Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its September 2025 backlog figures, showing over 2 million applications still in processing. While Canada continues to finalize millions of decisions each year, certain categories like temporary resident visas and family sponsorships remain well above service standards.
Applicants should prepare for...
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced stricter standards for Intracompany Transfer (ICT) work permits under the International Mobility Program. These changes are designed to ensure that only genuine transfers of executives, senior managers, and specialized knowledge workers qualify. For employers, the new requirements mean more documentation and closer review — and...
As of October 1, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the E-Verify system is temporarily unavailable due to a lapse in appropriations and statutory authority. This means employers cannot access their E-Verify accounts to create new cases, resolve mismatches, or run reports.
What Employers Should...In recent weeks, there have been multiple reports of USCIS officers conducting site visits in Minnesota and the Dakotas targeting foreign students and workers with pending applications. The visits have focused on individuals with:
STEM OPT extensions H-1B change of status petitionsWith immigration enforcement elevated under the current U.S. administration, I-9 compliance is now a major focus for employers across industries — especially those with large, high-turnover workforces. For companies in sectors like facilities management, healthcare support, and residential services, the risks of non-compliance have never been higher.
The...The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have recently released important updates affecting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and parole programs. These changes impact thousands of individuals from multiple countries, as well as their families and employers.
Below is a summary of the current landscape...
Immigration policies in the U.S. and Canada continue to evolve rapidly, bringing major changes that affect both employers and foreign professionals. From the new $100,000 filing fee for certain H-1B petitions to heightened Department of Labor enforcement and Canada’s merit-based immigration alternatives, these updates are reshaping strategies for businesses and individuals alike....
Many couples find themselves in love and ready to marry while one partner is in the U.S. on a tourist visa. While marriage to a U.S. citizen is legal, the immigration path afterward can be far more complicated. Missteps can lead to denials, long separations, or even removal from the United States.
The U.S. immigration landscape shifted dramatically last week when President Trump signed a Proclamation requiring a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions. The announcement has caused understandable concern among U.S. employers, foreign workers, and students planning long-term careers in America.
In the immediate aftermath, some observers suggested that Canada...
With the possibility of a federal government shutdown, many immigrants, employers, and families are left wondering how immigration processes may be disrupted. While some immigration agencies operate on fee-based funding and continue functioning, others may scale back or suspend services until Congress passes a new appropriations bill.
Here is...
