Immigration news update for AMER and EMEA regions
Americas
United States: November 2024 Visa Bulletin
As per the State Department’s November Visa Bulletin, the Final Action cutoff dates for issuing an immigrant visa or approving an adjustment of status application are as follows:
EB-1: The cutoff date for China remains November 8, 2022, and for India, it remains February 1, 2022. All other countries continue to be current.
EB-2: The cutoff date for China stays March 22, 2020, and for India, it remains July 15, 2012. All other countries will stay March 15, 2023.
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers: The cutoff date for China remains April 1, 2020, and for India, it is still November 1, 2012, and for all other countries, it remains November 15, 2022.
EB-3 Other Workers: The cutoff date for China remains January 1, 2017, and for India, November 1, 2012. The final action dates for all other countries remain unchanged on December 1, 2020.
EB-5: For the EB-5 Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), the cutoff date for China remains July 15, 2016, and for India, January 1, 2022. All other countries remain current. The EB-5 set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment and Infrastructure) also remain current.
USCIS has announced that it will accept adjustment of status applications based on the Visa Bulletin Dates for Filing chart in November. The November Dates for Filing are unchanged
from October. A complete list of the November Dates for Filing is provided below.
This summary was prepared using information from the United States Department of State
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).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Ireland: Timely residence permit renewal essential for smooth Christmas travel
The Immigration Services Registration Office at Burgh Quay in Dublin is currently handling a high volume of renewal applications for permission to remain, with the current processing time for renewing an IRP card being 3-4 weeks.
After the renewal process is completed, it may take an additional two weeks to receive the new IRP card by mail. A valid IRP card may be necessary for travel to and from the Republic.
To assist Non-EEA Nationals legally residing in Ireland who plan to travel during the Christmas holiday period, applicants are encouraged to submit their renewal applications online by October 31, 2024, if their current permission is expiring between now and their intended departure date or during travel.
Therefore, Non-EEA Nationals who need to renew their IRP card before or during any planned international travel over the upcoming Christmas holiday period, should apply online via the ISD online portal as soon as possible.
The Immigration Services Registration Office at Burgh Quay Dublin cannot guarantee that any renewal applications submitted after October 31, 2024, will be processed and an IRP card delivered in time for travel over the Christmas holiday period, although every effort will be made to do so.
Regardless of when a renewal application is submitted or processed, the validity period for the renewal will be based on the current expiry date.
This summary was prepared using information from the Department of Justice
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 Joanna Sogeke (Team Leader, UK).
Spain: New requirements for ICT permit applicants in Spain
Recent changes in Spain’s social security coverage requirements have altered the application process for Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) permits. Authorities no longer accept a ‘letter of commitment’ from the host employer; instead, applicants must now include a Certificate of Coverage from their country of origin. This certificate, proving social security coverage, is mandatory and can take several months to obtain. Consequently, businesses must adjust their onboarding schedules to accommodate these processing times. Failure to provide the certificate may result in application rejection. This change affects companies from countries with bilateral social security agreements with Spain, while others must still register employees in the Spanish system. Planning ahead is essential to ensure compliance and avoid delays.
This summary was prepared using information from our local service provider.
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).
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