Weekly Immigration Update: January 19–25, 2024

United States, January 25, 2024
The State Department’s Domestic Visa Renewal Pilot: What Employers and Foreign Nationals Need to Know Ahead of the January 29 Launch

• Under a highly anticipated State Department pilot program, up to 20,000 eligible applicants will be permitted to renew their H-1B visas from within the United States.
• The pilot program opens at noon ET on January 29, 2024 and will be open for applications in five weekly allotments of 4,000 filing slots. Eligible foreign nationals must secure a slot in one of the weekly allotments to participate in the domestic renewal program. Prospective applicants can begin drafting and pre-loading their online DS-160 visa application in advance of the pilot launch.
• Applicants must meet the State Department’s strict eligibility and application requirements in order to take part in the pilot.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United Kingdom, January 24, 2024
Increased Illegal Worker Fines in Effect from February 13, 2024

• The UK government has confirmed that the scheduled significant fine increases for either hiring migrants without the required work permission, or hosting migrants who lack the right to rent, will go into effect on February 13, 2024. 
• From this date, 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 illegal worker, up from the current maximum of GBP 20,000.
• Landlords who host migrants without the right to rent in the United Kingdom will also face significantly increased fines.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Canada, January 22, 2024
Significant Temporary Cap Introduced for International Students and New Guidelines for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program

• The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a temporary two-year cap on the issuance of certain new international student permits.
• To implement the cap, every study permit application submitted to IRCC from January 22, 2024 will require an attestation letter issued by a province or territory.
• The cap will cut the number of new approved study permits in 2024 to 360,000 – a 35% decrease from 2023.
• The government will be allocating the cap among provinces and territories based on their population.
• Concurrently, the government has also announced new guidelines under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program and for restricted work permit eligibility for spouses of study permit holders. The changes include restrictions on work permit eligibility for students of certain types of institutions and spouses of students in certain programs; and extended validity of PGWP for graduates of master’s and doctoral programs in Canada.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, January 22, 2024
USCIS Final Fee Rule Clears Federal Review

• A final DHS fee regulation that would increase the filing fees for many USCIS immigration benefit filings has cleared the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) federal review process, putting the regulation closer to implementation.
• The new fee regulation is expected to increase the H-1B cap registration fee; increase and create separate fees for H-1B, L-1, and other nonimmigrant case types; impose an additional fee on Forms I-129 and I-140 to fund humanitarian programs; increase premium processing timelines; and unbundle adjustment of status and ancillary benefit fees, among other measures.
• The next step for the final regulation is publication in the Federal Register with implementation details. Publication is expected in the coming days.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Germany, January 19, 2024
Parliament Approves New Relaxed Citizenship Law

• On January 19, 2024, Germany’s parliament passed a law that significantly relaxes naturalization pathways.
• Among other changes, the law will:
  • reduce the minimum period of German residence necessary for naturalization to five years (and even three years in exceptional circumstances), down from eight years.
  • allow German citizens to hold multiple citizenships whereas currently, dual citizenship is possible only in rare circumstances.
• This law is expected to increase uptake of German citizenship, especially as many potential citizenship applicants are citizens of other countries and therefore currently barred from naturalizing without giving up their current citizenship. It is also likely to make Germany a more attractive labour market for foreign talent, as access to a German passport will be easier.
• The law is expected to come into force in either April or May 2024.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Canada, January 19, 2024
Quebec Immigration Reforms Implemented with Stricter French Language Requirements and Transition to Online Applications, Among Other Changes    

• Following the release of Quebec’s 2024 Immigration Plan in November 2023, the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration has now implemented several reforms to Quebec’s Immigration Regulations.
• The key change is the implementation of stricter French language requirements for several immigration programs and streams in Quebec.
• Additionally, the Ministry will soon fully transition to online applications for Quebec Acceptance Certificates and Validated Job Offers.
• The government is also seeking to strengthen Francophone communities outside Quebec and the government will continue to promote policies with this aim.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, January 18, 2024
Congress Passes Stopgap Spending Bill; Immigration Operations Funded Through Early March

• Congress has passed another short-term spending bill that will fund some federal agencies – including immigration operations – through March 8, 2024, while other federal agencies will be funded through March 1.
• President Biden is expected to sign the bill, which would avert a U.S. government shutdown.

To view entire article, click here.