Weekly Immigration Update: June 2–8, 2023

United States, June 8, 2023
July 2023 Visa Bulletin: Most Employment-Based Categories Hold Steady; EB-3 India Retrogresses Steeply and EB-3 Rest of World, Mexico, and Philippines Retrogress Moderately

• In July, EB-3 India will retrogress by more than three years to January 1, 2009.
• EB-3 for all other countries except China will retrogress by four months to February 1, 2022.
• EB-1, EB-2, and EB-5 cutoff dates for all countries will remain the same in July.
• The Dates for Filing chart cutoff dates will remain the same in July.

To view entire article, click here.

Canada, June 6, 2023
Visa Waiver Program Expanded to Additional Nationalities

• Canada will allow nationals of 13 countries to enter without a visa by air for tourism or business if they either held a Canadian temporary resident visa in the last 10 years or if they currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa.
• The 13 countries are: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Seychelles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
• These individuals will no longer need to obtain a temporary resident visa but instead must utilize the electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program, like other visa-exempt nationals.
• Eligible foreign nationals will find a streamlined process for entering Canada as the eTA is usually issued electronically within minutes of filing as opposed to obtaining a temporary resident visa, which can take months.

To view entire article, click here.

Azerbaijan, June 2, 2023
Residence Right and Work Permit Exemption Restrictions Implemented

The government has restricted several immigration categories in Azerbaijan:

• Deputy directors, some directors, and some founders and shareholders of legal entities with foreign investment established in Azerbaijan must apply for work permit as they no longer qualify for a work permit exemption; and
• Fewer foreign nationals qualify for temporary and permanent residence in Azerbaijan, which is meant to restrict the foreign national pool of workers.

To view entire article, click here.