Canada: Short Term Labor Pilot Program to Address Labor Shortages
The Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) is Canada’s upcoming plan to address labor shortages in Canada. Set to launch in September 2023, the pilot program is meant to alleviate administrative burdens for employers that currently meet the requirements for the Temporary...
USCIS Introduces Online Form to Request In-Person Appointments at Local USCIS Field Offices
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has introduced a new form that can be filed online to request an in-person appointment at a local USCIS office. The form can be filed by individuals, attorneys, and accredited...
September 2023 Visa Bulletin Issued: Significant Backlog for EB-1 India Continues; No Further Retrogression in Any Category
The U.S. Department of State has released its September 2023 Visa Bulletin imposing per-country cut-off dates that regulate immigrant visa availability and the flow of Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications and consular Immigrant Visa application filings and...
USCIS Completes the Second Round of Selections for FY 2024 H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions; Also Provides Updated Information on Number of Registration Applications Selected
Following its announcement late last week that it would require additional FY 2024 H-1B cap registrations to reach the H-1B numerical allocations for this year, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on July 31 that it had completed the...
USCIS Announces Second Round of Lottery Selection for FY 2024 H-1B Cap Registrations
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will hold a second random selection process or set of lotteries to fill the FY 2024 numerical allocation for new or cap-subject H-1B petitions. In March of this year, USCIS held an...
DHS Issues Final Rule Allowing Remote I-9 Verification for E-Verify Participants; New I-9 Form Available Beginning August 1, 2023
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule today that will give qualified employers who participate in E-Verify and are in good standing the option to complete remote I-9 verification of employees’ identity and employment eligibility documents as...
Canada: Update on Tech Talent Strategy for U.S. H-1B Holders
Canada recently announced the introduction of a new open work permit to attract U.S. H-1B workers to Canada. As part of the country’s Tech Talent Strategy, this program began accepting applications for open work permits on July 16, 2023. Due to the demand for this...
United Kingdom: Dramatic Increase to Visa Application and Immigration Health Surcharge Fees Proposed
A proposal to increase both immigration visa application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge was announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on July 13, 2023. These increases will support the United Kingdom’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS) and will...
August 2023 Visa Bulletin Issued: Significant Retrogression for EB-1 India
The U.S. Department of State has released its August 2023 Visa Bulletin imposing per-country cut-off dates that regulate immigrant visa availability and the flow of Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications and consular Immigrant Visa application filings and approvals. ...
Poland: Further Epidemic and Ukraine Updates
Extension of Immigration Documents Based on COVID Regulations to End on July 31, 2023 The epidemic state in Poland (connected to COVID) will end on July 31, 2023. This means that the automatic extension of immigration documents that was previously permitted will end...