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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a notice for a proposed rule to rescind several provisions from its April 29, 2024, final rule governing the H-2A visa program.
Key Points:
Additional Information: The H-2A visa program allows U.S. agricultural employers to hire foreign nationals for temporary or seasonal work when domestic labor is insufficient. The April 2024 rule was initially introduced to strengthen worker protections and improve oversight of employer practices.
The DOL encourages feedback from both employers and worker advocacy groups to ensure the final rule reflects a fair and effective framework for the H-2A program.
Public comments can be submitted through Sept. 2, 2025 here.
This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will only accept the Jan. 20, 2025, edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker starting July 30, 2025.
Until July 30, petitioners can also use the Jan. 17, 2025, edition (edition dates are located at the bottom of the form page).
Form I-129 is filed on behalf of temporary nonimmigrant workers to obtain a certain visa classification (e.g., H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, L-1, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1 or R-1) or to request an extension of stay in or change of status to certain visa classifications.
More information on Form I-129, including instructions, fees and filing tips can be found here.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti effective Sept. 2, 2025.
Additional Information: In February, DHS rescinded Haiti’s extended TPS designation, shortening it to Aug. 3, 2025. The official notice for Termination of the Designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status was published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2025.
The U.S. Embassy Jerusalem’s latest security alert states that Ben Gurion airport is now open and that the Israel Airport Authority has lifted restrictions on incoming/outgoing flights and the number of passengers on each flight.
U.S. citizens are advised to check for seat availability on El Al, Arkia, Air Haifa and Israir.
Additional information on airlines, border crossings and security precautions can be found here.
Starting July 1, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will no longer send short message service (SMS), also known as text messages, from the number 468-311 (GOV-311). The new official SMS number will be 872466 (USAIMM).
This change affects all USCIS text communications, including case status updates, appointment reminders and security notifications. Recipients should be cautious of messages purporting to be from the USCIS that do not originate from the new number and update contact records accordingly to avoid confusion or missed notifications. USCIS does not direct message through social media platforms.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released an alert on updated policy guidance for the TN visa program under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) clarifying eligibility, filing procedures and occupational criteria for Canadian and Mexican professionals seeking employment in the United States.
Additional Information: The TN visa classification, originally established under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, facilitates cross-border employment for qualified Canadian and Mexican professionals in the United States. Employers are encouraged to review the new chapters (1–6) in Volume 2, Part P of the USCIS Policy Manual to ensure compliance with the latest standards.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will resume regular appointments for U.S. passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) today, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Emergency passport services will be available without appointments for walk-ins before 8:30 a.m. in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Visa operations in both locations will resume on Monday, June 30.
U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) issued a reminder that the three-day filing window for H-2B visa applications with an October 1, 2025, start date will open at 12 a.m. ET on July 3 and close at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 5, 2025.
o File only one application per job opportunity to avoid duplicate submissions
o Clearly detail deductions for board, lodging or other facilities
o Include a copy of the work order submitted to the State Workforce Agency (SWA) with the application
o Use only original and current signatures on Appendix B
Additional Information: The H-2B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary non-agricultural jobs when there are not enough U.S. workers available. The program is subject to a statutory cap, divided into two halves of the fiscal year. The July 3–5 filing window is critical for employers aiming to secure workers for the October 1 start date, which marks the beginning of the first half of FY 2026.
Employers requesting start dates after October 1 must follow the standard timeliness rules under 20 CFR 655.15(b), which require filing no more than 90 days and no fewer than 75 days before the employment start date.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched the new CBP Link mobile app, which facilitates certain processes and functions for businesses and travelers entering the United States.
Additional Information: Although the CBP Link app has the same functions formerly included in the CBP Home app, the latter will now solely be used for self-deportation.
The State Department released a worldwide caution security alert advising U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution while travelling abroad. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar issued a security alert for American citizens to shelter in place until further notice. The U.S. Embassy Jerusalem is still directing U.S. government employees and their families to continue to shelter in place but is providing limited passport services and currently assisting with departures.
Additional Information: The U.S. Embassy is not endorsing third party providers assisting U.S. citizens in departing Israel, but there have been successful evacuations via this route. U.S. citizens can also check local media for commercial opportunities to depart Israel by ship. Regularly monitoring the State Department’s travel advisories for Israel, the West Bank, Gaza is also advised.
BAL will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.