for the duration of the claim for benefits paid to a claimant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such charges are to be made to the general account. The provisions of the Order apply to 100% of [...]