Category: News

The Canadian border has been restricted since March 2020. For the last 16 months or so, all inbound travellers (essential travellers or returning citizens/permanent residents) to Canada have been subject to a mandatory 14 day isolation period, in addition to testing requirements. In February 2021, the Federal Government introduced the mandatory “hotel quarantine” which required […]

On Wednesday, Canadian authorities announced a phased reopening of the U.S.-Canadian border. No official schedule or start date has been released, but once implemented, this will represent the first opportunity for non-essential travel across the border in over a year. It is anticipated that the first phase will loosen the 14-day mandatory quarantine period for […]

A lawsuit has been filed in the D.C. District Court which challenges a final rule affecting the H-1B lottery process. This rule would give preference to H-1B applicants who make the highest salaries in their respective field. Those who filed the lawsuit, as well as those who support it, claim this rule is unfairly advantageous […]

On May 19, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule which removes constraints put on H-1B applications from the 2020 interim final rule “Strengthening H-1B Non-Immigrant Visa Classification Program.” What is an H-1B Non-Immigrant Visa? The H-1B is a visa available to individuals who wish to work in a specialized occupation […]

On May 10, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is withdrawing a 2018 notice of proposed rulemaking that sought to get rid of the International Entrepreneur Parole program (“IEP Program”). The IEP Program was established by DHS through the International Entrepreneur Rule (“IE Rule”) during the final […]

The U.S. continues to limit travel into the U.S. due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. As many are aware, India is experiencing the world’s worst Covid-19 outbreak. The country is facing a new wave of COVID-19 due to the widespread, on-going transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and now accounts for over one-third […]

On April 30, 2021, U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced U.S. embassies and consulates are using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications as DOS works to reduce the backlog of such applications resulting from travel restrictions and operational constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tiered approach focuses on family reunification, prioritizing immediate relative […]

On May 3, 2021, Acting Associate Director of Service Center Operations (SCOPS) for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Connie Nolan signed a Declaration announcing the biometrics requirement will be suspended for H-4, L-2 and certain E Applications.  USCIS has the authority to require and collect biometrics, which include fingerprints, photographs, and digital […]

When he took office in January, President Biden pledged to take several actions within his first 100 days in office to expand, improve, and transform U.S. Immigration policy and law. Specifically, he promised to roll back his predecessor’s hard-line agenda, legalize undocumented immigrants, expand legal immigration, and reassert America’s commitment to refugees. Now that the […]

On April 26, 2021, the Governments of Mexico and the U.S. announced a change in the visa reciprocity standards for certain work visas for Mexican citizens and work permits for U.S. citizens. The principle of reciprocity is grounded in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and requires the Department of State (DOS) to set country-specific […]