Philippines

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US: February Visa Bulletin Update

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USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action under the State Department’s February Visa Bulletin.

Employment-Based Priority Date Cut-offs for February 2017

To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment application in February, employer-sponsored foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country.

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USA: February 2017 Visa Bulletin: Some Advancement in Final Action Dates for EB-2 China, EB-3 India and China

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According to the State Department’s February Visa Bulletin, immigrant visa availability dates for final action will advance by one month for EB-2 China, to November 15, 2012, while EB-2 India will remain at April 15, 2008.

The EB-3 subcategory for professionals and skilled workers will advance by three weeks for China, to October 1, 2013; one week for India, to March 22, 2005; nearly three months for the Philippines, to October 15, 2011; and two months for all other countries, to October 1, 2016. The EB-3 other worker subcategory will advance by one week for India, to March 22, 2005; nearly three months for the Philippines, to October 15, 2011; 

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Philippines: Long-Term Visa Holders Must Comply with Annual Report Requirement by March 3

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Long-term work visa holders in the Philippines who have been issued Alien Certificate of Registration identity cards (ACR-I Cards) indicating "Worker" or "Treaty Trader" status – including but not limited to holders of 9(g) Pre-arranged Employment and 9(d) Treaty Trader work and dependent visas and Section 13 immigrant visas – must appear (personally or through a representative) at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) office and complete their annual report between January 4 and March 3, 2017.

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USA: January Visa Bulletin Update

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USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action under the State Department’s January Visa Bulletin.

Employment-Based Priority Date Cut-offs for January 2017

To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment application in January, employer-sponsored foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country.

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Middle East: Eid al-Adha 2016 date is expected to be on September 11

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This year, the holiest Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha is expected to begin on Sunday, September 11.

The Eid al-Adha is Islam's holiest festival celebrated annually around the world and an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries.

Eid al-Adha 2016 is expected to begin on Sunday, September 11. Authorities in Saudi Arabia will confirm the actual dates of the Muslim festival and the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca on September 1 based on the sighting of the moon.

US: September Visa Bulletin

USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action according to the State Department’s September Visa Bulletin.

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Malaysia: Changes in multiple Employment Pass categories

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A new set of regulations by the Expatriate Services Division of the Immigration Department will implement three major changes to several Employment Pass (EP) categories on or after August 1, 2016.

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US: August 2016 Visa Bulletin

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According to the State Department’s August Visa Bulletin, cut-off dates for final issuance of an immigrant visa will be imposed for EB-1 India and China and for EB-2 Worldwide, as projected last month.  The cut-off dates for EB-1 India and China have been set at January 1, 2010, while the cut-off dates for EB-2 Worldwide have been set at February 1, 2014. According to the State Department, it was necessary to implement this retrogression given the high demand for classification in these categories.  It anticipates that these categories will be current again in October, the first month of fiscal year 2017.

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US: June Visa Bulletin update

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USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action according to the State Department’s June Visa Bulletin. 

Employer-sponsored foreign nationals with a priority date that makes them eligible for filing, but not final action, will not be able to submit an adjustment application next month

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USA: May 2016 Visa Bulletin

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According to the State Department’s May Visa Bulletin, there will be modest advancement in the cut-off dates for final issuance of an immigrant visa for EB-2 and EB-3 India next month, while the cut-off dates in these categories for China will remain mostly unchanged.  In the EB-2 category, the final action cut-off date for India will advance by two weeks, to November 22, 2008, while China will remain at September 1, 2012. 

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US: April Visa Bulletin update

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USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action according to the State Department’s April Visa Bulletin. 

Employer-sponsored foreign nationals with a priority date that makes them eligible for filing, but not final action, will not be able to submit an adjustment application next month.

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US: April 2016 Visa Bulletin

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According to the State Department’s April Visa Bulletin, the cut-off date for final issuance of an immigrant visa will advance by one month for EB-2 China, to September 1, 2012, and by three weeks for EB-2 India, to November 8, 2008. 

Final action cut-off dates for EB-3 professionals and skilled workers will advance by two and one-half months for China, to August 15, 2013; by three weeks for India, to August 8, 2004; by six weeks for the Philippines, to May 1, 2008; and by six weeks for all other countries, to February 15, 2016. Final action cut-off dates for EB-5 China, in both the Regional Center and non-Regional Center programs, will advance by one week, to February 1, 2014.

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US: March visa bulletin update

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USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action according to the State Department’s March Visa Bulletin. 

Employer-sponsored foreign nationals with a priority date that makes them eligible for filing, but not final action, will not be able to submit an adjustment application next month, despite the State Department announcing significant advancements in the cutoff dates for filing eligibility.  

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US: March 2016 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India and China final action dates will advance again

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According to the State Department’s March Visa Bulletin, the cutoff date for final issuance of an immigrant visa will advance by five months for EB-2 China, to August 1, 2012, and by six weeks for EB-2 India, to October 15, 2008. 

Final action cut-off dates for EB-3 professionals and skilled workers will advance by eight months for China, to June 1, 2013; by one month for India, to July 15, 2004; by just over two months for the Philippines, to March 15, 2008; and by three months for all other countries, to January 1, 2016.  Final action cut-off dates for EB-5 China, in both the Regional Centre and non-Regional Centre programs, will advance by one week, to January 22, 2014.

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Asia: Lunar New Year to cause Government closures; travel delays

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Millions of people are expected to travel throughout East and South-East Asia during the Lunar New Year holiday season, which falls on February 8, 2016. Travel-related delays and government office and business interruptions will peak February 5-10, and could last longer in Taiwan and China, where the holiday will be celebrated through February 13.

To meet the travel demand, some airlines have increased flights, and railways have added additional trains. However, potential poor weather may exacerbate delays

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USA: February 2016 Visa Bulletin

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EB-2 India and China Final Action Dates Will Advance Next Month; Moderate Advancements for EB-3 India, China and the Philippines, and EB-5 China

According to the State Department’s February Visa Bulletin, the cut-off date for final issuance of an immigrant visa will advance by six months for EB-2 India, to August 1, 2008, and by one month for EB-2 China, to March 1, 2012. 

Cut-off dates for EB-3 professionals and skilled workers will moderately advance for India, China and the Philippines, while remaining the same for all other countries.  For EB-3 professional workers, the final issuance cut-off dates will move forward by one month for India, to June 15, 2004, by three months for China, to October 1, 2012, and by over two months for the Philippines, to January 8, 2008.  For EB-3 skilled-workers, India will progress by one month, to June 15, 2004, and China will progress by three weeks, to December 22, 2006.  

Final action cut-off dates for EB-5 China, in both the Regional Centre and non-Regional Centre programs, will advance by one week, to January 15, 2014.  

There will be no advancement in cut-off dates for eligibility to file an application for permanent residence.  Next week, USCIS is expected to determine whether it will accept adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that makes them eligible to file in February.  The agency has not accepted these applications in January and will announce whether it will begin doing so in February on its own Visa Bulletin web page.

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Philippines: Long-term visa holders must comply with annual report requirement by March 3

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Long-term work visa holders in the Philippines who have been issued Alien Certificate of Registration identity cards (ACR-I Cards) indicating "Worker" or "Treaty Trader" status – including but not limited to holders of 9(g) Pre-arranged Employment and 9(d) Treaty Trader work and dependent visas, and Section 13 immigrant visas – must personally appear at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) office and complete their annual report from January 4 through March 3, 2016.  

Those who fail to submit the annual report by March 3 may face a fine and/or imprisonment at the discretion of the Commissioner of Immigration.

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Netherlands: Legalization rules relaxed

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On or after January 1, 2016, legalization by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs will no longer be required in order for Dutch authorities to accept supporting immigration application documents issued in certain countries, according to a recent policy amendment.  

Documents issued in one of the following countries will no longer require legalization at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

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Philippines: Longer work permit and visa application processing times

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The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is implementing internal changes that will likely delay work permit and visa application processing times.

Summary of Internal Changes

  • The BI will revert to the previous practice of issuing Orders of Approval/Denial (in addition to approving Consolidated General Application Forms).
  • Hearing schedules for visa applications will go through a raffle regardless of what is indicated in the receipts. The results will be final and will be posted outside hearing officers’ rooms.
  • Pending applications endorsed by the Visa and Special Permits Task Force will now be sent to the Board of Commissioners for appropriate action.

Commissioner Siegfred Mison remains the BI Chief Commissioner and letter requests should still be addressed to him.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Employers and foreign workers should plan for longer work permit and visa application processing times in the near future.