Headlines: 1. USCIS To Implement New Immigrant Visa Fee February 1 – USCIS will begin collecting a new fee of $165 from foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the United States. 2. USCIS Launches New E-Verify Employers Search Tool – The new online tool allows the user to find employers and federal contractors currently enrolled in E-Verify. 3. USCIS Issues […]
Changes do not often occur in Peruvian immigration law, but there have been some recent modifications to certain aspects of immigration proceedings and requirements by the Peruvian Immigration Administrative Authority concerning visa processes for foreign nationals. Legislative Decree No. 1130 has created a new immigration Peruvian authority based on the former authority known as “DIGEMIN” […]
Headlines: 1. EB-5 Adjudications Expected to Move to DC; Guidance Memo Not Yet Released – Within four to six months, EB-5 responsibilities will be moved to Washington, DC, under a new EB-5 Program Office. 2. DHS Adds Taiwan to Visa Waiver Program – In FY 2011, 243,186 visitors from Taiwan traveled to the United States. 3. USCIS Offers Guidance on […]
Headlines: 1. House Passes STEM Bill; ‘Achieve Act’ Introduced in Senate, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Reacts; Obama, Dems Advocate Comprehensive Immigration Reform – The STEM bill would allocate visas to STEM graduates without increasing overall immigration, by eliminating the diversity visa program. Neither the STEM bill nor the Achieve Act are likely to survive in the Senate. 2. U.S. […]
The Ministry of Home Affairs recently revised the guidelines on tourist visas in a notification dated November 23, 2012, and published on December 4, 2012. The Indian government has lifted the two-month gap between two consecutive visits to India by foreign nationals. However, nationals of Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Bangladesh, foreigners of Pakistani […]
The highly skilled work permit is only available to employees whose annual gross salary exceeds a threshold. This threshold has been noted in article 67 of the Belgian Employment Contracts Act. Due to a major reform of this Act, article 67 has been abolished. In practice, the authorities will for now (and probably for the […]
Headlines: 1. OFLC, USCIS Issue Guidance on Hurricane Sandy Relief; USCIS Extends RFE Deadlines – The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification issued a FAQ on Hurricane Sandy-related extensions and accommodations. Also, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a reminder on immigration benefits or relief that may be available to those affected. 2. State Dept. Projects […]
Headlines: 1. E-Verify Mandated in Four States in 2013 – Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee have all passed mandatory work authorization verification laws, the final provisions of which take effect in 2013. 2. EB-2 Priority Dates Become ‘Current’ in November, Except for China and India – For China in November, the EB-2 priority date cut-off is September 1, […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS Launches Online I-9 Resources for Employers and Employees in Spanish – The website provides employers and employees one-click access at no charge to Spanish-language resources, tips, and guidance on properly completing the I-9 and understanding the I-9 process. 2. Taiwan Joins Visa Waiver Program – In FY 2011, 243,186 visitors from Taiwan traveled to the United […]
Sixteen months after passage of the new Mexican Immigration Law, regulations were published in the Official Bulletin in Mexico on September 28, 2012. Implementation is expected soon. The new law involves significant changes to the current immigration regime. Main Points of the New Immigration Law – Provides three main groups of conditions of stay — […]