United States

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US: President Trump Suspends Entry of Foreign Nationals from Seven Countries

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President Donald J. Trump has signed an executive order that reportedly suspends the entry of foreign nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen to the United States for a period of 90 days, or through April 27, 2017. The order also reportedly suspends a worldwide program that exempted certain visa renewal applicants from consular interviews.

Although the order has been signed and is in effect, the Administration has not yet released the final signed text. The following guidance is based on Fragomen’s analysis of a draft. The final published order may differ, and Fragomen will provide updates as necessary when it is released.

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US: President Trump Expected to Suspend Entry of Foreign Nationals from Seven Countries

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President Donald J. Trump is expected to sign an executive order that will suspend the entry of foreign nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen to the United States for a period of 30 days, according to a published draft of the order. The executive order is also expected to suspend a worldwide program that exempted certain visa renewal applicants from consular interviews.

The executive order is expected to be issued Thursday, though it could be delayed.  The following information is based on Fragomen’s analysis of the published draft.  The final order could differ.

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US: USCIS Finalizes International Entrepreneur Parole Program

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Under a new final regulation published on 17th January 2017, international entrepreneurs who have established a business in the United States, demonstrate significant U.S. funding and show that their business has substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation will be eligible to apply for up to five years of authorization to stay in the United States. The rule is slated to take effect on July 17, 2017.

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US: USCIS Job Portability Rule Takes Effect

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A new USCIS regulation intended to ease restrictions on job mobility for foreign workers awaiting employment-based permanent residence took effect on 17th January 2017. The new rule also establishes grace periods for non-immigrant workers before and after their employment, and provides automatic work authorization extensions to adjustment applicants and certain other classes of foreign nationals who have timely filed for renewal of an employment authorization document (EAD).

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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; 

Israel / US: Investor Visa For U.S. Citizens Forthcoming

American investors will soon be eligible for a new B-5 investor visa, following Israel’s acceptance of the terms of the U.S. E-2 visa regulations. Israeli government officials have advised that B-5 visa regulations and procedures should be published by March 2017. The regulations are expected to have terms and conditions reciprocal to the U.S. E-2 visa.

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US: Final International Entrepreneur Parole Regulation Moves Closer to Publication

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The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has begun to review a final regulation that, as originally proposed, would allow up to five years of temporary stay, on a case-by-case basis, for qualifying foreign entrepreneurs who establish a U.S. start-up entity that has substantial U.S. investment and the potential for rapid growth and job creation.

The long-awaited international entrepreneur regulation was first announced in November 2014 as part of President Obama's planned executive actions to encourage innovation and support U.S. high-skill businesses and workers and was published in proposal form in August 2016.

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US: New visa update system for Chinese nationals

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Effective November 29, Chinese nationals with a B-1/B-2, B-1 or B-2 visitor visa valid for 10 years will be required to enrol in the new Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) before travelling to the United States for business or tourism.

EVUS is a joint program established by new regulations from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the State Department  to maintain current information on U.S. visa holders.  Though Chinese nationals are the first group to be subject to the new requirement, the regulations give CBP broad authority to require additional classes of nonimmigrants to enrol their visas before travel to the United States.

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Eurpoean Union: Visa waiver policy for U.S. and Canadian citizens sustained

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The European Commission has decided not to suspend the visa waiver policy for U.S. and Canadian citizens, according to a communication released yesterday.

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United States: Global entry opens to all eligible citizens of singapore

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The Global Entry Trusted Traveller Program has been extended to qualifying citizens of Singapore, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced. Singapore becomes the second country in Asia and seventh country overall whose citizens are eligible to enrol in Global Entry.

United States: July visa bulletin update: USCIS to honor employment-based final action dates only next month

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 July Visa Bulletin. 

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United States: July 2016 visa bulletin: Modest advancement in EB-2 and EB-3 India while China largely holds steady to June dates

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According to the State Department’s July Visa Bulletin, there will be modest advancement in the cutoff dates for final issuance of an immigrant visa for EB-2 and EB-3 India next month, while these cutoff dates for China will remain largely unchanged, as projected last month.

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US: USCIS finalises guidance on job changes by employment-based adjustment applicants

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A final USCIS guidance memorandum on job portability for employment-based adjustment applicants broadly recognizes that applicants subject to immigrant visa backlogs and lengthy adjudication periods should be able to advance in their careers or move to a new job in the same or a related field without the need for a new labour certification or Form I-140 immigrant worker petition.

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UK: Registered Traveller service expanded

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The Home Office has announced the expansion of the Registered Traveller service to eligible foreign nationals from Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Additionally, Registered Traveller members will be able to use ePassport Gates and EU/UK lanes at Bristol and Cardiff Airports in the coming months.  

Background

The Registered Traveller service was introduced in April 2015 to travellers from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States who hold a UK visa or have visited the United Kingdom at least four times in the previous two years.

Applications are submitted online and once accepted, travellers with biometric passports can use ePassport Gates and EU/UK lanes at Eurostar terminals at Paris, Brussels and Lille and the following airports