Recent News:
Elizabeth Olivera, an associate in the firm’s Labor & Employment Department, has been elected secretary of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA).
Elizabeth's practice focuses on employment-based immigration for institutional clients and multinational corporations. She works with clients from a wide variety of industries, including technology, engineering, manufacturing, and utilities. She assists clients in acquiring employment-based visas for key employees so they will be authorized for employment in the United States.
Elizabeth serves on the board of governors for the National Filipino American Lawyers Association as alternate regional governor for the Central Region and as co-chair of the Young Lawyers Committee. She also serves on the board of directors of the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago.
Prior to joining the firm, Elizabeth was an extern to the Honorable Timothy A. Barnes, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois. Elizabeth was also a summer associate at Cozen O'Connor. Throughout law school, she was a research assistant to both Professor Wendy Epstein and Professor Gregory Mark. Prior to law school, Elizabeth was an intern and summer associate at two Chicago law firms.
Elizabeth earned her undergraduate degree from Drake University. Elizabeth earned her law degree from DePaul University College of Law. While in law school, she was the associate editor of the DePaul Law Review and served as the Student Bar Association vice president, secretary, and a first-year senator.
News
November 21, 2023
Elizabeth Olivera, an associate in the firm’s Labor & Employment Department, has been elected secretary of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA).
August 17, 2023
Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
July 10, 2023
Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.
August 22, 2022
210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
August 19, 2021
Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
August 20, 2020
Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).
November 19, 2019
Cozen O’Connor attorney Elizabeth Olivera, an associate in the firm’s national Labor & Employment practice in Chicago, has been named to the Board of Directors of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA).
March 04, 2019
Cozen O’Connor attorney Elizabeth Olivera, an associate in the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice in Chicago, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago (FALA Chicago).
Publications
October 23, 2023
Last week, USCIS issued policy guidance clarifying two points with respect to the L-1 petition for intracompany transferees.
October 02, 2023
Frances Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera outline the process for the 2025 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program/Green Card Lottery, opening on Thursday, October 5, 2023.
August 22, 2023
USCIS announced a new online form for individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to request an in-person appointment without having to call.
August 03, 2023
DHS has proposed a new pilot program for virtual Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification inspections that would apply to employers not currently enrolled in E-Verify.
July 24, 2023
On July 25, 2023, USCIS will issue a new Form I-9. DHS has also issued a new rule regarding the virtual inspection of Form I-9.
July 17, 2023
USCIS is expanding myProgress, which provides applicants with online access to updates on their case.
July 10, 2023
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss USCIS's new self-service tool.
May 10, 2023
DHS and ICE announced that employers will have 30 days to reach compliance with Form I-9 requirements after the COVID-19 flexibilities sunset on July 31, 2023.
May 10, 2023
USCIS received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the FY 2024 H-1B cap.
April 19, 2023
USCIS has extended the temporary suspension of the biometrics submission requirement for certain applicants filing Form I-539.
April 05, 2023
USCIS announced it will be issuing policy guidance to remove the requirement that the civil surgeon's signature be dated no more than 60 days before filing.
April 05, 2023
USCIS announced requestors may select their gender on USCIS forms (or change a prior gender selection) without the need to provide supporting documentation.
March 31, 2023
USCIS announced that it will now consider a filing or response submitted on paper timely if it is received by the end of the next business day.
March 28, 2023
USCIS announced it received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach FY2024 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B Cap).
March 28, 2023
USCIS announced that certain flexibilities it first announced in March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic will end on March 23, 2023.
March 22, 2023
USCIS recently announced a new process for lawful permanent residents to receive temporary evidence of their lawful permanent resident status by mail.
January 30, 2023
USCIS announced that the initial registration period for the FY2024 H-1B Cap Lottery will begin on March 1, 2023, and run through March 17, 2023.
January 25, 2023
As the result of a settlement of a class action lawsuit challenging H-4 and L-2 adjudication delays, USCIS has agreed to resume bundling some applications.
January 24, 2023
USCIS announced it will extend the validity of Green Cards for those who properly file Form I-751 for 48 months beyond the card’s expiration date.
January 13, 2023
USCIS announced it is implementing the final phase of its planned premium processing expansion for Form I-140.
January 03, 2023
Beth Olivera and Fran Rayer discuss the Department of State's announcement that they are extending the authority of consular officers to waive in-person interviews for certain nonimmigrant visa categories through December 31, 2023.
December 28, 2022
Beth Olivera and Fran Rayer discuss the USCIS's recently released information regarding nonimmigrant workers whose employment is terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily. This release gave a detailed summary of the possible options for nonimmigrant workers who were terminated from their employment.
October 26, 2022
USCIS granted 60 more days to respond to Notices of Intent to Deny/Revoke/Rescind & Requests for Evidence if issued between March 1, 2020, and January 24, 2023.
October 04, 2022
USCIS will extend the temporary waiver of the "60-day rule" for Form I-693.
September 29, 2022
Effective September 26, 2022, USCIS began automatically extending the validity of Green Cards to 24 months for lawful permanent residents who file a Form I-90.
September 19, 2022
On September 15, 2022, USCIS announced the next phase of the premium processing expansion for certain petitioners.
September 08, 2022
On 9/6/22, USCIS announced it has used nearly all available EB visas for this fiscal year and will exhaust the 281,507 EB visas by the end of the month.
May 04, 2022
This May, USCIS announced a Temporary Final Rule increasing the automatic extension period for certain Employment Authorization Documents for up to 540 days.
April 28, 2022
On April 25, 2022, DHS and ICE announced an extension of flexibilities of the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form until October 31, 2022.
April 05, 2022
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss the CBP's interim final rule implementing the ESTA requirements for noncitizens who intend to enter the United States.
April 04, 2022
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss USICS's announcement that it had received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the FY 2023.
April 01, 2022
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss the USCIS plan aimed to increase efficiency and reduce burdens to the legal immigration system.
January 31, 2022
Beth Olivera and Fran Rayer discuss the initial registration period for the FY2023 H-1B Cap Lottery. It will begin on March 1, 2022, and run through March 18, 2022.
November 22, 2021
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss USCIS's new policy that automatically extends employment authorization for dependent spouses in L-2 and E-1/E-2/E-3 status and also automatically extends employment authorization for certain H-4 spouses.
November 16, 2021
Beth Olivera and Fran Rayer discuss USCIS's new policy guidance to address the structural changes for nonimmigrant H-4 and L-2 spouses seeking employment authorization.
October 28, 2021
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss President Biden's proclamation lifting travel restrictions on people traveling from Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, the Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
October 19, 2021
Beth Olivera and Fran Rayer discuss Biden's easing of travel restrictions on all fully vaccinated international travelers.
October 12, 2021
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss the 2023 diversity visa lottery registration program.
September 21, 2021
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss Biden administration's plans to ease travel restrictions on all international travelers coming into the United States.
August 30, 2021
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss the CDC's new policy requiring immigrants inside the United States seeking adjustment of status to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
August 02, 2021
Beth Olivera and Fran Rayer discuss USCIS 's decision that it will no longer accept written requests to reschedule biometric services appointments at application support centers
June 10, 2021
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss the USCIS's new policy updates to the policy manual that will clarify the criteria and circumstances for expedited processing; improve the existing request for evidence and notice of intent to deny guidance; and increase the validity period for initial and renewal employment authorization documents for certain noncitizens with pending adjustment of status applications.
May 27, 2021
Fran Rayer and Elizebeth Olivera discuss the CBP and DOS announcement that U.S. citizens with expired U.S. passports may return to the United States.
May 17, 2021
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss USCIS suspending the biometric requirements for certain I-539 applicants for a two-year period beginning on May 17, 2021.
May 03, 2021
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss Biden's restriction on travel to India.
April 28, 2021
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss USCIS's new policy guidance to address the issue of deference to prior approvals when adjudicating a request for an extension.
February 26, 2021
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss Biden revoking Trump's travel ban.
February 26, 2021
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss E-3 premium processing service. The E-3 classification applies only to nationals of Australia who are coming to the United States solely to perform services in a specialty occupation.
February 25, 2021
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss DHS's and ICE's new flexibility policy when it comes to in-person verification of identity and employment eligibility documentation for Form I-9
February 08, 2021
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss the timing for the initial registration period for the FY2022 H-1B Cap Lottery.
February 01, 2021
Beth Olivera and Fran Rayer discuss USCIS decision to extend deadlines for responding to specific requests from the agency. USCIS will consider a response to the qualifying requests and notices timely filed if they are received within 60 calendar days after the response due date set on the request or notice.
October 16, 2020
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Oilvera discuss USCIS's announcement that it will increase fees for premium processing, to take effect Monday, October 19, 2020.
October 08, 2020
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss the DHS and DOL's interim final rules on H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 visas.
September 08, 2020
On August 3, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Final Rule that alters the USCIS filing Fee Schedule. On average, the filing fees were increased overall by approximately 20 percent.
July 15, 2020
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss the settlement in President and Fellows of Harvard College et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security et al., allowing foreign students to remain in the United States even if all classes will be online.
July 15, 2020
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss the resumption of Visa services at certain U.S. embassies and consulates around the world.
July 01, 2020
Frances Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera addressed common questions related to immigration and COVID-19.
July 01, 2020
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss the furloughs at USCIS.
June 23, 2020
Fran Rayer, Scott Bettrigde, Daniela Berisiartu Barshel, and Elizabeth Olivera discuss President Trump's extension of Proclamation 10014.
May 29, 2020
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss USCIS decision to resume offering premium processing services for cases involving Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, in phases over the month of June.
April 23, 2020
Fran Rayer, Scott Bettridge, Daniela Barshel, and Elizabeth Olivera discuss what President Trump's temporary suspension of certain categories of immigrants from entering the United States means and who is impacted.
March 18, 2020
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera explain what the USCIS canceling all face-to-face appointments, interviews, and events, including asylum interviews and citizenship ceremonies, means for applicants and petitioners.
December 16, 2019
Learn about the changes USCIS announced for its online registration system that will be implemented in the 2020 H-1B lottery.