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  • United States | USCIS updates FAQ, cites petitions filed with incorrect fees

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its FAQ on the new fee rule to help certain petitioners understand how to submit the correct required fees. Key Points: The final USCIS fee rule went into effect April 1, 2024, marking the most

  • European Union | Latest immigration updates

    The adopted revision to the 2011 single-permit directive has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, and the EU Council has temporarily suspended certain elements of EU law that regulate visa issuance to Ethiopian nationals. Key Points: The

  • Australia | New permanent resident visa ballot date

    Australian authorities announced that the new Pacific engagement visa will open its first ballot on June 3. Key Points: As BAL previously reported, Australian authorities introduced a new permanent resident visa program called the Pacific engagement visa for nationals of participating

  • Thailand | New immigration initiatives announced to boost tourism

    The Thai government is introducing several new immigration initiatives designed to increase tourism and spur economic growth. Key Points: The Thai cabinet recently approved the extension of a policy that allows Russian tourists to enter Thailand for 60 days until July 31, 2024. The Immigration Bureau stated that visa holders are

  • United States | USCIS data shows drop in H-1B registrations this year

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that it received 479,953 total registrations for this year’s H-1B lottery — a figure substantially less than last year’s record-breaking 780,884. The agency attributed the decline to the undertaking of fraud investigations and implementation of the new beneficiary-centric selection

  • United States | Supreme Court hears arguments involving spouse’s visa denial

    The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments last week in a closely followed case involving a California woman whose husband was denied an immigrant visa to rejoin her in the United States. Sandra Muñoz, a U.S. citizen, sued the federal government after her husband, Luis Asencio Cordero, a citizen of El Salvador,

  • United States | Labor Department posts final H-2A regulation

    The U.S. Department of Labor announced a final H-2A regulation Friday, saying the rule was crafted to target the “vulnerability and abuses experienced by workers under the H-2A program that undermine fair labor standards for all farmworkers in the U.S.” The H-2A program allows employers to hire temporary agricultural workers

  • European Union | Schengen visa rules updated

    The European Commission adopted updated rules on Schengen visas for nationals of Bahrain, India, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Key Points: The standard rules of the EU visa code have been updated for Indian nationals who reside in India and who have already obtained and lawfully used

  • Indonesia | Remote worker visa launched

    The Indonesian government has launched a new remote worker visa. ‌Key Points: Eligible foreign nationals may obtain the new remote worker visa and reside in Indonesia while working remotely on behalf of employers located outside the country for up to one year, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year.

  • Malaysia | Update for MDEC registered employers

    The Malaysian government has stated that Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation registered employers should now file employment pass applications through the Xpats Gateway system. Key Points: Effective April 24, all new and renewal applications for employment passes are required to be made through the Xpats Gateway system

  • United States | USCIS to open international field offices in Doha and Ankara

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the upcoming opening of international field offices in Doha, Qatar, and Ankara, Turkey. Key Points: The new field offices are designed to increase capacity for refugee processing, strengthen strategic partnerships and facilitate interagency cooperation. The new Doha field office will open on May

  • Norway | Financial assistance requirement for permanent residence changed

    Norwegian officials announced they have lifted the requirement that permanent resident applicants cannot have received financial assistance under the Social Services Act. Key Points: Norwegian officials removed the requirement that permanent resident applicants must prove they have not received any financial assistance in the last 12

  • United States | USCIS reaches H-2B cap for returning workers with April 1-May 14 start dates

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Thursday that it had received enough petitions to reach the H-2B cap for returning workers with start dates from April 1 to May 14, 2024. Key Points: The 19,000 visas for returning workers were available under a

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