Hong Kong ImmD Requires Online Submission for Certain Permits
The Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD) on January 14, 2025, announced it will require applications under various admission policies/schemes to be submitted
Read More »DHS Expands Immigration Law Enforcement to “Sensitive” Locations
On January 20, 2025, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman rescinded the Biden administration’s guidelines for Immigration and Customs
Read More »Day 1 Summary | The Trump Administration’s Immigration Executive Orders
On January 20, 2025, shortly after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, President Donald J. Trump signed several executive orders (EOs), memorandums,
Read More »Regulatory Amendments for Canada–United States Information Sharing Agreement
On January 17, 2025, regulatory changes came into force to implement amendments to the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of
Read More »UK Home Office Application Fees to Increase
The UK Home Office announced on January 16, 2025, that certain application fees are going to increase. The main fee increases will include: Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Read More »UK Home Office Proposes Increased Visa Fees
On January 16, 2025, the UK Home Office proposed changes to Parliament that would increase the maximum fee that can be charged on a range of immigration and nationality
Read More »Alert: USCIS Updates Policy Manual Guidance on EB-2 National Interest Waivers (NIW)
On Jan. 15, 2025, USCIS issued guidance in the Policy Manual, Vol. 6, Part F, Ch. 5, to clarify how USCIS evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for Employment-Based
Read More »Canada Announces Changes to Open Work Permits for Family Members of Temporary Residents
The government of Canada announced on January 14, 2025, that it will be restricting Open Work Permit (OWP) eligibility for dependents of foreign workers. As of January 21,
Read More »Revised Form I-129 Effective January 17, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security’s H-1B final rule and H-2 final rule take effect on January 17, 2025, modernizing and improving requirements for the H-1B
Read More »USCIS Reached Cap for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the First Half of FY 2025
USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the first half of fiscal year 2025 with
Read More »Norway Changes Income Requirements for Family Immigration Cases
Effective February 1, 2025, Norway’s income requirement for the reference person in family immigration cases increases from 2.7 basic amounts (G) to 3.2 G. The change
Read More »Hong Kong Visit Visa Rules Relaxed for Saudi Arabia
Effective January 15, 2025, the visa-free period for nationals of Saudi Arabia to visit the Hong Kong SAR is extended to 90 days. Also from January 15, 2025, Hong Kong
Read More »