Immigration Insights Podcast: International Entrepreneur Parole Program & Biometrics Requirement
A recent update and clarification from the Department of State (DOS) on waiver eligibility expands opportunities for visa applicants facing difficulties in obtaining visa stamps for entry to the U.S. This clarification,...more
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use the Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications chart in August 2024. The Final Action Dates chart reflects one-month advancements in...more
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use the Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications chart in April 2024, reflecting modest advancement in several categories....more
In just two weeks, on April 1, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement its new filing fee structure. The new fees will vary by visa type with exceptions for small employers and non-profit...more
Please note: while we address certain country-specific updates, this Alert contains information regarding global requirements, policies, and procedures as they stand as of the date of publication. We highly recommend...more
Cost increases due to inflation have become a norm over the last two years, and immigration fees are no exception. USCIS announced that effective April 1, 2024, fees for certain immigration benefits will be adjusted for the...more
As we delve into the February 2024 Visa Bulletin, it’s evident that the priority dates for employer-based immigrant petitions continue to face minimal advancement, contributing to prolonged wait times for immigrant visas...more
Executive Summary: Recent reports from the U.S. Department of State (DOS) make clear that American companies need foreign talent more than ever before, and...more
Canada – Student Program: Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced significant alterations to the international student program on January 22, 2024. These include a new cap on study permit approvals for...more
Beginning January 29, 2024, under a pilot program, the U.S. Department of State will allow certain H-1B visa holders to renew their expired or expiring H-1B visas from within the United States, rather than needing to travel...more
Please note, while we address some country-specific updates, this Alert contains information regarding global requirements, policies, and procedures as they stand today. We highly recommend reviewing any global mobility...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Department of State expects to start the stateside visa renewal pilot in early 2024....more
The H-2A program plays a significant role in supporting the agricultural industry in the United States, including North Carolina. The program is instrumental because domestic labor often falls short in meeting the demands for...more
Diversity Visa (DV) Electronic Registration for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 opens at noon ET on October 4, 2023, and closes at noon ET on November 7, 2023. There will be 55,000 Diversity Visas available for FY 2025....more
On October 4, 2023, at noon EDT, the U.S. Department of State will open the annual Diversity Visa (DV) lottery registration period for fiscal year (FY) 2025. The online registration program is free to all registrants (only...more
Online registration for the 2025 Diversity Visa Lottery (DV2025) opens Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and closes Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern...more
Please note, while we address some country-specific updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this Alert contains information regarding global restrictions and closures as they stand today. Given the constantly changing...more
We now have full details of the UK visa, immigration and nationality price hikes announced by the Prime Minister in July. The Home Office has announced that higher fees will apply from October 4, 2023, and we would...more
The Department of State published the October 2023 Visa Bulletin Report on September 15, 2023 and announced that it will accept family and employment-based filings based on the Dates for Filing chart in October. As October is...more
It’s hard to keep up with all the recent changes to labor and employment law, especially since the law always seems to evolve at a rapid pace. In order to ensure you stay on top of the latest changes and have an action plan...more
On 13 June 2023, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (EU) provisionally agreed on rules to digitalise the Schengen visa procedure. These rules will introduce two important changes: (1) digitalisation...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The below summarizes recent legal updates that impact U.S. immigration: 1. Submission Deadline for FY2024 H-1B Cap Petitions - Employers should be reminded that the deadline to file a cap-subject...more
The Department of State released the January 2023 Visa Bulletin. As forecasted in our Fiscal Year 2023 visa availability analysis, we are now seeing the retrogression for Indian and Chinese nationals in the EB-1 category....more
WHAT IS THE DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY? The Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2024 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (“DV Program” or “DV-2024 Program”) provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas (aka permanent residence or green cards) for...more
We previously alerted our readership in May 2022 that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was implementing premium processing for certain I-140 petitions in the EB-1 and EB-2 categories. The...more