Weekly Immigration Update: October 6–12, 2023

Israel/Palestine, October 12, 2023
Latest Immigration Information: Israel-Palestine Crisis

• The immigration authorities in Israel are closed to the public as of October 12, 2023, and it is not clear when they will reopen. However, the Work Permit Unit and the visa department are operating on a limited capacity basis.
• This alert will now serve as the main space for up-to-date information on the security situation in Israel. Please check this page frequently – we will send a link to this alert every Thursday in the Weekly Immigration Update.

To view entire article, click here.

 

South Africa, October 12, 2023
Trusted Employer Scheme Pilot Launched, Call for Expression of Interest from Employers

• The Department of Home Affairs has published the final regulations for the Trusted Employer Scheme, which will enable eligible employers to utilize immigration processes with reduced administrative requirements and shorter processing times.
• Registered employers, investors, or business entities operating in South Africa may submit their interest in joining the scheme by submitting an Expression of Interest by November 20, 2023.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Honduras, October 12, 2023
Visa Exemption Revoked for Nationals of Costa Rica as Reciprocal Measure

• As of October 10, 2023, nationals of Costa Rica are no longer visa-exempt when entering Honduras for tourism and business and must instead obtain a Consular Visa for entry.
• The reciprocal measure follows Costa Rica’s requirement for Honduran nationals to obtain a Consular Entry Visa to enter Costa Rica for tourism and business, implemented on October 6, 2023.
• The visa requirement adds administrative hurdles, additional costs and potential delays to Costa Rican nationals seeking to enter Honduras for tourism or business.
• Certain Costa Rican nationals may still be visa-exempt if they hold an eligible visa from another country.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Costa Rica, October 9, 2023
Visa Exemption Revoked for Nationals of Honduras

• As of October 6, 2023, nationals of Honduras are no longer visa-exempt when entering Costa Rica for tourism and business and must instead obtain a Consular Entry Visa for entry.
• As a result, Honduran nationals seeking to enter Costa Rica for tourism or business may encounter administrative hurdles, additional costs and potential delays.
• Certain Honduran nationals may still be visa-exempt if they hold an eligible visa or immigration status from another country.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, October 10, 2023
DHS Extends and Redesignates Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status; Extends Relaxed Employment Options for Cameroonian F-1 Students

• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended and redesignated Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), from December 8, 2023 through June 7, 2025.
• The registration period for new TPS applicants will run from October 10, 2023 to June 7, 2025. Eligible individuals will also be able to apply for TPS-related employment authorization documents (EADs) and travel permission during this time.
• Current Cameroonian TPS beneficiaries who wish to extend their benefits will be required to re-register between October 10, 2023 and December 11, 2023. Those whose current EADs will expire before receiving a new one will receive an automatic extension through December 7, 2024.
• DHS is also extending the relaxation of certain employment authorization rules for Cameroonian students in F-1 status who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current armed conflict and humanitarian crisis in Cameroon.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, October 9, 2023
November Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Rest of World Moves Slightly Forward, No Change in Remaining Employment-Based Categories; USCIS to Honor Dates for Filing in November

• In November, 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 November 2023 Visa Bulletin.
• The EB-2 Final Action Date for all countries except India and China will advance by one week to July 15, 2022, but Dates for Filing will remain at January 1, 2023.
• The Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for all remaining employment-based categories remain unchanged.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Israel, October 9, 2023
Government Issues Automatic Extensions of Work Visas and Travel Updates

• In light of the ongoing security situation in Israel, the Population and Immigration Authority has indicated that it will automatically extend the validity of work visas that are expiring for the next month with a new expiration date of November 9, 2023.
• Air travel to and from Israel remains possible but many airlines have temporarily cancelled services.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Israel, October 8, 2023
Updates on the Current Security Situation

• Travel to Israel is severely disrupted due to ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
• Most flights to and from Israel have been cancelled, though some flights by Israeli flag carrier El Al continue to operate.
• Government agencies and consular posts that issue work permits and visas are expected to experience delays in processing applications.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, October 6, 2023
Reminder: New Edition of Form I-9 Mandatory Starting November 1

• 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 the new form recognizes the recent DHS rule that authorizes certain E-Verify employers to use an alternative process to review Form I-9 documents remotely in some circumstances.

To view entire article, click here.