According to new guidelines from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released on June 6, 2020, the Trump administration will prohibit International students in F-1 and M-1 visa from taking all their classes online if (1) their college offers a mix of on-campus and remote classes, or (2) their college turns to online only. Essentially, the [...]
On 6/29/20, President Trump issued an amendment to Proclamation 10052, noting that the limit to entry applies to any individual who does not have a valid nonimmigrant visa in the same category that he or she is seeking to enter in.The amendment narrows the exemption to the ban by only allowing foreign nationals who held [...]
Approximately 13,400 employees of the USCIS will be furloughed starting on August 3rd for 30-days, with potential to last for 3-months. Due to current funding limitations, USCIS is unable to sustain employee salaries and other costs, unless Congress responds with emergency funding. USCIS reports a “dramatic decrease in revenue” during the COVID-19 pandemic as most [...]
The Federal Express Entry (EE) Draw #154 held on June 25, 2020 by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Services (IRCC) issued a total of 3508 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category. The CEC candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) of 431, a 6-point drop since the last [...]
On June 22nd, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order, extending his April 22nd order, suspending the processing of employment-based visas and immigrant visas (green cards) for the remainder of 2020, with potential to be extended further. The justification or purpose of this order is to repair the economy and protect jobs for Americans. The [...]
Work permit applications for foreign workers in these occupations will go to the top of the list for processing in Quebec. On June 10th, Quebec, long known for having its own immigration programs, has followed the Canadian Federal government’s new policy to provide expedited processing of in-demand, priority occupations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. There are [...]
On June 18, 2020 the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued 143 Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to candidates who had a Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) between 424 and 436. All candidates must have a valid profile in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) Express Entry (EE) system. The OINP French Speaking Draw has issued 692 [...]
Ontario Immigration has several programs. One of which is the Ontario Skilled Trade stream. On June 17th, 2020 the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued 758Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to Express Entry (EE) Skilled Trade applicants with a Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) between 400 – 436 and an active profile in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship [...]
On Thursday June 18th,the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump’s administration attempt to shut down the program protecting undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children, ruled, that the Trump administration cannot carry out its plan to shut down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Back in 2012, President Barack Obama implemented [...]
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) provides temporary income support to workers and self-employed individuals, who have temporarily stopped working, lost their job, are sick or in quarantine, or, are directly affected by COVID-19.As of June 17, 2020, Canada has announced that it is extending the CERB by an additional eight weeks, bringing the maximum [...]
