On February 3, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rescinded PM-602-0142, “Rescission of the December 22, 2000 ‘Guidance memo on H-1B computer related positions.’ ” USCIS said its officers should not apply the rescinded memo “to any pending or new requests for H-1B classification, including motions and appeals of revocations and denials of H-1B classification,”… Read more »
The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has proposed to delay the effective date of a Trump administration rule, “Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States.” The implementation of the rule published in January will now be delayed until May 14, 2021. The notice states… Read more »
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for FY 2022 H-1B cap-subject petitions opens at noon ET on March 9, 2021, and runs through noon ET on March 25, 2021. Representatives and registrants must wait until March 9 to create and submit H-1B registrations. USCIS explained that prospective petitioners (registrants)… Read more »
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is delaying the effective date of a final rule that changed the selection process for cap-subject H-1B petitions. The rule would essentially eliminate the lottery process to give priority to higher wage offerings. The wage-based selection process is delayed to December 31, 2021, meaning that it will not be… Read more »
In response to the new National Security Law affecting the state of human rights in Hong Kong, Canada has announced several new measures to help recent graduates and skilled workers from Hong Kong gain faster permanent residency in Canada. In November 2020, the Honourable Marco E.L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, announced that… Read more »
As of January 29, 2021, visa applications are currently not being accepted from visa required countries until further notice due to COVID-19. The list of visa required countries may be found here. Exceptions are granted to visa required nationals for priority/emergency cases, such: Workers or self-employed persons exercising criticaloccupations including healthcare workers, frontier and posted… Read more »
Effective January 31, 2021, a new visa route has become available for British National Overseas (BNO) citizens from Hong Kong. The Hong Kong BNO visa route will allow successful applications the right to live, work, and study in the UK for up to five years. After a continuous residence of five years, the visa holder… Read more »
Most clients, when they consider seeking permanent residence in Canada, tend to focus on the Federal government’s Express Entry program. Canada invited approximately 108,000 people through Express Entry last year, and there are plans to increase that number over the next three years. What is not as commonly known, however, is that Canada’s provinces also… Read more »
Most clients, when they consider seeking permanent residence in Canada, tend to focus on the Federal government’s Express Entry program. Canada invited approximately 108,000 people through Express Entry last year, and there are plans to increase that number over the next three years. What is not as commonly known, however, is that Canada’s provinces also… Read more »
New labor rules will soon go into effect beginning February 15, 2021 regarding work permit exemptions, term of work permits, contracts, and reporting requirements. Work Permit Exemption Decree 152 now allows the below cases to be exempt from requiring a work permit: Marriage to a Vietnamese citizens andliving in Vietnam; Managers, CEOs, skilled and expertworkers… Read more »
Our team is eager to help your organization navigate the complexities of immigration law & relieve any visa processing frustrations that you are experiencing.
