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As known, a previous proclamation issued by President Trump barred green card applicants, diversity visa lottery winners, and other foreign guest workers from entering the U.S. A recent order by a federal judge has partially blocked the proclamation. The proclamation ordered that the measure was needed because there is an economic recession during the COVID-19 process, aiming to protect American workers’ jobs during this crisis.

The new rule released by the Department of Homeland Security was published on Federal Register on June 26, 2020, and brings substantial restrictions for those who apply for Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and asylum in the US concomitantly.

The State Department has announced the completion of the selection process for FY 2021 DV Lottery, aka Green Card Lottery, which had been postponed before due to the delays emanating from COVID-19 Pandemic.

In response to the existing COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to certain: • Requests for Evidence (RFE); • Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14); • Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID), • Notices of Intent to Revoke (NOIR); • Notices of Intent to Terminate EB-5 Regional Investment Centers (NOIT), • Notices of Intent to Rescind; and • Filing date requirements for Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion.

While COVID 19 Pandemic and its subsequent startling consequences continue to challenge almost all well-settled societal and governmental practices around the World, another one as part of the administration’s response to the coronavirus crisis came from president Trump regarding immigration to the US.

On April 3, 2020, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) posted the new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Borrower Application Form on its website. Apparently, the citizenship or permanent residency requirement was removed from the form.

Several laws and regulations in response to the COVID-19 outbreak have been passed. Some of them are as follows: Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) comes with a $377 billion stimulus package specifically geared to small businesses affected by this national disaster. This package will provide relief to small businesses under a number of various Small Business Administration (SBA) programs.

The CARES Act creates a temporary unemployment benefits program for those who are unable to work as result of COVID-19. The Act extends the coverage to workers who are self-employed and working part-time, do not have sufficient work history for the relevant state or those who do not qualify for regular unemployment rules of the applicable state

Title IV of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which is entitled “Economic Stabilization and Assistance to Severely Distressed Sectors of the United States Economy” provides critical protections to consumers with regard to their credit, mortgage, and rent obligations.

Among its various benefits and relief to employers, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provides employers the ability to delay paying payroll taxes and receive tax credits for retaining employees through this difficult time.

In one of its most notable provisions, the CARES Act provides for direct payments to taxpayers with social security numbers. Beginning in 2020, “eligible individual” taxpayers will receive a tax credit equal to the sum of $1,200 for single filers ($2,400 for those filing a joint return) plus an amount equal to the product of (i) $500 multiplied by (ii) the number of qualifying children (those under age 17). For example, a typical family of four is eligible for a $3,400 recovery rebate.