February 7, 2017

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security final rule, "Retention of EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting Highly-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers," took effect on January 17, 2017. In this Government Connection, presenters summarized how the rule impacts institutions of higher education and international student and scholar populations. The summary included information on new nonimmigrant grace periods, H-1B change-of-employer cases, new employment authorization provisions, I-140 revocations, and more.

You can download the presentation slides and other information in the Resources menu on the right side of this page.

Presenters

Susan Ellison
Dartmouth College
Susan Ellison is the director of the Office of Visa and Immigration Services at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. From 2014 to 2016, she served as the NAFSA Region XI Regulatory Ombudsperson for scholar issues and was a member of the Region’s Government Regulations Advisory Committee (GRAC) from 2012 to 2016. Prior to joining Dartmouth, Ellison was a partner with the global immigration law firm of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy. Ellison also served as an adjunct professor at Boston College Law School, where she taught a course in business immigration law.

Dena Neese
Virginia Tech
Dena Neese is associate director of international support services at Virginia Tech. From 2013 to 2016, she served on NAFSA’s Employment-Based Subcommittee. She has also served as dean of the Pathways to Permanent Residency Workshop and has presented on employment-based immigration issues at several NAFSA national conferences and in NAFSA web-based educational forums. Neese has worked for two large institutions of higher education and has also worked as an immigration attorney in the private sector.

David Muusz
University of Michigan
David Muusz is an assistant director at the University of Michigan's International Center where he directs the Faculty and Staff Immigration Services Office. Before joining the University of Michigan, Muusz worked at Virginia Tech and the University of Chicago where he focused on international scholars and employees. He has served as the Regulatory Ombud for Regions V and VIII; a member of the International Student and Scholar Regulatory Practice Committee Travel Subcommittee; chair of International Educators of Illinois; and a member of the NAFSA Trainer Corps. Muusz also serves on NAFSA's Prevailing Wage working group and Employment-Based Subcommittee. He has taught intercultural communication, communication management, and English as a second language, and is a frequent speaker on employment-based immigration and international scholar issues.