Weekly Immigration Update: August 4–10, 2023

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.

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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.