Immigration news update for the AMER and EMEA regions
Americas
Canada: Adjusting temporary measures under the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) scheme
The Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages announced that certain time-bound initiatives under the TFW Program Workforce Solutions Road Map will not be extended and will terminate, earlier than planned, this spring.
Effective May 1, 2024:
- New Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will be valid for six months (a reduction from 12 months) to ensure accurate labour market requirements.
- Employers identified in the 2022 Workforce Solutions Road Map will witness a decrease from 30% to 20% of their total workforce that can be recruited through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, under the low-wage category, with an exception for the construction and healthcare sectors.
- Employers will need to explore all alternatives before applying for an LMIA – including hiring asylum seekers with valid work permits for in Canada.
Furthermore, as of January 1, 2024, employers must conduct annual reviews on the wages of temporary foreign workers to ensure they reflect increases in the prevailing wage rates for their  occupations and region of work.
This summary was prepared using the information from the Government of Canada
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Roberta Carnaccini (Global Director of Immigration) and Margarida Luis (Immigration coordinator, AMER)
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Slovakia: Residence permit appointments currently unavailable
The immigration authorities in Bratislava and Nové Zámky are currently facing a shortage or complete lack of available appointments for residence permit applications. This situation is leading to delays in immigration processes. As a potential solution, foreign nationals can submit certain types of applications (including initial Temporary Residence Permits, initial Permanent Residence Permits valid for five years, initial Tolerated Residence Permits, and National Visa applications), at a different immigration office location, as these applications do not necessarily need to be filed at the office where  individuals reside. There is no clarity on how long this issue will last.
This summary was prepared using information from our local service partners.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Roberta Carnaccini (Global Director of Immigration) and Veronika Vitkova (Team Leader, EMEA).
We track policy changes in over 120 countries. Find out how we can help you in this short video.
