Weekly Immigration Update: September 23–29, 2022

United States, September 28, 2022
USCIS Increases Green Card Validity Extension for Renewal Applicants

• Effective September 26, 2022, USCIS has increased the automatic extension granted to green card renewal applicants to 24 months, up from an automatic extension of 12 months under the prior policy.
• Lawful permanent residents who properly file a Form I-90 application to renew their green card will receive an application receipt notice documenting the new 24-month extension.
• USCIS is expected to update its M-274 Handbook for Employers to reflect the changes for purposes of Form I-9 employment eligibility verification under the new policy.

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Malaysia, September 27, 2022
New Digital Nomad Program Forthcoming

• Starting October 1, 2022, the Malaysian government will start accepting online applications for the newly introduced Digital Nomad Pass under the DE Rantau Nomad Pass Program.
• Eligible foreign nationals who earn over USD 24,000 annually will be able to apply for the Nomad Pass.
• Nomad Pass holders will be able to stay and work in Malaysia for up to three to 12 months initially, with the option to extend for up to 12 months per application.

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United States, September 26, 2022
DHS Extends and Redesignates Burma (Myanmar) for Temporary Protected Status; Extends Relaxed Employment Options for Burmese F-1 Students

• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended and redesignated Burma (Myanmar) for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), from November 26, 2022 through May 25, 2024. 
• The initial registration period for new TPS applicants will run from September 27, 2022 through May 25, 2024. Eligible individuals will also be able to apply for TPS-related employment authorization documents (EADs) and travel permission during this time.
• Current Burmese TPS beneficiaries who wish to extend their benefits will be required to re-register by November 26, 2022. Those whose EADs expire on November 25, 2022 will receive an automatic one-year extension, through November 25, 2023.
• DHS is also extending the suspension of certain employment authorization rules for Burmese students in F-1 status who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the humanitarian crisis in Burma.

 

United Kingdom, September 26, 2022
Roll-out of Electronic Travel Authorisation for Visa-Exempt Travellers to Begin January 2023

• The United Kingdom will start to roll-out its system for the issuance of ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation’ (“ETA”) as part of its ‘Permission to Travel Scheme’ for visa-exempt travellers starting from 2023, with full operations anticipated to be in place by Q3 2023.
• The ETA application process should take less than 15 minutes and a decision provided within 78 hours.
• Securing ETA is not the same as getting a visa. ETA is simply a digital travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers visiting the United Kingdom. It only gives permission for a person to board a plane for travel to the United Kingdom. It is comparable to the ESTA in the United States and is designed to strengthen the control and compliance of UK borders.

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United States, September 23, 2022
FY 2024 Diversity Visa Lottery Registration Opens October 5

• Entrants have from Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at noon EDT until Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at noon EST to register online at the State Department’s official Diversity Visa lottery website.
• Lottery applications must conform to the State Department’s strict requirements.

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