Global Immigration Update – June 7, 2016

Read the latest update on global immigration news.

Source: Fragomen Worldwide

In United States immigration news, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has determined that it will only accept employment-based adjustment applications next month from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action under State Department’s June Visa Bulletin.

USCIS has received enough H-2B petitions to exhaust the FY 2016 cap.  The agency will not accept any further H-2B petitions for employment start dates in FY 2016 unless they are exempt from the cap, but it continues to accept petitions for H-2B employment in FY 2017, which begins on October 1, 2016.

A new law in Mexico expands the business, tourist and transit visa exemption for up to 180 days to visa nationals with a Canadian, Japanese, Schengen or UK visa, effective immediately, and to visa nationals who are permanent residents of Chile, Colombia or Peru effective July 1.

The Italian parliament has approved a law recognizing same-sex civil unions.  Although the law has yet to be published, it is expected that same-sex partners who are legally married in their home country will be able to qualify as dependents in immigration applications.  Previously, only opposite-sex spouses qualified as dependents.  A transitional period is likely during the implementation of the law.  Affected foreign nationals should contact their immigration professional to discuss the impact of this change on their immigration applications.  Fragomen will provide further information when it becomes available.