Recent News:
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Olivera, Lawrence Prosen, and Frances Rayer have been selected as top authors for JD Supra’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards for their thought leadership on key topics during 2023. Additionally, David Adams and Scott Bettridge were recognized for authoring a top-read article on immigration.
Frances P. Rayer is experienced in the immigration field, where she represents institutional clients and multinational corporations who are seeking to employ foreign nationals in the United States on either a temporary or permanent basis.
The majority of Fran’s practice focuses on the area of employment-based immigration for institutional clients, multinational corporations, and universities. Her clients come from a wide variety of industries, including technology, telecommunications, health care, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, engineering, and education. She assists clients in acquiring employment-based visas for key employees so they will be authorized for employment in the United States. She advises companies on employee documentation requirements and I-9 and E-Verify compliance issues.
She has experience representing clients before the Department of Labor, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration Board of Appeals, and the EOIR. She speaks frequently on immigration-related and employer compliance issues under the immigration laws. Frances was a member of the court-appointed Liaison Committee, where she represented Chinese refugees seeking asylum in the United States having arrived aboard the Golden Venture.
Fran has been selected by her peers for inclusion on The Best Lawyers in America® list since 2005 and was named 2017 "Lawyer of the Year." She is also listed in the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® magazine.
News
March 27, 2024
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Olivera, Lawrence Prosen, and Frances Rayer have been selected as top authors for JD Supra’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards for their thought leadership on key topics during 2023. Additionally, David Adams and Scott Bettridge were recognized for authoring a top-read article on immigration.
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 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).
August 28, 2019
Best Lawyers selected 138 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 21 of the firm’s national offices for inclusion in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
Publications
February 05, 2024
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the initial registration period for the FY2025 H-1B Cap Lottery will open on March 6, 2024, and run through March 22, 2024.
January 03, 2024
Kelli Natrin and Fran Rayer discuss the Department of State's domestic visa renewal pilot program to alleviate backlogs and wait times at consulates abroad.
December 04, 2023
The State Department recently announced a new pilot program for H-1B visa holders allowing them to renew their H-1B visa stamps while remaining in the U.S.
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.
July 17, 2023
USCIS is expanding myProgress, which provides applicants with online access to updates on their case.
July 13, 2023
The Department of Labor (DOL) has updated Form ETA9089 and incorporated it into the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system.
July 10, 2023
Fran Rayer and Beth Olivera discuss USCIS's new self-service tool.
May 10, 2023
USCIS received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the FY 2024 H-1B cap.
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.
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 requestors may select their gender on USCIS forms (or change a prior gender selection) without the need to provide supporting documentation.
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.
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 that certain flexibilities it first announced in March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic will end on March 23, 2023.
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 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 07, 2022
Although the current administration has stated its desire to eliminate the DV Lottery program, it will go forward this year.
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.
August 25, 2022
Fran Rayer discusses USCIS's announcement that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B advanced-degree exemption for fiscal year 2023 (FY23).
August 22, 2022
Fran Rayer discusses certain flexibilities with respect to various petitions filed with USCIS and the possibility of USCIS extending these flexibilities indefinitely.
July 18, 2022
We previously alerted our readership in May 2022 that USCIS was implementing premium processing for certain I-140 petitions in the EB-1 and EB-2 categories. The availability of premium processing for previously filed I-140 petitions referred only to EB-1 multinational executive and manager I-140 petitions and EB-2 petitions filed for advanced degree professionals or members of the professions with an advanced degree or exceptional ability petitions seeking a national interest waiver.
May 25, 2022
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced premium processing for certain petitioners.
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.
October 06, 2020
Fran Rayer discusses the process for the 2022 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.
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 resumption of Visa services at certain U.S. embassies and consulates around the world.
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 01, 2020
Fran Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera discuss the furloughs at USCIS.
July 01, 2020
Frances Rayer and Elizabeth Olivera addressed common questions related to immigration and COVID-19.
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.
March 17, 2020
Fran Rayer discusses the temporary suspension of premium processing service for fiscal year (FY) 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions.
December 16, 2019
Learn about the changes USCIS announced for its online registration system that will be implemented in the 2020 H-1B lottery.
November 25, 2019
Fran Rayer discusses the proposed increased fees for green cards applications, associated work and travel authorizations, and citizenship filing fees.
November 18, 2019
Fran Rayer and Velika A. Nespor discuss what employers should do when they receive an SSA no match letters.
November 07, 2019
Fran Rayer discusses the extension of Temporary Protected Status related documentation for beneficiaries under the TPS designation for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan through January 4, 2021.
October 11, 2019
Michael Hanlon and Fran Rayer discuss the new Pennsylvania law affecting the construction industry that goes into effect on October 6, 2020.
October 02, 2019
Frances P. Rayer discusses what you need to know about the 2021 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, including dates the lottery is open and who is eligible to enter.
July 01, 2019
Velika A. Nespor and Frances Rayer discuss the new requirements for all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applicants.