State Department Formally Announces Pilot Program for the Renewal of H-1B Visas Within the United States
The United States Department of State (DOS) issued a notice in the Federal Register formally announcing the introduction of a pilot program that will allow certain persons holding H-1B nonimmigrant visas to renew them within the United States without having to submit...
Brazil: E-Visa Roll Out for Citizens of Australia, Canada, and the U.S. Starting January 10, 2024
Starting on January 10, 2024, citizens with passports from Australia, Canada and the United States who travel to Brazil for tourism or business will be required to obtain a visa. A visa can be procured in person at the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate, or individuals...
Ireland: Update on Holiday Travel with Expired IRP Cards
The Minister of Justice has issued a Travel Confirmation Notice requesting airline carriers to allow individuals to travel on their recently expired Irish Residence Permit (IRP) cards where an application to renew permission has been submitted to the Immigration...
United Kingdom: Proposed Changes to Curb Net Migration (Expected Spring 2024)
Late last week, the UK government announced that it intends to make the following changes to the immigration system to curb migration to the UK, which has reached an all-time high in the past year: Banning care workers who apply under the Health and Care Work visa...
January 2024 Visa Bulletin Issued: Rest of the World EB-1 Category Remains Current; EB-1 India and China Move Forward; Slight Forward Movement in Some Other Categories
The U.S. Department of State has released its January 2024 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....
Malaysia: Visa Liberalization Plan Details Released
As part of the government of Malaysia’s widely anticipated Visa Liberalization Plan, which aims to encourage the entry of foreign tourists to Malaysia, Chinese and Indian nationals will not be required to secure a social visit pass prior to entry to Malaysia starting...
Ireland: Critical Skills Employment Permit to Stamp 4 Transition Update
Effective from 30 November 2023, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) will cease taking applications for Stamp 4 support letters. All applications received by DETE prior to 30 November 2023 will continue to be processed, as usual. From 1 December...
Apple Enters into Settlement Agreement with DOJ Based on Alleged Improprieties in its PERM Recruitment Process
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced last week that it had entered into a Settlement Agreement with Apple Inc. (Apple) based upon the finding by the DOJ’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) that Apple had engaged in discriminatory recruitment and hiring...
December 2023 Visa Bulletin Issued: Rest of the World EB-1 Category Remains Current; EB-1 India Remains Retrogressed; No Movement in All Other Categories
The U.S. Department of State has released its December 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 Issues Proposed Rule to Reform Certain Aspects of the H-1B Nonimmigrant Category
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued yesterday a Proposed Rule that seeks to implement significant changes in the H-1B Specialty Occupation nonimmigrant category, including modernizing H-1B petition requirements and providing a greater...