Fragomen Immigration Update: October 2 - 8, 2015
October 9, 2015
In United States immigration news this week, the Department of Homeland Security has sent a proposed regulation on the STEM optional practical training (OPT) program to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval – an essential step toward meeting a federal court deadline to ensure that the STEM program stays in place without interruption.
Eligible visa nationals seeking to stay and work in the Netherlands for longer than three months will see a simpler and faster entry process as more Entry Clearance Visa for Long Term Stay (MVV) exemptions have been introduced.
Starting October 12, applicants for employment permits in Ireland will have their applications rejected and returned if they fail to submit complete applications or do not to submit payment within five business days when paying filing fees by electronic fund transfer. These changes are in preparation for a new online payment and application system expected next year.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) conducted its eighteenth Express Entry draw. Applicants invited to apply for permanent residence included candidates who did not obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment or Provincial Nomination certificate.
These items and other news from Ireland, Kazakhstan, Portugal and the United States follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.
Important Updates in Immigration This Week
United States, October 7, 2015
Proposed New STEM OPT Regulation Now Under Review at OMB
By sending the proposed rule for Office of Management and Budget review, DHS has taken the first step toward meeting a February 12, 2016 court deadline to ensure that the STEM optional practical training (OPT) program stays in place without interruption and that eligible F-1 students can continue to seek an extension of their OPT authorization to work.
To view entire article, click here.
Netherlands, October 7, 2015
More Foreign Workers Exempt from Entry Clearance Visa for Long Term Stay (MVV)
As of October 1, 2015, eligible visa nationals seeking to stay and work in the Netherlands for longer than three months will see a simpler and faster entry process as more Entry Clearance Visa for Long Term Stay (MVV) exemptions have been introduced. Eligible workers include those with a valid residence permit in another Schengen country who will work for an accredited sponsor (such as knowledge migrants), those providing services under the Vander Elst exemption and those applying for a start-up entrepreneur residence permit within the Netherlands.
To view entire article, click here.
Ireland, October 5, 2015
Long Waits Managed with New Registration Schedule at Burgh Quay Immigration Office
The Garda National Immigration Bureau/Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service have introduced new measures to address the long waits at the Immigration Public Office in Burgh Quay. Initial residence registrations will now take place on Mondays and Tuesdays and registration renewals will take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Student residence registrations have also been deferred.
To view entire article, click here.
Ireland, October 2, 2015
Employment Permit Process Changes Require Complete Submissions and Earlier Payment
To prepare for the introduction of an online payment and application system next year, employment permit applicants must abide by certain administrative changes starting October 12, 2015. Incomplete applications will be sent back to applicants within 48 hours of submission and applicants utilizing electronic fund transfer must pay filing fees within five business days of submitting their application.
To view entire article, click here.
Canada, October 2, 2015
Latest Round of Express Entry Program Selections Show Ongoing Selection Flexibility
Citizenship and Immigration Canada conducted the eighteenth Express Entry draw, with 1,530 candidates invited to apply for permanent residence, including candidates who have not obtained a Labour Market Impact Assessment or Provincial Sponsorship.
To view entire article, click here.
Other Immigration News This Week
United States: Latest PERM Processing Times – As of October 5, 2015, the Department of Labor (DOL) was conducting analyst reviews for PERM applications filed in March 2015 or earlier and processing audited cases filed in July 2014 or earlier. The government error queue is current. DOL is working on standard reconsideration requests submitted in July 2015 or earlier.
PERM processing times are available on the iCERT home page.
Kazakhstan: Work Permit Rules Likely to Become More Restrictive – The Kazakhstani Government is considering new, restrictive amendments to the country's current Work Permit rules. If the amendments are approved as expected, employers would no longer be able to apply for work permits that are valid in two or more cities or regions. Because nationwide work permits are not an available option, employers planning to send employees to work in multiple cities or regions are advised to consult with their immigration service provider about the best course of actions on a case-by-case basis.
Portugal: Appointment Delays at Immigration Office – Foreign nationals applying for initial and renewed residence permits and visas at the Immigration and Borders Service should schedule their appointments far in advance of their travel plans or expiration dates, as the office is experiencing significant delays in appointment scheduling.
Global Immigration News Links
On the fiftieth anniversary of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1965 – the law that created the U.S. immigration as we know it today – President Obama reiterated the need for common sense, comprehensive immigration reform legislation that meets the needs of the 21st century. . . One article credited the INA to opening the door to millions of immigrants, whereas another attributed the surge in undocumented immigration to the INA, noting that even though the law removed the racial barriers of immigration, it restricted economic migration – especially from the Western Hemisphere.
Recent immigrants into the United States are the most highly educated in history, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, which shows that 41 percent of immigrants arriving in the past five years had completed at least a bachelor’s degree. By comparison, only 20 percent of newly arrived immigrants in 1970 were similarly educated.
Immigration over the next fifty years will change the face of America, with no ethnic or racial group majority in 2065, according to Pew Research Center projections.
A recent survey by Skills International showed that 71 percent of Western Canadian employers had never heard of the Express Entry program.
Highlighting immigration, Deutsche Bank hiked its GDP forecasts for Germany, citing increased consumption by immigrants amongst factors.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
