Weekly Immigration Update: February 23–29, 2024

Canada, February 29, 2024  
Visa Exemption Revoked for Nationals of Mexico, With Certain Exceptions

• Effective February 29, 2024, at 23:30 (local time), nationals of Mexico will no longer be visa exempt when entering Canada for tourism, business or transit and will need to instead obtain a temporary resident visa online via a consulate.
• Certain Mexican nationals traveling to Canada by air under a Mexican passport may still be visa exempt if they either held a Canadian temporary resident visa in the last 10 years; currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa; or are entering Canada under a study or work permit. These individuals will still be eligible to apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada, instead of a visa.
• As a result, affected Mexican nationals seeking to enter Canada may encounter administrative hurdles, possible additional costs and potential delays.
• All eTAs issued to Mexican nationals before 23:30 (local time) on February 29, 2024 are automatically canceled, except for eTAs linked to Mexican passport holders with a valid Canadian work or study permit.

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United States, February 28, 2024
H-1B Cap Update: USCIS Officially Launches New Organizational Account System

• Employers can now create new organizational accounts and upgrade existing accounts in USCIS’s revised online H-1B cap registration system.
• H-1B cap registration opens at noon ET on March 6, 2024. Employers must have an account in order to register beneficiaries for the FY 2025 H-1B cap lottery.
• In preparation for the registration period, foreign nationals must ensure that their passport or travel document will be valid at the time they are registered.

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Germany, February 28, 2024
Student Visa and Family Reunification Rules to be Relaxed

• Effective March 1, 2024, the German government will expand the working rights and validity periods of student permits and will ease certain permanent residency and family reunification rules.
• These changes are in addition to other policy changes which were announced last year and come into effect on March 1, 2024, including shorter duration requirements for acquiring permanent residence and the creation of immigration pathways for applicants with vocational experience.
• These changes are part of a broader package of legal reforms which seeks to attract and retain foreign talent via reducing immigration barriers.

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United Kingdom, February 23, 2024  
Migration Advisory Committee Review Recommends New Roles on New Immigration Salary List

•  The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), the UK government’s independent advisor on immigration policy, has recommended 21 roles be included on the new Immigration Salary List (ISL).
• The ISL has been put forward as the government’s replacement of the Shortage Occupation List. Inclusion on the list means preferential criteria for employers who are seeking to sponsor overseas workers to fill vacancies in such occupations.
• The MAC, while limited to giving independent advice to the government on migratory issues and making recommendations, is highly influential, and most of its recommendations are typically accepted by the government.
• The MAC is likely to undertake a stakeholder engagement process as part of a fuller review of the ISL expected later this year. Accordingly, any ISL-related changes may be subject to further changes in the near future.

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