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IMPACT — MEDIUM
The Canadian government has launched a new Recognized Employer Pilot under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Key Points:
Additional Information: Employers eligible for REP must have at least three positive LMIAs for the same occupation over the last five years, and the occupation must be on the shortage list, as designated by the Canadian Occupational Projection System. More information about REP is available here.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.
Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Russian government has launched a short-term e-visa for nationals of more than 50 countries.
Background: Russian authorities approved the e-visa in 2020, but the launch was delayed by COVID-19 and governmental data system modernization.
The Irish government recently modified several naturalization requirements regarding minors and time spent outside of the country.
Additional Information: More information about these changes is available here.
The State Department released the September Visa Bulletin Tuesday, showing modest or no movement in key employment-based categories. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed it would use the Final Action Dates chart to determine employment-based filing eligibility for adjustment of status.
Final Action Dates: Key Movements
EB-1
EB-2
EB-3
Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases:
BAL Analysis: The lack of movement in most categories in the September Visa Bulletin follows dramatic retrogression in India EB-1 and some other categories in the August Visa Bulletin. As a reminder, priority-date cutoffs in some key categories are likely to advance in October, when additional visas become available at the start of the 2024 fiscal year; however, movement of priority-date cutoffs depends on several factors, including visa demand and the employment-based visa limit for the upcoming fiscal year. BAL will continue following the Visa Bulletin and will provide updates as information becomes available.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services completes a second H-1B registration lottery. The U.S. limits Hungarian citizens’ access to the visa waiver program. And a look at J-1 visa opportunities for STEM researchers and specialists — and how they could help keep the U.S. competitive in the global economy.
Get this news and more in the new episode of BAL’s podcast, the BAL Immigration Report, available on Apple, Spotify and Google Podcasts or on the BAL news site.
This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group.
Copyright ©2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Department of Homeland Security publishes a much-anticipated Form I-9 rule. USCIS announces it will conduct a second H-1B registration lottery. And a closer look at two recent Supreme Court cases and their impact on DACA litigation.
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The Justice Department questions states’ standing to challenge DACA. Proposed H-2 regulations are under White House review. And a new Form I-9 rule is in the works — but may not take effect in time for employers relying on COVID-related flexible measures.
This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.
There are several types of Business Visitor classifications in the U.S. This article focuses on the B-1 visa, as well as visa waiver programs. There are also visas for entrepreneurs and investors.
The B-1 is a nonimmigrant classification for temporary business visitors to the U.S. As opposed to workers in the U.S., B-1 visitors may enter the U.S. for the purpose of engaging in business but not for the purpose of being employed. Commercial or professional activities that are not employment are permitted under B-1 visitor status.
Examples of permissible commercial or professional activities include (but are not limited to):
The range of acceptable business activities that fall under the B-1 classification is fact-specific and often depends on whether the activities constitute employment while in the U.S. Factors that influence whether activities constitute employment include whether the foreign national will be paid by a U.S. company or perform labor for hire in the U.S.
Generally, the legal requirements that must be met to obtain a B-1 visa include:
Foreign nationals outside the U.S. can obtain B-1 classification by applying for a B-1 Temporary Business Visitor visa through the U.S. Department of State (DOS) at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. For more information regarding the consular application process, check out BAL’s explainer video, which describes the process for applying for a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
After DOS issues the B-1 visa, the foreign national may seek admission to the U.S. in B-1 status. Chinese nationals who receive a 10-year B-1 visa must enroll in the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS).
Foreign nationals inside the U.S. can apply for B-1 status by filing a Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Foreign nationals who already hold B-1 status in the U.S. can apply to extend their status by filing a Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) with USCIS.
Foreign nationals may be admitted to the U.S. in B-1 status for a period of up to six months, and they may apply to extend their B-1 status in the U.S. in periods of up to six months. Due to the temporary nature of the classification, extensions are not generally permitted beyond one year.
B-1 classification is not for employment in the U.S. This means that foreign nationals in B-1 status generally cannot receive a salary or income from a U.S.-based company while in the U.S. Foreign nationals who will be in the U.S. to engage in commercial transactions, such as meeting with buyers and accepting orders, must produce the resulting goods or services outside the U.S.
Foreign nationals in B-1 status are not permitted to enroll in a course of study in the U.S.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens and nationals of countries participating in the program to travel to the U.S. for periods of up to 90 days without being required to obtain a visa. If entering the U.S. using the VWP, a foreign national will automatically be granted a stay of 90 days. In most cases, foreign nationals using the VWP are not eligible to apply for extensions of stay and must depart the U.S. within the 90-day period.
Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011, must obtain a B-1/B-2 visa prior to traveling to the U.S. Additionally, individuals who have traveled to Cuba on or after January 12, 2021, or are nationals of Cuba are not eligible for VWP and must obtain a B-1/B-2 visa to enter the U.S. Dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria must also obtain a B-1/B-2 visa.
To qualify for the VWP, a foreign national must meet the following requirements:
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a web-based system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk.
All travelers under the VWP must submit a pre-clearance application online or through the ESTA mobile app. Each approved ESTA application is generally valid for a period of two years, such that a Visa Waiver Program visitor may travel to the U.S. repeatedly within the two-year period without being required to apply for another ESTA. Individuals must obtain a new ESTA approval if they receive a new passport or if their information changes.
ESTA is not a visa but rather a requirement for entry to the U.S. under the VWP. However, like a visa, an ESTA approval is not a guarantee of admission to the U.S. An ESTA approval authorizes an individual to board a carrier for travel to the U.S. under the VWP.
Looking for expert immigration assistance for your personal or your employee’s upcoming business visits to the U.S.? Contact us now for help with the application process, including support on how to prepare an invitation letter for business purposes.