Weekly Immigration Update: May 3-9, 2024

Estonia, May 8, 2024
New EU Blue Card Rules Implemented

Estonia has introduced more relaxed EU Blue Card rules. Key changes include:

• • new professional experience eligibility pathways;
  • reduced mandatory employment contract durations;
  • relaxed rules around changing employers; and
  • eased regulations around unemployment.

These reforms are part of Estonia adhering to the requirements of the 2021 EU Blue Card Directive.

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United States, May 8, 2024
June 2024 Visa Bulletin – No Movement in Most Employment-Based (EB) Categories; USCIS to Honor EB Final Action Dates

• • The Final Action dates for EB-1, EB-2, and EB-5 will remain unchanged in June.
  • The Final Action date for EB-3 India will advance by one week.
  • USCIS will honor Final Action dates for employment-based categories in June.
  • The State Department projects that the worldwide Final Action dates for EB-2 and EB-3 will most likely retrogress in July.

To view entire article, click here.

United States, May 3, 2024
State Department Releases FY 2025 Diversity Visa Lottery Winners Tomorrow

• • Starting at noon ET on May 4, 2024, lottery entrants must check the State Department’s official Diversity Visa Lottery websiteto learn whether they have been chosen to apply for a diversity visa. Entrants may experience delays accessing the official website due to heavy user traffic.   
  • The State Department does not send direct notification to lottery winners.  
  • Selected entrants can submit an application for permanent residence during FY 2025, which begins on October 1, 2024.

To view entire article, click here.