Weekly Immigration Update: November 11–17, 2022
November 17, 2022
In immigration news this week:
- Worldwide: As we enter the endemic phase of the COVID-19 era, travel restrictions and health requirements are waning based on growing vaccination initiatives. We are tracking related updates on our COVID-19 website.
- United States: According to the December Visa Bulletin, the EB-2 category will retrogress for most countries while EB-3 India and China will advance modestly; EB-1 India and China are likely to retrogress in the coming months. Next month, USCIS will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date earlier than the Dates for Filing listed in the State Department’s December Visa Bulletin. The Department of Homeland Security is extending through June 30, 2024 the status and employment authorization documentation for TPS beneficiaries of El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan.
- Switzerland: Switzerland will be re-introducing quotas for Croatian nationals in 2023 due to their recent high demand for L and B permits.
- European Union/Ukraine: Switzerland has extended temporary protection status for Ukrainians until March 2024. See our consolidated alert for details.
These items and other news from Austria, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Rwanda, and Türkiye follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.
Important updates in immigration this week
United States, November 17, 2022
December 2022 Visa Bulletin Update – USCIS to Honor Dates for Filing for Employment-Based Categories
Next month, USCIS will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is earlier than the Dates for Filing listed in the State Department’s December 2022 Visa Bulletin.
To view entire article, click here.
United States, November 16, 2022
December 2022 Visa Bulletin – EB-2 Retrogression for Most Countries and EB-3 Advancement for India and China; EB-1 India and China Likely to Retrogress in Coming Months
- An EB-2 Final Action cutoff date of November 1, 2022, and Dates for Filing cutoff date of December 1, 2022, will take effect next month for all countries except for China and India.
- The EB-2 India Final Action category will retrogress by more than six months to October 8, 2011. The EB-2 India Dates for Filing cutoff will remain at May 1, 2012.
- The EB-3 India Professional/Skilled Worker Final Action category will advance by more than two months to June 15, 2012, and the Dates for Filing cutoff will advance by one month to August 1, 2012.
- The EB-3 China Professional/Skilled Worker category will advance by six weeks, to August 1, 2018 for Final Action, and to September 1, 2018 for Dates for Filing.
- EB-1 India and China will likely retrogress in the coming months.
- The FY 2023 employment-based immigrant visa limit will be 197,000, as compared with 281,507 in FY 2022.
To view entire article, click here.
Switzerland, November 16, 2022
Quotas to be Reintroduced for Croatian Nationals
- Switzerland will be re-introducing quotas for Croatian nationals in 2023 after the number of Croatian nationals applying for L and B permits surpassed the threshold defined in the relevant legal regulations.
- As a result, starting January 1, 2023, employers seeking to hire Croatian nationals to work in Switzerland under L and B permits will need to conduct labor market tests before hiring Croatian nationals, which can add up to eight weeks to the immigration process.
To view entire article, click here.
United States, November 14, 2022
DHS Extends TPS for Several Countries
- The Department of Homeland Security will extend through June 30, 2024 the status and employment authorization documentation for TPS beneficiaries of El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. The current expiration date for these groups is December 31, 2022.
- TPS beneficiaries eligible for automatic EAD extensions to June 30, 2024 under the new announcement may complete or update their I-9 employment eligibility records by providing an employer with a copy of the Federal Register notice, an eligible expiring or expired TPS EAD, and any other required I-9 documents.
- Haiti benefits from a subsequent, separate TPS designation announced in August 2021. The new Haiti designation extends through February 3, 2023, and all those eligible are encouraged to register, including those with Haitian TPS under the prior designation.
- Sudan benefits from a subsequent, separate TPS designation announced in April 2022. The new Sudan designation extends through October 19, 2023, and all those eligible are encouraged to register, including those with Sudan TPS under the prior designation.
To view entire article, click here.
Other weekly news briefs
Austria, November 17, 2022
Shortage Occupation List Expanded and Beneficial Rules for Seasonal Workers Implemented
Austria, November 17, 2022
Red White Red Card and Blue Card EU Collection Changes
Canada/Italy, November 16, 2022
Bilateral Youth Mobility Program Implemented
Estonia, November 17, 2022
Stricter Requirements for Spouses of Student Visa Holders
Germany, November 14, 2022
Processing Delays Worsen
Hungary/Türkiye, November 17, 2022
Hungarian Nationals Allowed Entry with Identification Documents
Indonesia, November 16, 2022
New Health Insurance Requirement for Short-Term Foreign Workers
Rwanda, November 14, 2022
New Occupation List Released
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.