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The decree listing the “professions in tension,” or those with recruitment difficulties in various geographical regions, has been updated as of May 22, 2025. Key Points: The list was established in 2021 to enable French companies to recruit foreign workers from outside the European Union
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services alerted employers of a recent E-Verify technical issue with Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security mismatch cases. The agency urges employers to take action to resolve the issue. Key Points: The technical issue involves tentative SSA mismatch cases that
The European Commission announced the launch of a shared biometric matching service capable of performing fingerprint matching and enabling facial recognition. Key Points: The shared biometric matching service is part of the interoperability framework, which enables large-scale information systems across the EU to work together
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided updates on the fiscal year (FY) 2026 H-1B cap process, noting a significant decrease in the total number of registrations submitted and eligible beneficiaries compared to FY 2025. Key Points: In March, USCIS received enough
The Home Office published a white paper titled “Restoring Control over the Immigration System” on May 12, sharing new policies to reduce migration and strengthen the U.K.’s borders. Key Points: Key policies include: Lifting the level for skilled workers to a graduate level and
Effective May 2, the French government introduced more relaxed EU Blue Card rules to expand professional experience eligibility and reduce work contract durations. Key Points: Applicants with at least three years of relevant professional experience will now be eligible for the French EU Blue Card. Previous eligibility criteria required applicants
The State Department recently noted a change to the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) clarifying that certain match officials can travel to the U.S. on a B-1 business visa or Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Key Points: The FAM was “revised to add participants in international
The Labor Department posted the latest processing times for permanent labor certification (PERM) applications a week after it posted April 30 updates. As of May 8, the department was adjudicating PERM applications filed in January 2024 and earlier and reviewing
The U.S. State Department released the June Visa Bulletin. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced filings for employment-based visa preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart. India dates remain the same and China shows slight advancement in EB-2
The Department of Homeland Security announced it is terminating the designation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) effective July 14, 2025. Key Points: DHS said it was terminating the TPS designation of Afghanistan because the Secretary of Homeland Security determined that “overall, there are notable
The Indonesian government has made regulatory updates enabling the extension of visit stay permits for a continuous stay of up to 180 days without the need to leave Indonesia. Key Points: Previously, holders of multiple-entry visit visas were permitted to stay in Indonesia for a maximum of 60 days per entry,
The State Department has launched the Immigrant Visa (IV) Scheduling Status Tool to give visa applicants an idea of when to expect their immigrant visa interview. Key Points: The tool’s results show when the National Visa Center (NVC) is scheduling interviews at a specific U.S. embassy
The government of Canada has introduced temporary Employment Insurance (EI) measures to improve access to EI benefits, including waiving the one-week waiting period. Key Points: The following includes some of the temporary EI measures in effect: The waiting period is waived for all new claims for
The Department of Homeland Security announced the implementation of its REAL ID enforcement measures at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints nationwide. Travelers with a noncompliant ID will now face additional screening measures. Key Points: DHS reports that 81% of travelers are already REAL ID compliant and “ensure
Twelve BAL attorneys are named in the 2025 Lawdragon 100 Leading Immigration Lawyers list. The list recognizes lawyers who make a significant impact, specifically regarding recent matters handled and cutting-edge litigation, as well as those who are consistently turned to for guidance in trending immigration issues. “It’s always an honor
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas are available each fiscal year for foreign nationals, their spouses and children seeking lawful permanent residence in the U.S. The Visa Bulletin is a monthly report published by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) that identifies