Update
from the VSC on Employment Authorization for E/L Spouses
February 13, 2002
The INS Vermont
Service Center (VSC) will accept I-765s for all L1 spouses that
fall within its jurisdiction, and also for E1/E2 spouses that
fall within its jurisdiction and are filed independently from
the principal E petition. However, VSC will reject I-765s for
E-1/E-2 spouses and I-129s for the principal E-1/E2 that are
filed concurrently.
Concurrently filed
I-129/I-765s for E's and their spouses must be filed with Texas
Service Center for those that fall within the jurisdiction of
the VSC.
Until CLAIMS is
modified, data entry will enter these cases as (co)(5)'s. Once
CLAIMS is modified, the E and L spouses will be eligible and
approved under (a)(17) and (a)(18), respectively.
EADs Required
for E and L Spousal Employment
January 29, 2002
INS is currently
drafting guidance on recent legislation providing employment
authorization to the spouses of intracompany transferees (L1s),
treaty traders (E1s) and treaty investors (E2s). Spouses of
E and L holders who wish to take advantage of the new work authorization
provisions will be required to obtain an Employment Authorization
Document (EAD) from INS before beginning employment. INS will
soon provide further information on procedures required to obtain
such EAD in these instances.
New Provisions Signed
Authorization E and L Spouses to Work
January 17, 2002
On January 16, 2002, the President
signed legislation providing work intracompany transferees,
E1 treaty traders, and E2 treaty investors to work in the U.S.
(H.R. 2277, for spouses of E holders; and H.R. 2278, for spouses
of L1s).
In addition, HR 2278 reduces the
period of prior employment from one year to six months for intracompany
transferees whose petitioning employer files an L1 blanket petition,
and if that petition meets the requirement for expedited processing
under such blanket L1 petition.
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