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  • United States | August 2025 Visa Bulletin: Some dates retrogress for EB-2 visa category; India EB-3 advances 1 month

    The U.S. State Department released the August 2025 Visa Bulletin. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced filings for employment-based visa preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart in this bulletin. Final Action Dates for EB-2 visa country categories retrogressed

  • United States | H-2B visa lottery update for Oct. 1 work start date

    The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) published the randomized assignment groups for H-2B visa applications submitted July 3–5, 2025, with a start date of Oct. 1, 2025. Key Points: The OFLC completed the randomization and assignment process on July 6 for all 2,421 H-2B applications

  • United States | Global visa issuance continues steady climb

    The State Department recently published the Report of the Visa Office 2024 showing a steady climb in both immigrant visa and nonimmigrant visa issuance in fiscal year (FY) 2024. According to the report, the State Department issued a total of 612,258 immigrant visas, an increase of

  • United States | Congress passes reconciliation bill that includes major immigration provisions

    The reconciliation bill H.R.1, aka “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law on July 4, includes several immigration-related provisions, including new fees, as well as more than $140 billion allocated to border security and enforcement measures. Key Points: Titles IX and X include various immigration-related

  • United States | TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua termination effective Sept. 8

    The Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for both Honduras and Nicaragua, effective Sept. 8, 2025. Key Points: The TPS designation for both Honduras and Nicaragua was set to expire on July 5, 2025, but

  • United States | PERM processing times as of July 1

    The Labor Department posted the latest processing times for permanent labor certification (PERM). As of July 1, the department was adjudicating PERM applications filed in March 2024 and earlier and reviewing appeals for reconsideration filed in May 2025 and earlier. These dates reflect the month and year

  • Canada | Updates to Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program in effect

    The Ministry of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills Development made regulatory changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), enabling the program to better respond to labor market needs. Key Points: Changes to the OINP include: A new electronic Employer Portal for employers to

  • United States | DOL proposes rollback of April H-2A rule changes

    The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a notice for a proposed rule to rescind several provisions from its April 29, 2024, final rule governing the H-2A visa program. Key Points: The proposed rule aims to reduce regulatory burdens on employers (e.g., unnecessary costs and

  • Philippines | Clarification and guidance on issuance of Alien Employment Permits

    The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued supplemental guidelines for Department Order No. 248 to provide more information, clarification and guidance on the issuance of Alien Employment Permits (AEP). Key Points: Department Order No. 248 was published earlier this year, introducing changes to the

  • Italy | Plan approved to offer nearly 500,000 work visas for 2026-2028

    The Italian government gave preliminary approval to a draft of the migration decree, approving 497,550 work visas to be made available for non-European workers from 2026 through 2028. Key Points: The migration decree, called Decreto Flussi, establishes how many non-European workers are allowed to enter Italy for work. The quotas

  • United Kingdom | Major immigration reforms introduced

    The Home Secretary introduced sweeping immigration reforms aimed at reducing net migration, tightening controls and prioritizing higher skills. Key Points: The measures, first introduced in the Immigration White Paper published earlier this year, include: Raising the skills threshold for

  • Canada | Increased wage threshold under Temporary Foreign Worker Program

    Employment and Social Development Canada announced an increase in the wage threshold under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, impacting whether an application for a Labor Market Impact Assessment is submitted under the high-wage stream or low-wage stream. Key Points: If the wage being offered to

  • United States | Update on Form I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will only accept the Jan. 20, 2025, edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker starting July 30, 2025. Until July 30, petitioners can also use the Jan. 17, 2025, edition (edition dates are located at the bottom of

  • United States | Haiti TPS designation termination effective Sept. 2

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti effective Sept. 2, 2025. Key Points: The TPS designation for Haiti was set to expire on Aug. 3, 2025, but will now terminate on Sept. 2, 2025. After interagency meetings,

  • United States | Flights resume at Israeli airport

    The U.S. Embassy Jerusalem’s latest security alert states that Ben Gurion airport is now open and that the Israel Airport Authority has lifted restrictions on incoming/outgoing flights and the number of passengers on each flight. U.S. citizens are advised to check for seat availability on El

  • United States | USCIS has new text messaging number

    Starting July 1, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will no longer send short message service (SMS), also known as text messages, from the number 468-311 (GOV-311). The new official SMS number will be 872466 (USAIMM). This change affects all USCIS text communications, including case status updates, appointment reminders and security notifications.

  • Saudi Arabia | New initiative enables extension for expired visit visas

    The General Directorate of Passports announced an initiative to extend all expired visit visas to allow for a legal final exit from the country. Key Points: Through the initiative, individuals with expired visit visas have a 30-day grace period to regularize their visa status and

  • South Korea | Seasonal Worker Program adding more staff from abroad

    The Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) will add over 22,000 additional staff from abroad in the second half of the year. Key Points: The council reviewing the

  • United States | Updated TN visa guidance clarifies classification and criteria for specific occupations

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released an alert on updated policy guidance for the TN visa program under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) clarifying eligibility, filing procedures and occupational criteria for Canadian and Mexican professionals seeking employment in the United States. Key Points: The policy

  • Canada | Updated list of eligible fields of study for post-graduation work permits

    Effective June 25, 2025, the list of eligible fields of study for post-graduation work permits (PGWP) has been updated to reflect jobs in long-term shortages. Key Points: The updated list includes 920 fields of study eligible for a PGWP, including the following changes: 119 new