Siskind Susser is excited to announce that Lynn Susser was recently elected to ABIL, the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers. ABIL is comprised of over 20 lawyers from top tier immigration practices with years of expertise and a comprehensive understanding of immigration law. For more information on ABIL, including a map of ABIL attorneys worldwide, visit their website at www.abil.com.
The following articles are excerpts from ABIL’s monthly Immigration Insider, available here on their website.
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USCIS Plans to Revise Definition of Specialty Occupation, Employment, Employer-Employee Relationship, Among Other Actions
On April 4, 2018, L. Francis Cissna, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), sent a letter to Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary discussing the agency’s review of existing regulations, policies, and programs and its development of “a combination of rulemaking, policy memoranda, and operational changes to implement the ‘Buy American and Hire American’ Executive Order.” Mr. Cissna said that, among other things, USCIS plans to propose regulations to revise the definition of specialty occupation “to increase focus on obtaining the best and the brightest foreign nationals via the H1B program,” and to revise the definitions of employment and employer-employee relationship “to better protect U.S. workers and wages.” In addition, he said DHS will propose “additional requirements designed to ensure employers pay appropriate wages to H-1B visa holders.” The letter does not specify how these definitions will be revised or when the proposed regulations will be issued.
The letter also confirms USCIS’ plans to propose regulatory changes to remove H-4 dependent spouses from the class of aliens eligible for employment authorization.
Mr. Cissna confirmed that USCIS is also drafting a proposed rule to remove the International Entrepreneur Rule, noting that the rule is currently in effect. He said USCIS has not approved “any parole requests under the International Entrepreneur Rule at this time.”
The USCIS letter is at https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2018-04-4%20USCIS%20to%20CEG%20-%20Buy%20America,%20Hire%20America%20update.pdf.
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ABIL Global: Turkey
Turkey is requiring companies to have online governmental communications accounts to file work permits.
Several years ago, Turkey created an online registration system for receiving official government communications and notices electronically. The Information, Communication and Technologies Authority of Turkey (under the Ministry of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communication) created the online communication system for private companies and individuals to receive official notices from various government agencies, called the KEP system (kayitli electronik posta).
The Ministry of Labor (MOL) recently announced that companies and individuals who sponsor work permits must register and use the KEP system. MOL will use the system to electronically handle filings, approvals, cancellations, or Requests for Further Evidence.
KEP Registration Generally
All companies in Turkey (with certain exceptions regarding Liaison Offices) must be registered for the KEP system. A KEP account can be purchased by each company through one of the eight entities designated by the Information, Communication and Technologies Authority (link below). The company then designates a specific individual to act as contact, who is the company’s relevant Social Security (SS) e-notification authority (“designee”). The designee must then obtain an electronic activation tool in the form of a memory stick from the agency to load onto the company’s system.
KEP Registration for MOL/Turkish Work Permits
To initiate the KEP system for work permits, the designee must complete the Company’s MOL registration through the online system at https://ecalismaizni.csgb.gov.tr/#/eizin. This requires uploading several company documents to confirm signature authority and shareholder structure. After that is completed, the designee may then delegate authority to a law firm or other agency to represent the company for work permits.
Problems with the KEP System
The use of the KEP account has not been universally welcomed. One point of contention involves the lack of flexibility with regard to whom the company selects as the designee and e-signature memory-stick holder. This is because the KEP system for MOL requires that an e-signature be given to the person designated by a company to be the SS contact. Since many larger companies have third parties designated to be the SS contact (a payroll service provider, for example), reluctance to give that same third party an e-signature for the company is not surprising. Hopefully, the MOL and KEP managers may be able to increase flexibility or change the system to address this business concern.
For further information, see https://www.btk.gov.tr/tr-TR/Sayfalar/KEP-Kayitli-Elektronik-PostaHizmet-Saglayicilar.
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Justice Dept. Settles Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim Against Texas Company
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on April 20, 2018, that it reached a settlement with Themesoft, Inc., a Texas-based company that provides consulting and staffing services to technology clients. The settlement resolves DOJ’s investigation into whether the company discriminated against a work-authorized immigrant by refusing to allow him to continue in the hiring process.
The investigation, initiated based on a worker’s complaint, revealed that Themesoft engaged in citizenship status discrimination against an asylee by refusing to process his application because he was not a lawful permanent resident, U.S. citizen, or H-1B visa holder. DOJ noted that asylees have permanent work authorization, like U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, refugees, and lawful permanent residents, so employers are generally prohibited from discriminating against them based on their citizenship status. The investigation also revealed that Themesoft requested specific immigration documentation from the worker because of his citizenship or immigration status, even though the INA’s antidiscrimination provision prohibits such conduct.
Under the settlement agreement, Themesoft will pay civil penalties for the alleged citizenship status discrimination and the unfair documentary practices. Themesoft will also post notices informing workers about their rights under the INA’s antidiscrimination provision, train its staff, and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements for three years. During the investigation, Themesoft agreed to pay the worker back pay and offered him a job. The Department’s agreement requires Themesoft to timely pay the worker the remainder of the $12,000 in back pay it still owes him.
“Employers must not engage in unlawful discrimination against asylees,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “This settlement serves as a reminder that companies that refer workers to third-party clients should be mindful of their nondiscrimination obligations.”
The settlement agreement is at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pressrelease/file/1055111/download. The DOJ press release is at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-settles-immigration-related-discriminationclaim-against-texas-company.
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This newsletter was prepared with the assistance of ABIL, the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers (www.abil.com), of which Lynn Susser is an active member.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk.