Canada Border Closure Update: Extension Until August 21st, 2020
Canada's border closure is to be extended until August 21st due to the latest surge in COVID cases in some major states in the U.S. The extension will be implemented and the current entry requirements will continue to exist for US Nationals. See the link below for more details: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-us-border-closure-extended-august-1.5648879…
DHS Strikes Down COVID-19 Learning Accommodations For International Students
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. universities and colleges are understandably making the switch to fully online courses for the 2020 Fall Semester. Others are opting for a “hybrid” model of course enrollment, which includes both online and in-person classes. While this does not necessarily come as…
Presidential Proclamation – June 23, 2020 – URGENT
As you may have heard, President Trump has signed a Proclamation that may directly impact workers in the US. Below is a visual summary to help you assess whether you are impacted. Impacted by President Trump’s June 22, 2020 Proclamation [Effective June 24, 2020 – December 31, 2020] Visa Type…
Urgent Immigration Update
URGENT UPDATE: Trump's Executive Order as of 6/22/20 Based on increasingly confirmed media reports, President Trump is planning on signing an executive order to suspend the issuance of certain temporary worker visas through the end of 2020. We have not seen the text of this order, and will provide a…
Canada and US Agree to Extend Border Closure
As the world slowly adjusts to a new normal, the US land borders with Canada and Mexico has been approaching its deadline for reopening for June 22nd. After two extensions of the border closure, many have been anticipating being able to visit family or go back to their jobs. However…

USCIS Alert – DHS Extends Form I-9 Requirement Flexibility Until July 18th
In May, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19. This temporary guidance was set to expire June 18. Because of ongoing precautions related to…

USCIS Field Offices and Asylum Offices Resume Services
As of June 4th, USCIS field offices and asylum offices have resumed non-emergency face-to-face services, and application support centers are expected to resume services at a later date. Here are the precautions USCIS is enacting in response to COVID-19: Visitors will be turned away from a USCIS facility if they…
The Current Landscape for International Students in Canada
On May 11th, our managing partner for Serotte Law Canada, Cathryn Sawicki was featured in a virtual town hall hosted by Career Path Intelligence. In her presentation, Cathryn discussed the role that International Students play in the Canadian workforce, post-grad and permanent residence options, as well as the future of…
The Toronto Star – International students studying online will still qualify for Canadian work permits
Originally Written By: Nicholas Keung, The Toronto StarInternational students currently studying in Canada have been granted a reprieve from the Canadian government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Normally, should an international student choose to apply to work within Canada under a “Post-Graduate Work Permit”, (“PGWP”)” the Canadian government requires students to…

USCIS to Resume Premium Processing for Forms I-129 and I-140
USCIS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it will resume premium processing for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, in phases over the next month. Effective June 1, 2020, USCIS will accept Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for all eligible Form I-140 petitions. Effective June 8, USCIS will…