The US State Department Finalizes Selection of FY 2021 Diversity Visa Lottery Winners
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....
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Recent Executive Order Signed By President Trump Restricts Certain Forms of Immigration to the US: Scope & Exclusions
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 ...
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Extension of the Current COVID-19 Accommodations on Requests for Evidence, Notices of Intent to Deny, Appeals and Other Responses
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...
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New Laws in Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak
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, Reli...
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New PPP Loan Application Form is Issued: Citizenship or LPR is No Longer Required
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. ...
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Tax Recovery Rebates, Charitable Donations, and Coronavirus-Related IRA Distributions
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...
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Tax Relief to Employers Under the CARES Act
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...
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Consumer and Tenant Protections Under the CARES Act
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 rega...
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The CARES Act: Unemployment Benefits
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 r...
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SBA Loans and the $377 Billion Stimulus Approved for Small Businesses
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 num...
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