A bill introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) would streamline the permanent residence process and allocate 55,000 employment-based immigrant visas to STEM advanced-degree graduates. EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 foreign nationals would be eligible to file an adjustment of status application before an immigrant visa became available, on payment of an additional fee. Unused employment-based... »
Effective immediately, foreign nationals extending their visas in Mexico City can no longer schedule their own appointment time; one will be assigned to them. The principal and all dependents must attend the appointment together. The Mexican National Immigration Institute (INM) recently implemented strict new... »
Companies that are certified by the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) and employ less than ten foreign employees must begin using the new online system immediately. BOI certified companies with ten or more foreign employees have until October 1, 2012 to move to... »
As of May 4, a total of 46,200 H-1B cap cases were filed for Fiscal Year 2013, USCIS has announced. This is an increase of 4,700 filings since the agency’s last count on April 27. Some 32,500 cases have now been filed against the standard... »
Effective July 1, 2012, only legally married or registered foreign domestic partners will be able to join or accompany a foreign or Dutch national residing in the Netherlands. The new policy will not apply to residence permit applications filed before July 1. Existing residence... »
As of April 27, a total of 41,500 H-1B cap cases were filed for Fiscal Year 2013, USCIS announced today. This is an increase of 5,600 filings since the agency’s last count on April 20. Some 29,200 cases have now been filed against the standard... »
Foreign nationals seeking to work in Ghana can no longer enter as visitors while a work permit application is pending. They must wait until they obtain a work permit before entering the country. Employers in the oil and gas industry are now subject to... »
The annual limit on immigrant visas for EB-2 India and mainland China was apparently reached on April 11, according to a report from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. USCIS will still accept EB-2 India/China adjustment applications based on priority dates cut-offs in the April... »
Foreign nationals who meet a points threshold will benefit from expedited application procedures, broader work authorization rights, expanded spousal work benefits, and a shorter path to permanent residence. Japan will introduce a new points-based immigration program for skilled workers on May 7, 2012. The... »
Foreign nationals residing in Dubai and seeking to sponsor dependent family members for resident permits are now required to submit an original government attestation of their residential lease or tenancy contract. Dependent resident permit applications submitted without the lease attestation will be denied. The... »
Beginning May 1, 2012, approximately 2,000 long-term work permits – known as B-Permits – will be available to nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia each year, the Swiss Federal Council has announced. However, nationals of the EU-8... »
Employers have been experiencing delays in obtaining unrestricted Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to use between April 6, 2012 and April 5, 2013, after the UK Border Agency (UKBA) received an unexpectedly large number of requests for the certificates. The UKBA expects to issue all... »
As of April 20, a total of 35,900 H-1B cap cases were filed for Fiscal Year 2013, USCIS has announced. This is an increase of 5,600 filings since the agency’s last count on April 13. Some 25,000 cases have been filed against the standard H-1B... »
On May 2, 3 and 4, Spain will suspend the Schengen Agreement and restore strict border checks for all travelers during a European Central Bank summit in Barcelona, the Spanish Ministry of Interior has announced. Anyone seeking entry should be prepared to present a... »
Due to the ongoing conflict in their country, Syrian nationals are currently experiencing stringent security screenings and increased denial rates when applying for visas to Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Visitor, business and work visa applications submitted by sponsoring employers and by... »
