Canada has just made significant changes to the requirements to qualify for an intra-company transfer (ICT) work permit. This will have a major impact on many companies seeking to employ foreign national workers in Canada. Note that workers who are citizens of a country that has a free trade agreement with Canada will not be […]
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DIVP) is a government lottery program that offers a straightforward path to obtaining U.S. Permanent Residence (green card). This program allocates 50,000 visas annually to applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States and specific education qualifications. The registration period for the FY2026 U.S. diversity visa […]
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DIVP) is a government lottery program that offers a straightforward path to obtaining US Permanent Residence (green card). This program allocates 50,000 visas annually to applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States and specific education qualifications. The registration period for the FY2025 U.S. diversity visa […]
On March 18, 2021, two bills that would create a legalization pathway for “Dreamers” and for farmworkers (H-2A temporary agricultural workers) received bipartisan support and passed in the House of Representatives. Passage in the Senate is uncertain, however. According to observers, prospects for both bills in their current form seem dim. Some believe that the […]
The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for March 2021 shows a seven-month leap forward for Chinese and Indian green card applicants in the employment-based first preference category, with a final action date of August 1, 2020, for both countries. In February, immigrant visas were available for those with priority dates earlier than January 1, 2020. […]
Following the release of the latest visa bulletin by the U.S. Department of State, March has shaped up as a favorable month for filing an adjustment of status. All countries are current across EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories except for China and India who advance moderately, opening the door wide for AOS filings. Employment-Based Adjustments USCIS will accept […]
The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has proposed to delay the effective date of a Trump administration rule, “Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States.” The implementation of the rule published in January will now be delayed until May 14, 2021. The notice states […]
The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for February 2021 included the following information on final action date projections (potential monthly movement) for employment-based green card categories through May. The bulletin notes that determination of the actual monthly final action dates is subject to fluctuations in applicant demand and other variables affecting processing: Employment First: Worldwide: […]
On January 20, 2021, a U.S. district court issued a modified order governing the manner and schedule in which the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) will reissue certain prevailing wage determinations (PWDs) that were issued from October 8, 2020, through December 4, 2020, under the wage methodology for a related […]
The Situation Imagine a foreign national who established a software development company which won numerous national and international technology and business awards and then received multimillion-dollar investments to expand the company’s capabilities. Imagine the same individual served in a leading role for a global leader in enterprise data management that was sold for over a […]
Briefing: Starting in January, applicants who file Form I-90 to replace an expiring green card will receive a revised receipt notice, which together with an applicant’s PRC, will serve as temporary evidence of lawful permanent resident status for 12 months from the expiration date on the face of the green card. Applicants will receive the revised […]
Briefing: The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a new rule that will raise prevailing wages at all levels in a phased period beginning July 2021. The rule would take full effect for some employees a year later, and full implementation for visa holders extending their statuses to wait for an available green card would […]