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September 29, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: White House Seeks Supreme Court Review of Birthright Citizenship EO Constitutionality
September 29, 2025 | United States, United KingdomGlobal Mobility Lawyer: Lawyers Try to Make Sense of Trump’s Confusing H-1B Fee Hike
September 29, 2025 | IndiaIndia: Electronic Arrival Card to Replace Paper Disembarkation Card
September 29, 2025 | IrelandIreland: Prompt Residence Permit Renewal Necessary to Ensure Christmas Travel
September 29, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: Preparing for a Potential Federal Government Shutdown on October 1
September 29, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: White House Seeks Supreme Court Review of Birthright Citizenship EO Constitutionality
September 29, 2025 | United States, United KingdomGlobal Mobility Lawyer: Lawyers Try to Make Sense of Trump’s Confusing H-1B Fee Hike
September 29, 2025 | IndiaIndia: Electronic Arrival Card to Replace Paper Disembarkation Card
September 29, 2025 | IrelandIreland: Prompt Residence Permit Renewal Necessary to Ensure Christmas Travel
September 29, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: Preparing for a Potential Federal Government Shutdown on October 1
September 29, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: White House Seeks Supreme Court Review of Birthright Citizenship EO Constitutionality
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Weekly Immigration Update: August 4–10, 2023

August 10, 2023

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In immigration news this week:

  • United States: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is soliciting public comments on a proposed pilot program that will allow certain employers not enrolled in E-Verify to use remote I-9 document inspection procedures similar to those recently authorized for qualifying E-Verify employers. In September, the EB-2 worldwide and EB-3 China Professional/Skilled Worker Final Action Dates will advance, while other employment-based categories will hold steady. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is earlier than the Final Action Dates listed in the State Department’s September Visa Bulletin.
  • Canada: A new three-year Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) will be available for certain eligible employers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The REP will open in September 2023 for employers in the Primary Agriculture stream and in January 2024 for employers in all other industry sectors.
  • Slovenia: A new law has eased certain immigration rules to attract non-EU nationals to the workforce, while forthcoming stricter language requirements will apply starting November 1, 2024.
  • United Kingdom: Fines are set to triple in early 2024 for employers hiring and landlords hosting migrants without the required work permission.
  • Worldwide/Russia: Information regarding the disruptions and/or closures of Finnish consular posts in Russia has been clarified. See the Finland section of our consolidated alert for details.

These items and other news from Canada, Iceland, Panama, Saudi Arabia, and the United States follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.

Important updates in immigration this week

Canada, August 8, 2023
New Recognized Employer Pilot Introduced

  • Employment and Social Development Canada has announced a new three-year Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program aimed at reducing administrative hurdles for eligible employers and addressing labor shortages in Canada.
  • The REP will open in September 2023 for employers in the Primary Agriculture stream and in January 2024 for employers in all other industry sectors. Applications will be accepted until September 2024.
  • To participate in the REP, employers must have a minimum of three positive Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) for the same occupation over the past five years from a list of occupations designated as in-shortage under the Canadian Occupational Projection System.
  • Under the pilot program, recognized employers will benefit from a longer validity and simplified process for LMIAs and a recognized status designation on Canada’s Job Bank.

To view the entire article, click here.

 

United States, August 8, 2023
September Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Worldwide and EB-3 China Professional/Skilled Workers Advance, Other Employment-Based Categories Hold Steady; USCIS to Honor Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Categories

  • In September, the EB-2 Final Action Date for all countries except India and China will advance by three months, to July 1, 2022.
  • The EB-3 China Professional/Skilled Worker Final Action Date will also advance by three months, to September 1, 2019.
  • All other employment-based Final Action Dates remain unchanged from last month.
  • In September, USCIS will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is earlier than the Final Action Dates listed in the State Department’s September 2023 Visa Bulletin.
  • The State Department confirms that the FY 2023 limit for employment-based immigrant visas is 197,091.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United Kingdom, August 8, 2023
Illegal Worker Fines to Triple in Early 2024

  • According to an August 2023 government statement, starting early 2024 (no exact date was provided), businesses convicted of hiring migrants without the required work permission will be fined up to GBP 45,000 per illegal worker, up from the current maximum of GBP 15,000; and repeat offending businesses will be fined up to GBP 60,000 per worker, up from the current maximum of GBP 20,000.
  • This policy change comes amid broader efforts by the UK government to deter irregular migration, and includes increased fines for landlords who host migrants without the required work permission.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Slovenia, August 7, 2023
Relaxed Immigration Rules Implemented, but Stricter Language Requirements Forthcoming

  • A new law eases certain immigration rules in Slovenia to attract non-EU nationals to the workforce.
  • Key changes (among others) include the ability of residence permit renewal applicants to receive their permit by mail; and a new practice for fingerprints to be kept on a digital government system for a longer period of time, easing the application process for residence permit renewal applicants.
  • Notably, however, stricter language requirements will apply starting November 1, 2024.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, August 4, 2023
DHS Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Pilot Program to Allow Remote I-9 Document Examination by Certain Non-E-Verify Employers

  • DHS is soliciting comments from the public on a proposed pilot program that will allow certain employers not enrolled in E-Verify to use remote I-9 document inspection procedures similar to those recently authorized for qualifying E-Verify employers.
  • DHS proposes to limit participation in the pilot program to employers with 500 or fewer employees.
  • Employers interested in participating in the pilot program will be required to apply for and be accepted into the program and will be subject to certain conditions of participation.
  • Comments on the proposal are due by October 2, 2023.

To view entire article, click here.

Other weekly news briefs

Canada/Iceland, August 8, 2023
Bilateral Youth Arrangement Signed

Panama, August 4, 2023
Electronic Platform Launched for SEM and EMMA Applications

Saudi Arabia, August 8, 2023
Electronic Visa for Tourism Expanded to Additional Nationalities

United States, August 9, 2023
July 2023 DOL PERM and PWD Processing Times

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.

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