Weekly Immigration Update: April 26-May 2, 2019

• United States: A pilot program the requires Canadian citizens seeking L-1 admission at Blaine, Washington ports of entry to first file their petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been extended through April 30, 2020.
• Australia: The Opposition Leader has announced  plans to overhaul  the temporary sponsored work visa program should the Labor Party win the federal election on May 18.
• Canada: The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has closed the Masters Graduate Stream for 2019 and temporarily paused the Employer Job Offer Streams for International Students and Foreign Workers.

These items and other news from Argentina, Denmark, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and the United States follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.


Important Updates in Immigration This Week

Canada, May 2, 2019
Multiple Permanent Residence Streams in Ontario Closed or Paused

• The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has closed the Masters Graduate Stream for 2019 because the stream has reached its registration limits and temporarily paused the Employer Job Offer Streams for International Students and Foreign Workers due to an influx of applications. These streams are used by foreign nationals to apply for permanent residence in Ontario.
• Since no additional registrations for these streams will be accepted until further notice, foreign nationals applying for permanent residence in Ontario have limited options until the streams reopen, which is expected to happen later in the year.

To view entire article, click here.


United States, May 2, 2019
Summer Travel Planning for Foreign Nationals

• If you are a foreign national planning to travel internationally this summer, make sure that you have all the necessary documents, including a passport with sufficient remaining validity, a valid U.S. visa in the appropriate classification, and advance permission to travel if necessary. 
• If you will need to apply for a visa while you are abroad, be prepared for possible delays in visa issuance. 
• On reentry to the United States, expect thorough screening at the port of entry.
   

To view entire article, click here. 


United States, April 29, 2019
CBP and USCIS Further Extend Canadian L-1 Pilot Program at Blaine, WA

• The Blaine, WA pilot program – under which USCIS adjudicates Canadian L-1 border applications, instead of CBP, at the Blaine port of entry – will be extended through April 30, 2020.
• The program is optional; Canadian citizens seeking initial or intermittent/commuter L status may continue to make border L-1 applications with CBP at other northern ports of entry.
• CBP has recently begun refusing to adjudicate any renewals of Canadian L status, so L renewals may be submitted to USCIS through the Blaine, WA pilot program, or should be submitted to a USCIS Service Center in the U.S. under standard USCIS L-1 procedures.

To view entire article, click here. 


Australia, April 29, 2019
Opposition Leader Announces Overhaul of Temporary Sponsored Work Visa Program if Labor Party Wins

The Opposition Leader in Australia has announced that should the Labor Party win the federal election on May 18, 2019, the new government would overhaul Australia’s temporary sponsored work visa program, and would implement measures to significantly increase minimum salary requirements and levies for the Skilling Australians Fund. This alert analyses the proposed measures.

To view entire article, click here.


Brexit News and Related News Briefs This Week

Netherlands: Update on No-Deal Contingency Planning – As an update, Dutch authorities have published new legislation confirming a work authorization waiver for UK nationals and their family members already residing or working in the Netherlands at least two months prior to Brexit day and/or in possession of a temporary residence permit for UK nationals. The previous legislation did not state how long UK nationals would need to reside in the Netherlands prior to Brexit to be eligible for this waiver.

Many other EU countries have published contingency plans for UK nationals in case of a no-deal Brexit, with more expected soon. Fragomen will provide updates on the situation as they become available.

Please contact a Fragomen immigration professional for assistance in planning contingency arrangements in a single project. For more information, please visit Fragomen's dedicated Brexit site, which contains news, FAQs, and analysis/commentary in the form of blogs, videos, webcasts and events.


Other Weekly News Briefs