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Weekly Immigration Update: July 28–August 3, 2023

August 3, 2023

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In immigration news this week:

  • United States: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selected an additional 77,609 registrations in the second H-1B lottery drawing, bringing the total number of selections to date for FY 2024 to 188,400, and the overall selection rate for eligible registrations to 24.8%. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a new edition of Form I-9 dated August 1, 2023, which will become mandatory for employers on November 1.
  • Ireland: Relaxed naturalization rules now allow applicants to spend a greater period of time outside the country, and minors born in Ireland can now apply for citizenship after three years of accumulated residence in Ireland.
  • Minimum salary updates: Belarus has increased the minimum salary levels for certain foreign national work permits and for dependent spouse and child sponsorship applications. See our consolidated alert for details.

These items and other news from Algeria, Australia, Canada, Mainland China, Croatia, Egypt, Estonia, Ireland, Israel, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Russia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, the United Kingdom, and the United States follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.

Important updates in immigration this week

United States, August 2, 2023
DHS Issues New Edition of Form I-9 As New Remote Verification Option Takes Effect for E-Verify Employers

  • The new edition of Form I-9, dated August 1, 2023, will become mandatory for all employers on November 1, 2023.
  • Through October 31, 2023, employers may continue to use the previous edition, dated October 21, 2019.
  • The new form does not contain any substantive changes from the October 21, 2019 version. However, there are changes to how the form is organized and additional explanations along with references to USCIS resources on the I-9 process.
  • The publication of this new form is designed to recognize a newly published rule that authorizes certain employers to use an alternative process to review Form I-9 documents remotely. This alternative process is available to some E-Verify employers in lieu of the general requirement for physical inspection of documents in the presence of the employee presenting the documents.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Ireland, August 2, 2023
Naturalization Rules Relaxed

  • Citizenship applicants (including minors) can now be outside Ireland for a total of 70 days for each of the years that they are relying upon to become eligible for citizenship, up from the previous six weeks per year.
  • Applicants may also be permitted an additional 30 days outside Ireland (in each of these years) for specified exceptional circumstances.
  • Minors born in Ireland, who did not qualify for citizenship at birth, can now apply for citizenship after three years of accumulated residence in Ireland, down from the previous five years.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, August 1, 2023
USCIS Selects Over 77,000 Additional H-1B Cap Registrations in Second Lottery

  • USCIS selected an additional 77,609 registrations in its recently completed second lottery drawing, bringing the total number of selections to date for FY 2024 to 188,400.
  • As a result of the additional selections, the overall selection rate for eligible registrations has increased to 24.8%, from 14.6% after the first lottery.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, August 1, 2023
USCIS Completes Second FY 20
24 H-1B Cap Selection Process

  • USCIS has completed the second FY 2024 H-1B cap registration lottery selection, and has notified employers of selection results. Employers will need to log into their H-1B cap registration accounts to learn which beneficiaries were selected.
  • The petition filing period for H-1B cap selections in the second round is August 2 to October 31, 2023.

To view entire article, click here.

Other weekly news briefs

Algeria, August 2, 2023
Online Platform Expanded to Annex 13 Applications

Australia, August 2, 2023
Update on Labour Market Testing Exemption for UK Citizens and Permanent Residents

Canada, August 3, 2023
More Invitations to Apply Under the Category-Based Selection Process for Express Entry Issued

Mainland China, July 28, 2023
Visa-Free Entry Reinstated for Brunei and Singapore Nationals

Mainland China, August 3, 2023  
Reinstatement of Multi-Year Visas and Introduction of New Extension Policies

Croatia, July 28, 2023
Delays to Document Gathering Due to Strike

Egypt, August 3, 2023
Work Permit Application Processing Delays Expected

Estonia, August 2, 2023
Posted Worker Notifications Now to be Filed via Online Portal

Ireland, August 2, 2023
Electronic Service of Immigration Documents Introduced

Israel, August 1, 2023
Process for Entry for Certain U.S. Citizens with Dual Citizenship in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon or Syria

Luxembourg, August 3, 2023
New Residence Permit Required for Some Foreign Nationals

North Macedonia, August 1, 2023
Travel Documents with Country’s Previous Name to be Invalid from February 2024

Philippines, August 1, 2023  
Removal of Travel Pass Requirement for Specific Visa Holders

Russia, August 1, 2023
Long-Delayed Unified Short-term E-visa Launched

St. Kitts and Nevis, August 1, 2023
Higher Investment Threshold for Citizenship by Investment Program, Among Other Changes

Saudi Arabia, July 31, 2023
Electronic Visa Program Expanded to Additional Countries

Serbia, August 1, 2023
Certain Work, Residence Permit Changes in Force Earlier than Expected

United Kingdom, July 31, 2023
Stricter Good Character Citizenship Requirements

United States, August 2, 2023
DHS Reduces ESTA Validity Period for Hungary to One Year and Single Use

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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Important Updates
Important Updates
June 23, 2026 | JapanJapan: Visa Issuance Fees to Increase Effective July 2026
June 24, 2026 | GuyanaGuyana: New In-Person Requirement for Work Permit Endorsement
June 24, 2026 | Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia: Premium Residency Holders Now Require Work Permits
June 24, 2026 | VietnamVietnam: eID Requirement Forthcoming for All Administrative Procedures
June 23, 2026 | GhanaGhana: New Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and eVisa Requirements; Visa-on-Arrival Discontinued
June 23, 2026 | JapanJapan: Visa Issuance Fees to Increase Effective July 2026
June 24, 2026 | GuyanaGuyana: New In-Person Requirement for Work Permit Endorsement
June 24, 2026 | Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia: Premium Residency Holders Now Require Work Permits
June 24, 2026 | VietnamVietnam: eID Requirement Forthcoming for All Administrative Procedures
June 23, 2026 | GhanaGhana: New Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and eVisa Requirements; Visa-on-Arrival Discontinued
June 23, 2026 | JapanJapan: Visa Issuance Fees to Increase Effective July 2026
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