Visa Today

Author: Raj

  • DHS suggests increasing fees for extending H-1B and L-1 visas

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering new rules that could make it more expensive for U.S. employers to extend work visas for foreign workers.

    Here’s what you need to know about these proposed changes.

    Current Situation

    • Employers currently pay a fee for initial and change of employer petitions for H-1B and L-1 visas.
    • The fees are $4,000 for H-1B visas and $4,500 for L-1 visas.

    Proposed Changes

    • DHS is proposing to extend these fees to cover extension petitions as well.
    • This means that employers would have to pay the fee again when extending the employment period of an existing H-1B or L-1 visa holder.

    Reasons for the Change

    • DHS says the additional funds are needed to maintain and improve the biometric entry-exit system, which is crucial for monitoring immigration and enhancing national security.
    • They also want to ensure that all employers contribute to national security measures, regardless of the type of visa petition.

    Impact on Employers

    • If the rule goes into effect, employers who rely on H-1B and L-1 visas for their workforce could see an increase in costs.
    • This could lead to changes in hiring strategies and potentially affect the employment of foreign workers.

    Next Steps

    • DHS is currently seeking public comments on the proposed rule.
    • The comment period closes on July 8, 2024, so interested parties have time to provide feedback.

    The proposed changes to work visa extension fees could have significant implications for U.S. employers and foreign workers. It’s important to stay informed about these developments and provide feedback to DHS during the comment period.

  • Australia’s Passport Power Unleashed: Visa-Free Travel to 146 Countries!

    Australia’s passport power rank enables visa-free travel to 146 countries, including the Schengen Area, enhancing global mobility for leisure, business, and cultural exchange.

    Key Points:

    • Australia holds a strong position with a passport power rank of 8, according to Passport Index.
    • Australians can travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
    • Australian passport holders can travel visa-free to 146 countries and territories worldwide.

    Travel Patterns and Economic Impact

    • Australians engage in diverse travel activities, including leisure, business trips, meetings, and events.
    • The ability to travel freely supports business endeavors, fosters international collaborations, and enhances cultural exchanges.
    • Australian outbound tourists spent over 60 billion Australian dollars on international travel in the year ending June 2023, signaling a robust recovery from the lows of 2021.

    Popular Destinations and Spending

    • New Zealand emerged as the top international travel destination for Australian outbound travelers, with over one million departures.
    • Australians spent more on trips to the United States and the United Kingdom, among other destinations.

    Here is the list of 146 countries and territories, categorized continent-wise, with the Schengen countries highlighted:

    AfricaAsiaEurope (Non-Schengen)Europe (Schengen)North AmericaOceaniaSouth America
    EswatiniIsraelAlbaniaAustriaBahamasAustraliaArgentina
    RéunionKazakhstanAndorraBelgiumBelizeFijiBolivia
    South AfricaKyrgyzstanArmeniaCzechiaCanadaFrench PolynesiaBrazil
    MoroccoPhilippinesBelarusDenmarkCosta RicaGuamChile
    SeychellesSingaporeBosnia and HerzegovinaEstoniaDominican RepublicKiribatiColombia
    KenyaUnited Arab EmiratesGeorgiaFinlandEl SalvadorMarshall IslandsEcuador
    MauritiusHong KongKosovoFranceGuatemalaMicronesiaGuyana
    NamibiaMacauLiechtensteinGermanyHondurasNew CaledoniaParaguay
    RwandaTaiwanMonacoGreeceJamaicaNew ZealandPeru
    GambiaMontenegroHungaryMexicoNiueSuriname
    ZambiaNorth MacedoniaIcelandNicaraguaNorthern Mariana IslandsUruguay
    RussiaItalyPanamaPalauVenezuela
    SerbiaLatviaUnited StatesPapua New Guinea
    TurkeyLithuaniaSamoa
    UkraineLuxembourgSolomon Islands
    United KingdomMaltaTonga
    NetherlandsTuvalu
    NorwayVanuatu
    Poland
    Portugal
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    Spain
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    This table includes the list of countries where Australians can travel visa free, highlighting the 26 Schengen countries in Europe.

    Conclusion:

    • Australia’s strong passport power and visa-free travel options have contributed to the resurgence in international travel for Australians.
    • This recovery not only benefits individual travelers but also boosts the global travel and tourism industry, driving economic growth and fostering international connections.

  • Visa Today Update: Changes to PGWP Eligibility Under Discussion

    Federal and provincial immigration officials are discussing major changes to the Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility. The PGWP is an open work permit for international students who complete an eligible program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

    Key Points:

    • Objective: Align PGWPs with labor market needs by facilitating work permits for students in high-demand occupations and reducing access for other graduates.
    • Timeline: Recommendations will be provided by spring 2024, with changes expected to be implemented by January 2025.
    • Survey: IRCC sent a survey to stakeholders, outlining how these changes might be implemented and requesting feedback.

    How Will the New PGWP Restrictions Be Implemented?

    IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) are mapping job titles to programs of study. This process aligns Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system with the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system.

    Example Mapping

    OccupationPrograms of Study
    CarpenterConstruction Trades, Carpentry, Woodworking/General
    Registered NurseNursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN), Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

    This extended mapping illustrates how IRCC and ESDC are working to align educational programs with labor market needs by linking specific programs of study to relevant occupations.

    Why Are These Changes Being Pursued?

    The goal is to address labor market needs by prioritizing work permits for students entering in-demand occupations. Since 2008, the PGWP program has seen a 214% increase in work permits issued, prompting a reevaluation to better match current economic demands.

    Recent Developments

    • International Student Cap: Announced in January 2024 to manage temporary resident levels and reduce stress on social systems like healthcare and housing.
    • Temporary Resident Levels Plan: For the first time, IRCC included temporary resident levels in the annual Immigration Levels Plan.

    Immigration Implications

    The PGWP is crucial for international graduates to gain Canadian work experience, a key requirement for many permanent residence (PR) programs. Changes to the PGWP could affect current and future international students’ pathways to PR.

    News Summary

    AspectDetails
    ObjectiveAlign PGWPs with labor market needs
    TimelineRecommendations by Spring 2024; Changes by January 2025
    Survey FindingsMapping NOC to CIP to align education with labor market demands
    Recent ChangesInternational student cap, temporary resident levels in Immigration Plan
    ImplicationsPotential impact on PR pathways for international graduates

  • IRCC Issues First Express Entry Invitations for CEC Candidates Since 2021

    Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued its first round of Express Entry invitations for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates on Friday, May 31. This is the first such round since September 14, 2021. Here are the results of IRCC’s May 31 Express Entry draw.

    This program-specific draw required candidates to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 522.

    On May 30, 2024, IRCC held another program-specific draw, issuing 2,985 ITAs to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a minimum CRS score of 676.

    Express Entry Overview

    Express Entry is IRCC’s application management system for three economic-class immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

    As of June 2023, IRCC conducts three types of Express Entry draws: general, program-specific, and category-based.

    General and Program-Specific Draws

    General and program-specific draws prioritize eligible candidates based on their CRS scores, which are determined by factors like age, education, and work experience. Candidates create an online IRCC profile and receive their CRS score. They must then wait for the next Express Entry draw to see if they will receive an ITA. ITAs are the only way for candidates to submit their electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR) to IRCC.

    Category-Based Draws

    First introduced in June 2023, category-based draws focus on candidates with specific work experience and skills to address Canada’s labour market needs. The categories include:

    • Healthcare
    • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
    • Trades
    • Transport
    • Agriculture and Agri-Food
    • Strong French language proficiency (minimum NCLC 7 in all four language abilities)

    For 2024, IRCC will continue to focus on these same categories for category-based draws.