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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Atlanta, GA | Posted: May 5, 2017
Buy American and Hire American Executive Order (EO) 13788
This EO enacted on April 18, 2017 does not enact any immediate changes. It reinforces the commitment from the executive branch to enforce and administer laws associated with entry of non-U.S. workers to the U.S., pushes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of State (DOS), Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Justice (DOJ) to suggest reforms, propose new rules, and issue new guidance which “protect the interests of U.S. workers”, award work visas to the “most skilled or highest paid petition beneficiaries”, and “address fraud and abuse” in their administration of the U.S. immigration system. U.S. employers who hire non-U.S. workers have likely begun to prepare for possible:
The OIE does not have any specific guidance to those who are concerned about the future of work visas in the U.S. We want to reaffirm that this order has no immediate impact on employers or students considering Optional Practical Training (OPT) options. Keep in mind that statutory changes that are made by Congress take the longest to achieve, regulatory changes which the agencies lead take less time but still require a period of public comment, and policy changes done by the agencies can occur rapidly. The OIE will continue to monitor and report new information as it becomes available. We will also continue to advocate for the needs of the international students and scholars through our professional associations and the Georgia Tech government relations team.