On Tuesday, March 30, 2021, the PPP Extension Act was signed into law.  This gives small business owners the opportunity to apply for a PPP Loan until May 31, 2021.  Here is a link to the SBA’s Press Release on the PPP Extension Act of 2021:  SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman’s Statement on President Biden signing the PPP Extension Act of 2021 into law. The Attorneys at Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP are available to provide advice and counsel concerning [...]

The H-1B electronic registration period closed at noon (ET) on March 25, 2021. Registrants and their legal representatives have started to receive H-1B selection notices from USCIS over the weekend. USCIS plans to send out formal communications to inform the public regarding if and when the selection period has closed in the coming days. A registrant’s USCIS online account will show one of the following statuses for each registration: Submitted: The registration has been submitted [...]

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) is the latest federal COVID-19 relief bill, which the President signed into law March 11, 2021.  The ARPA expands on some of the critical provisions in the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act and is aimed to aid individuals, businesses as well as state and local governments.  A summary of the ARPA is provided below.  The APRA provides funding for: agriculture and nutrition programs, including [...]

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 The law adds Section 159-c to the New York Civil Service Law and Section 196-c to the New York Labor Law (NYLL) This new leave entitlement affects both private and public employers and employees Employees shall be provided a sufficient period of [...]

The Department of Homeland Security is designating Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, effective 3/9/21 through 9/9/22. This new designation enables Venezuelan nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Venezuela) currently residing in the United States to file initial applications for TPS, so long as they meet eligibility requirements. To be eligible for the Temporary Protected Status, individuals must be able to demonstrate continuous [...]