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The Department of Homeland Security published notice in the Federal Register that the designation of Nepal for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will terminate on Aug. 5, 2025.
Key Points:
Additional Information: Nepal was initially designated for TPS on June 24, 2015, for a period of 18 months, based on an earthquake that resulted in a substantial disruption of living conditions. Since then, TPS has been extended several times, with the last 18-month extension starting on Dec. 25, 2023, and in effect through June 24, 2025.
DHS estimates that approximately 12,700 nationals of Nepal (and nonimmigrants having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nepal) hold TPS under Nepal’s designation. Of those, approximately 5,500 have become lawful permanent residents of the U.S.
DHS determined that “conditions in Nepal have improved in several areas relevant to the affected living conditions and Nepal’s ability to handle the return of its nationals.” The termination notice can be viewed here.
The termination of the designation is subject to litigation. BAL will continue to monitor this litigation and related cases.
This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.
Copyright © 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Trump administration issued two Presidential Proclamations on June 4 with the first taking effect June 9 and imposing full and partial travel restrictions barring entry to the U.S. for 19 countries, subject to certain exceptions. The second imposes restrictions on certain international students pursuing studies at Harvard University.
Additional Information: Foreign nationals are reminded to speak with their BAL team prior to international travel and to be aware of general travel requirements, including maintaining valid status in the U.S. The above policies may be subject to litigation. BAL will continue to monitor developments and update accordingly. U.S. immigration policies may change quickly and without prior notice.
For the latest updates and insights regarding these policies, in-house immigration professionals are invited to join BAL Community at no cost.
The fact sheet for the proclamation, “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” can be found here.
The fact sheet for the proclamation, “Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University,” can be found here.
BAL is once again recognized as a Band 1 immigration law firm in the Chambers USA Guide 2025, earning the highest tier ranking nationwide as well as for its California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia offices. BAL’s newest office in Georgia was also recognized in its first year with the firm.
Described as “thorough and well-versed” in immigration law and “stellar at handling complexity and strategy” by anonymous respondents, BAL has received a Band 1 ranking by Chambers for 13 consecutive years. Additionally, 19 BAL attorneys were recognized in this year’s guide, including CEO Jeremy Fudge and Managing Partner Frieda Garcia, who were both honored as Eminent Practitioners.
“We set high expectations for ourselves as a firm — ensuring our clients and their employees get the best of BAL, every time,” said Garcia. “Our team pursues the exceptional for clients, foreign nationals and each other every single day. I’m thrilled to see the firm and several of our attorneys continuously recognized for those efforts.”
Rankings are determined through Chambers’ in-depth methodology involving client feedback. BAL clients shared the following assessments of the firm in their interviews with Chambers:
Along with Fudge and Garcia, Chambers’ 2025 individual lawyer recognitions also include BAL’s Ruth Clark, Sharon Cook, Josiah Curtis, Maria DeLapp, Tiffany Derentz, Michael Dubitzky, Michelle Funk, Michelle Gergerian, John Hamill, Jeff Joseph, Jim King, Lynden Melmed, Gabe Mozes, Jessica Mullins-Ta, Maggie Murphy, Edward Rios and Russell Swapp. Cook, Curtis, Funk, Joseph and Swapp all earned Band 1 rankings; Dubitzky, Hamill and Mullins-Ta received first-time rankings.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will only accept the updated Jan. 20, 2025, edition of the N-600K starting July 3, 2025.
Additional Information: More tips and instructions for filing the form online or via mail can be found here.
Homeland Security published notice in the Federal Register that the designation of Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will terminate on Aug. 4, 2025.
Additional Information: Cameroon was initially designated for TPS on June 7, 2022, for a period of 18 months, based on continued armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in the country that prevented nationals of Cameroon from returning in safety. Following the initial designation, DHS extended and redesignated Cameroon for TPS for 18 months, beginning on Dec. 8, 2023, and ending on June 7, 2025, based on ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions.
DHS determined that “while certain conditions that led to the initial designation of TPS for Cameroon may continue, they do not pose a serious threat to individual safety due to ongoing armed conflict and do not result in Cameroonians being unable to safely return.” The termination notice can be viewed here.
Starting July 3, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will only accept the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.
If a civil surgeon signs the form on or before July 2, 2025, either the 03/09/23 or the 01/20/25 edition must be used.
The edition date can be found at the bottom of the form and instructions page.
Additional Information: In January, USCIS announced it was waiving the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for certain adjustment of status applicants.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) recently announced solicitation of input for the annual determination of labor supply states (LSS) to enhance U.S. worker recruitment under the 2022 H-2A Final Rule.
Additional Information: The OFLC Administrator will also consider data and information about labor flow trends from the public to inform a determination regarding expanded interstate circulation of H-2A job orders by State Workforce Agencies on behalf of employers. These determinations are important for ensuring that agricultural job opportunities are more broadly available to qualified workers in the United States.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) recently announced it will permanently delete records for which a final determination was made more than five years ago from the decommissioned legacy Permanent Online System.
Additional Information: The FLAG System was implemented to replace the legacy Permanent Online System, improve customer service and modernize the administration of foreign labor certification programs. Employers and their representatives who wish to obtain any records from the legacy Permanent Online System must submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request no later than June 5, 2025. After this date, affected records will no longer be retrievable.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues to roll out airport modernization enhancements to support the expected increase in international travel, including Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) and Seamless Border Entry (SBE) at certain U.S. airports.
Additional Information: All CBP mobile apps are free and available through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, or by visiting the CBP Mobile Apps Directory.
Update on applications received for requested date of need from Oct. 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025 (fiscal year (FY) 2025 first half of the visa cap):
The Department of Labor (DOL) reported that as of May 17, a total of 5,944 cases were issued Final Decisions. Certified positions for this period were allocated for 111,019 workers.
In April, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reached the additional H-2B visa cap made for returning workers for the early second half of FY 2025 with start dates from April 1 to May 14, 2025.
Update on applications received for requested date of need from April 1, 2025 (FY 2025 second half of the visa cap):
As of May 17, a total of 8,501 cases were issued Final Decisions. Certified positions for this period were allocated for 116,602 workers.
Additional Information: On May 15, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification published an updated Foreign Labor Recruiter List of names for the H-2B program as required by Temporary Employment of Foreign Workers in the United States federal regulations and to help ensure greater transparency the for the H-2B worker recruitment process and facilitate the interagency exchange of information within the U.S. government.
The list contains the name and location of persons or entities identified on Appendix C of Form ETA-9142B that were hired by, planning to engage or work on behalf of employers in the recruitment of prospective H-2B workers to perform the work described on their H-2B application and includes only those names and locations associated with H-2B applications that were processed or issued a Final Decision from Oct. 1, 2023, through March 31, 2025.
The H-2B Foreign Labor Recruiter List for Q2 FY 2025 can be downloaded here.