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  • United States | DHS updates STEM Designated Degree Program List

    The Department of Homeland Security announced plans to amend the STEM Designated Degree Program List to add environmental/natural resource economics as a new field of study. Key Points: The STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Designated Degree Program List determines which F-1 students are eligible for

  • United States | USCIS announces application start date for parole in place noncitizen spouses

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced further details about the Biden administration policy offering parole in place for certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens. Key Points: The Department of Homeland Security continues establishing a process to evaluate case-by-case requests for

  • United States | TPS extended, redesignated for Somalia

    The Department of Homeland Security will extend and redesignate Somalia for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from Sept. 18, 2024, through March 17, 2026. Key Points: The extension will allow currently eligible Somalian TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS through March 17, 2026, provided they continue

  • United States | Ineligibility waiver clarifications ease work visa path for DACA and college grads

    The State Department announced clarifications to current consular guidance on recommending that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant ineligibility waivers to certain Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and other college graduates. Key Points: The guidance clarifications explain when consular officers should recommend

  • United Arab Emirates | Emiratization requirement compliance reminder

    The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization provided a reminder to employers of 50 or more workers to meet their Emiratization targets for the first half of 2024, as compliance monitoring began as of July 1. Key Points: Noncompliant employers will face a 42,000 AED (about US$11,400) fine for each Emirati

  • United States | International Entrepreneur Rule guidance updated

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided updated guidance and a detailed FAQ on the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER). Key Points: IER grants foreign national entrepreneurs who have a startup business and meet certain qualifications a period of stay, or parole, of

  • China | Visa exemption policy expanded

    Chinese officials announced the expansion of the country’s visa-free policy to nationals of Australia, New Zealand and Poland. Key Points: Nationals of these countries with ordinary passports may enter visa-free for business, tourism, family visits or transit purposes for up to 15 days effective July 1

  • United States | Indian Visa Application Center opens in Seattle

    The Indian government has opened an Indian Visa Application Center (IVAC) in Seattle. Key Points: The new IVAC in Seattle offers consular services including visa, passport, Overseas Citizen of India card and other travel- and immigration-related appointments and services. An IVAC facility accepting drop-off consular applications

  • Finland | Automated monitoring for specialist residence permits implemented

    Finnish authorities have introduced an automated post-decision monitoring system for specialist residence permits. Key Points: The new system verifies whether the holder of a specialist residence permit still meets the requirements for the permit, including whether the salary meets the income threshold as well as maintaining work duties and education requirements.

  • Portugal | Immigration documents automatically extended again

    The government of Portugal again extended the validity of immigration documents and visas, now to June 30, 2025. Key Points: As BAL previously reported, the government announced a similar extension last year. The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) said that 410,000 immigrant cases are

  • Canada | Post-graduation work permit no longer available at the border

    The Canadian government announced that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit at the border, effective immediately. Key Points: Foreign nationals will now need to apply for a post-graduation work permit online before their study permit expires after arriving in Canada under

  • United States | H-1B, AOS, Schedule A and other regulatory agenda updates

    According to the recent publication of the Spring 2024 regulatory agenda, the Biden administration has the H-1B modernization rule, adjustment of status proposal and seasonal/temporary worker regulations targeted for publication by the end of 2024. The next step toward Schedule A reform will occur this

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  • H-2 visas offer humane, economic solution to border crisis 

    The number of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. at the Mexico border reached historic levels in 2023, with a record 2.5 million land border encounters with individuals lacking proper authorization to enter the U.S. In addition, a less publicized situation occurring within our borders is a shortage of workers

  • Episode 82: C’est La Visa! Paris Olympics and H-2A insights

    In this week’s episode, we examine a recent H-2A report, discuss the new Farmworker’s Protection Rule and outline the Biden administration’s Spring regulatory agenda updates. We also kick off our Olympics-focused series with a look at what it takes

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