United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has started to notify employers of whether their H-1B petitions were selected in USCIS’s fiscal year 2017 random selection process, or “lottery,” that took place in April of 2016. Approximately 85,000 H-1B workers selected in the quota will begin work in the United States on October 1, 2016, or shortly thereafter. The H-1B lottery selection provides employers with a useful reminder to reexamine the relevant regulatory obligations that attach with sponsorship of an H-1B employee. Of particular...

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The Atlantic’s "Next America: Higher Education" project recently highlighted IIE’s Generation Study Abroad, a five-year initiative to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad to 6000,000 by the end of the decade.  "Right now, only around 10 percent of American college students study abroad. While people of color make up about 40 percent of each graduating class, they comprise just a quarter of those who go abroad. The numbers are especially...

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On 17 May 2016, the Council of Europe formally adopted the Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive, a Commission proposal in response to increasing concerns about cyber-attacks and privacy breaches. Agreed by Member States on 18 December 2015, the Directive aims to ensure a higher common threshold of cybersecurity across the EU through three main measures: • Enhancing Member States' national cybersecurity capabilities by requiring Member States to define cyber-security strategic objectives and regulatory measures; • Creating a "Cooperation Group" to support...

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Risk resiliency + risk agility = enduring success in PwC's 2016 Risk in review study. We live in turbulent times. Companies across industries have faced an unprecedented confluence of risks. It's no wonder that in PwC’s 19th Annual Global CEO study, 66% of CEOs saw more threats to their business than opportunities. To remain competitive, companies must pursue two parallel strategies: 1. Building agile and flexible risk management frameworks that can anticipate and prepare for the shifts that bring long-term success and 2. Building the resiliency that will enable those frameworks...

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Property consists of two basic types - tangible and intangible. Intangible property is exempt in some US states, while almost all tangible property is taxable. Some states exempt all intangibles, while others exempt only certain parts of intangible property. In either case, the tax savings can be substantial. If you do business in a state that exempts intangibles, that value can reduce your tax burden. It is well worth the time to find out what is and what isn’t taxable...

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The EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (“Ecofin”) was expected to adopt the so-called EU Anti Tax Avoidance Directive (the “ATAD”) during its meeting held on 25 May 2016.  However, due to disagreements among the delegations of the EU Member States on certain measures included in the proposed ATAD, the aim of the meeting was no longer to adopt it, but to resolve the remaining political issues regarding the measures included therein and to agree on a general approach...

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On May 18, 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a proposed ruling revocation related to the tariff classification of certain plastic garment hangers imported with garments. Generally, plastic garment hangers, when imported separately from garments, are classifiable under subheading 3923.90.00, HTSUS, dutiable at 3% ad valorem.  For several years, CBP has held that plastic hangers imported with garments are separately classifiable under subheading 3923.90.00, so long as the hangers are clearly suitable for repetitive use.  This allows importers...

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A year ago, the German Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs started the dialog “Work 4.0” and raised the question whether it is necessary, in view of the current technological trends, social developments and changes in the labour market, to create a new working model or concept. The term “Work 4.0” is linked to “Industry 4.0”, also known as the fourth industrial revolution. Whereas the third industrial revolution (Work 3.0) was characterized by the advancing globalization, it is the era...

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Dr Vincent Power, Head of A&L Goodbody’s EU & Competition Group, looks at the potential legal implications arising from Brexit.  This article was first published in the Commercial Law Practitioner, May 2016. The possible withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union—so-called “Brexit”—would raise novel and profound legal issues. Those issues are novel because no Member State has ever left what is now called the EU in its 60-year history. The issues are profound because the EU is—and all...

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IIE announces more than 100 study abroad scholarships for college and high school students. The Institute of International Education (IIE) today announced scholarships to be awarded to more than 100 underrepresented students to pursue study abroad. Cost continues to be a major barrier; 90% of American college students do not study, intern or volunteer abroad, and minority students and students majoring in STEM are underrepresented among the few who do study abroad. With this round of awards, IIE will have...

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