Effective May 17, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will temporarily suspend the biometrics requirement for certain applicants filing Form I-539 application to request an extension of stay in or change of status to H-4, L-2, and E nonimmigrant status.  This suspension will apply through May 17, 2023. This suspension will apply only to the above categories of Form I-539 applications that are either: Pending as of May 17, 2021, and have not yet received a biometric [...]

As a member of a New York State Bar Association task force,  LGT partner, Karen McMullen, is advocating for legislative solutions for safe visitation to residents of nursing homes and adult care facilities during the pandemic. Currently, visitation is limited to virtual connections or short visits with mandated masking and social distancing in designated areas – which is particularly difficult for families with loved ones suffering from dementia. Karen, along with her colleague, [...]

On March 31, 2021, New York legalized the recreational use of marijuana for individuals over the age of 21 The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) generally legalized cultivation, distribution, use, and possession of recreational marijuana in New York State Important for New York employers, MRTA amends Labor Law Section 201-d, which protects employees’ right to engage in certain recreational activities outside of work Section 201-d generally prohibits employers from [...]

How do we determine what is law, what is the government’s interpretation or application of a law, or what is just the government’s opinion? Consider the source. STATUTES: Laws Passed by a Legislature, Usually by Congress Statutes are binding law and can create new rights or obligations. The Immigration and Nationality Act is a statute. Statutes may be challenged in court if they are unconstitutional, either as written or as applied by the government. REGULATIONS: Rules Setting [...]

 On March 12, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed a new law that allows employees in New York to take up to four hours of paid leave time, per vaccination, to get vaccinated for COVID-19, which takes effect immediately and will expire on December 31, 2022 We previously published a summary of this new law here: https://www.lgtlegal.com/news/Newly-Enacted-COVID-19-Vaccination-Leave-Effective-as-of-March-12-2021_344-news.htm The New York Department of Labor has recently published guidance on this [...]