News
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United Kingdom | Immigration system reforms
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
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France | Relaxed EU Blue Card rules
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
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United States | FIFA World Cup 2026 update: B-1 visa or ESTA allowed for certain match officials traveling to US
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
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United States | PERM processing times as of May 8
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
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United States | June 2025 Visa Bulletin: China slightly advances in EB-2 and EB-3 visa categories
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
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United States | DHS announces termination of Afghanistan TPS designation
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
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Indonesia | New regulations allow extension of visit stay permits up to 180 days
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,
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United States | New Immigrant Visa Scheduling Status Tool provides updates on the interview process
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
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Canada | Waiting period for employment insurance temporarily waived
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
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United States | Reminder: TSA REAL ID full enforcement starts today
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
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Ireland | New Employment Permits Online system launched
Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) has launched its new Employment Permits Online system (EPOS). Key Points: EPOS officially launched on April 28, introducing a portal space with separate and individual accounts for both employers, employees and agents, making it easier to get up-to-date
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United States | PERM and prevailing wage processing times as of April 30
The Labor Department posted updated processing times for permanent labor certification (PERM) applications and prevailing wage determination (PWD) requests. PERM Processing Times: As of April 30, the department was adjudicating PERM applications filed in December 2023 and earlier and reviewing appeals for reconsideration filed in March
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United States | Romania’s Visa Waiver Program designation rescinded
The Department of Homeland Security announced that Romania’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP) designation has been rescinded. Key Points: The Biden administration designated Romania as a VWP country on Jan. 9, 2025. On March 25, 2025, DHS paused implementation of the VWP
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United States | Diversity Visa results available for DV-2026 entrants
Diversity Visa lottery results for DV-2026 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2026) applicants are now available on the State Department’s Entrant Status Check page. Key Points: To check status online, individuals who entered the lottery will need to provide their entrant confirmation number, last name or family name
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United States | TPS for South Sudan automatically extended
The designation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which was set to expire on May 3, 2025, has been automatically extended to Nov. 3, 2025. Key Points: Under the TPS statute, if the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) does
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Saudi Arabia | Saudization rate increases commenced across healthcare professions
The government of Saudi Arabia commenced the initial phase of increasing Saudization rates across four healthcare professions within the private sector on April 17, 2025. Key Points: This first phase of the implementation targets specific Saudization percentages: 65% for radiology; 80% for both clinical nutrition and
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United States | State Department reports latest global visa wait times
The State Department has updated global visa wait times. The update now includes additional information on the average time nonimmigrant visa applicants waited for an interview in the previous month. The Department also continues to provide the estimated wait time until the next available interview