USCIS Updates Guidance on Expedite Requests
On January 25, USCIS updated its policy manual with new guidance clarifying how the agency determines whether a case warrants expedited treatment. In the update, USCIS
Read More »Germany Sets Sights on Attracting New Skilled Workers
Germany’s newly formed coalition government announced plans to attract 400,000 skilled workers each year. The new workers to Germany are meant to offset an aging
Read More »Transfer of Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Categories
On Friday, January 21, USCIS announced that the agency had received fewer adjustment of status applications in the first (priority workers) and second (workers with advanced
Read More »India Extends OCI Cardholder Validity through 2022
The Government of India has extended the validity of OCI cards by one year to December 31, 2022. The extension is due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. What to Expect OCI
Read More »Austria Increases EU Blue Card Salary Requirements
The Government of Austria announced that from January 1, 2022, the minimum annual gross salary requirement for an Austrian EU Blue Card has increased by 1.5 percent, from
Read More »Bulgaria to End Golden Visa Program
The Government of Bulgaria announced plans to end the golden visa program, following issues of misuse and corruption and failure to lead to significant investment in the
Read More »Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Attract STEM Talent
On Friday, January 21, the White House released a Fact Sheet outlining the administration’s efforts to streamline and clarify the path for international STEM students,
Read More »Non-US Individuals Must be Fully Vaccinated to Enter the United States by Land
The Department of Homeland Security announced that non-U.S. individuals entering the United States through land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the US-Mexico and
Read More »EU Removes Argentina, Australia, and Canada from “Safe List”
The Council of the European Union removed Argentina, Australia, and Canada from its safe list, advising the Member States to reinstate travel restrictions for travelers from
Read More »Remembering Jerry Erickson, and the Early Days of EIG
This week’s Immigration Nerds podcast is dedicated to the memory of Jerry Erickson, Erickson Immigration Group’s founder. As introduced by partners Hiba Anver and
Read More »Italy Ends Travel Ban for Southern African Countries
The Government of Italy has ended the travel ban that was imposed in late November against southern African countries, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho,
Read More »Netherlands Lists South Africa as a High-Risk Zone
The Government of the Netherlands reclassified South Africa as a very high-risk zone, without a variant of concern. The change went into effect on January 16, 2022. What to
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