Benjamin, Gold & Troyb, P.C. | News / Blog - BENJAMIN, GOLD & TROYB, P.C.

USCIS Extends Covid-19-Related Flexibilities

7/26/2022

USCIS Extends Covid-19-Related Flexibilities

The U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services announced that their COVID-19 policy allowing petitions and applications to be filed with copies of signatures on forms will become a permanent policy. This policy has helped many clients who spent precious resources sending ink signatures via couriers across the nation, and sometimes between continents, just to comply with original ink signature requirements at USCIS. Making this policy permanent is a welcome step forward for USCIS, bringing the agency a little closer to reflecting modern business norms.

The announcement, available HERE, also included an extension of some COVID-19 filing deadline flexibilities through this October.

NIL Deals for International Student-Athletes

4/25/2022

NIL Deals for International Student Athletes

Beginning on July 1, 2021, the NCAA amended its bylaws to allow student-athletes to receive compensation in exchange for their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) for the first time. College athletes across the country have since signed thousands of endorsement deals worth millions of dollars. One projection expects the college athletics NIL market to grow to $1 billion in the next five years. Notably absent from NIL activities have been the majority of the NCAA’s approximately 20,000 international student-athletes.

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President Biden Announces "Uniting for Ukraine," a New Streamlined Process to Welcome Ukrainians Fleeing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

4/21/2022

President Biden to Announce Uniting for Ukraine, a New Streamlined Process to Welcome Ukrainians Fleeing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Earlier today, President Biden announced "Uniting for Ukraine," a new streamlined process to provide Ukrainian citizens who fled from the war with Russia opportunities to come to the United States. In addition, the State Department is announcing increased refugee resettlement processing and broadened access to visa processing at consular posts overseas.

Uniting for Ukraine is a streamlined process for Ukrainian citizens who have been displaced by the war with Russia to apply for humanitarian parole in the United States. To be eligible, Ukrainians must

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H-1B Visa Lottery Selections Announced for FY2023

3/29/2022

H-1B Visa Lottery Selections Announced For FY2023

USCIS just announced that they have completed the lottery for H-1B registrations for this fiscal year, and have sent out notifications to those selected in the lottery. The selected applicants can file H-1B petitions starting on April 1, 2022.

For those who were selected - congratulations! It is estimated that you are the lucky 25% of those that registered this year. If you did not work with an attorney to file the registration, now is a good time to engage with a qualified immigration attorney to complete the process for you.

The next steps in the process include:

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Attorneys Aleksandr Troyb and Michelle Ross Scheduled To Meet With Members Of The U.S. Congress To Discuss Various Immigration Issues

3/28/2022

Attorneys Aleksandr Troyb and Michelle Ross Scheduled To Meet With Members Of The U.S. Congress To Discuss Various Immigration Issues

On April 27, 2021, as part of a delegation from the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Attorneys Aleksandr Troyb and Michelle Ross are scheduled to meet with members of the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. to discuss various immigration issues of interest to individuals and employers. They encourage their clients to contact them to discuss any immigration issues they may want them to address with members of Congress.

Attorney Michelle A. Ross scheduled to speak at a Connecticut Bar Association Program Entitled "Best Practices in On-Boarding Employees"

3/23/2022

Attorney Michelle A. Ross Scheduled To Speak At A Connecticut Bar Association Program Entitled

Attorney Michelle A. Ross Scheduled To Speak At A Connecticut Bar Association Program Entitled

Attorney Michelle A. Ross is honored to have been asked to present at a program hosted by the Connecticut Bar Association's Law Center at 9:00 a.m. on April 6, 2022 entitled "Best Practices in On-Boarding Employees." The program will offer a practical "how to" for onboarding new employees from offer letter to the first day of work including all hiring requirements, notices and deadlines including applicable immigration laws and processes that an employer must navigate to bring on new employees for Connecticut workers and foreign workers, including proper work visas and work authorizations.

More information on the program, as well as registration instructions, are available HERE.

DHS Designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status

3/3/2022

DHS Designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Late this afternoon, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

A country may be designated for TPS when conditions in the country fall into one or more of the three statutory bases for designation: ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary and temporary conditions. This designation is based on both ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that prevent Ukrainian nationals, and those of no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine, from returning to Ukraine safely.

Individuals eligible for TPS under this designation must have continuously resided in the United States since March 1, 2022. Individuals who attempt to travel to the United States after March 1, 2022, will not be eligible for TPS. Ukraine’s designation will go into effect on the publication date of the forthcoming Federal Register notice. The notice will provide instructions for applying for TPS and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) which would allow recipients to legally work in the United States. TPS applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and undergo security and background checks.

Our attorneys are continuing to monitor the situation, and are available to answer any questions you may have about TPS and other options that may be available to you.

Covid-19 Testing Requirement Temporarily Removed For Certain Individuals Traveling To The US From Ukraine

3/3/2022

Covid-19 Testing Requirement Temporarily Removed For Certain Individuals Traveling To The US From Ukraine

Several clients contacted us recently about family members who were able to exit Ukraine and are looking to fly to the United States with valid visas but cannot obtain a pre-departure Covid-19 test due to extenuating circumstances.

On February 15, 2022, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), determined that it is in the national interest of the United States to temporarily permit the entry of certain individuals who were physically present in Ukraine as of February 10, 2022 without the requirement that they provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test result prior to boarding a flight to the United States or to complete the attestation at Section 1 of the Combined Passenger Disclosure Attestation to the United States of America form. This temporary change is currently scheduled to remain in place until April 1, 2022 and applies to the following groups of individuals:

Humanitarian Assistance and Visa Information for Ukrainians who have Evacuated to Poland

3/1/2022

Humanitarian Assistance and Visa Information for Ukrainians who have Evacuated to Poland

The U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Poland has created websites with information for Ukrainians who have Evacuated to Poland. These websites will be updated with additional information as the situation develops and are available in English and Ukrainian. You can access these websites by clicking on the links below.

Information for Ukrainians who have Evacuated to Poland

Iнформація для українців, які евакуювалися до Польщі

Our attorneys are continuing to monitor the situation and advise our clients about various options they may have for immigrating to the United States. Additionally, our attorneys are available to answer any questions you may have about the situation and options that may be available to you. Do not hesitate to contact our office at 203-425-8500.

AILA Calls on Biden Administration to Help Ukrainian Nationals as Russia Invades

2/28/2022

AILA Calls on Biden Administration to Help Ukrainian Nationals as Russia Invades

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), a professional association consisting of more than 15,000 members, has called on the Biden administration to move immediately to help Ukrainian nationals as Russia invades Ukraine.

AILA President Allen Orr stated, “Our hearts go out to the Ukrainian people as their country is assaulted by Russia and peoples’ lives are lost and upended. The situation is untenable, and the early news coverage is confirming that many Ukrainians are fleeing for their lives. AILA calls on the Biden administration to immediately ensure that Ukrainian nationals who may be eligible to come to the United States may safely and expeditiously do so and to ensure that we do not send people back to danger. AILA calls on the Biden administration to take all necessary steps to expeditiously adjudicate cases filed by or on behalf of Ukrainian nationals and to provide a small measure of security for Ukrainians who may already be in the United States by designating Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status and implementing a temporary moratorium on removals to Ukraine. Only then can the United States live up to its ideal of providing a place of refuge for those fleeing violence.”

OFFICE LOCATION:

BENJAMIN, GOLD & TROYB, P.C.
350 Bedford Street - Suite 403
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Telephone (Eng.): 203-425-8500
Telephone (Rus.): 203-653-2993
Facsimile: 203-425-8600

ATTORNEYS:

Daniel A. Benjamin [Partner]
Aleksandr Y. Troyb [Partner]
Michael P. Longo, Jr. [Associate]
Michelle A. Ross [Of Counsel]
Nancy Freedman [Of Counsel]
Ronald M. Gold [Retired]
Leo Gold [Retired]

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Business Law
Civil Litigation
Estate Planning / Probate
Immigration
Personal Injury
Real Estate / Land Use
Worker's Compensation

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The law firm of Benjamin, Gold & Troyb, P.C., represents clients throughout Connecticut, including Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury, New Britain, Bristol, West Hartford, Greenwich, Meriden, Fairfield, Hamden, Manchester, West Haven, Milford, Stratford, Shelton, Trumbull, Westport, New London, New Canaan, Darien, Bethel, and all cities within Fairfield County, New Haven County, Hartford County, New London County, Litchfield County, Middlesex County, Windham County, and Tolland County.

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