On June 18th, in Toronto, Founder and Managing Partner, David Zaritzky Brown, recognized by Business Insider as a Top Immigration Attorney, hosted a masterclass at Collision Conference. David highlighted key programs designed to make it easier for Canadian companies to enter the U.S. market (the largest market by GDP), and for both U.S. and Canadian companies to hire highly skilled foreign talent. Alongside David, attendees had the opportunity to connect with industry experts, Bailey Anderson, Clinton Green, and Cheryl Anderson, SHRM-CP. In his Masterclass David shared visa strategies for Canadian companies to enter and access the U.S. market – whether to access capital or a larger market for your products, or attracting more qualified candidates, David highlighted seamless approaches to tackling visa challenges to ensure worry free access – whether the individual needs work authorization or simply worry-free travel. In addition to highlighting strategies for U.S. market entry David also highlighted how to manage immigration programs in both the U.S. and Canada to ensure you hire the best and brightest from around the globe to power your company. As technology becomes increasingly complex companies need the next generation of technology professionals to remain competitive, and with many of the top graduates from North American schools attending on student visas every company needs to have a strategy for immigration. David’s talk outlined how to best manage these opportunities to maximize the success of your organization to help it reach its potential, while also recognizing the benefits of diversity. We thank those who were able to join us for David’s talk!

On April 1, 2024, USCIS’s updated fee schedule went into effect. As we previously reported, many fees increased across the board, containing a requirement that employment-based petitioners include an Asylum Program Fee of either $600 or $300 (small employers) with I-129 and I-140 cases. According to USCIS, this fee “helps fund the asylum program… All the work at USCIS is connected - when we have a more fully funded corps of asylum officers, our non-asylum officers can concentrate more exclusively on adjudicating cases from employers and other filers, bringing down processing times for everyone.”

Effective February 29, 2024, Mexican citizens traveling to Canada are subject to new requirements: Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) Requirements: Mexican citizens must now meet new criteria to qualify for an eTA. Mexican citizens are eligible for an eTA if 1) they are using a valid Mexican passport to fly to Canada, 2) they are going to Canada for a short visit (typically 6 months or less), and 3) they either have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or currently hold a valid United States nonimmigrant visa. Existing eTAs Cancelled: Any existing eTA will be automatically canceled for Mexican nationals unless they have a valid work or study permit. Application Process: Those with eTA applications in progress must reapply for a new eTA or a visitor visa.

As we have previously reported, USCIS announced that the initial registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap will “open at noon Eastern on March 6, 2024, and run through noon Eastern on March 22, 2024.” Notably, the registration fee during the registration period starting in March 2024 will remain $10 but increase to $215 starting next year’s lottery in 2025 for FY 2026. Because of this dramatic increase in cost, we recommend our clients register as many employees as possible into this year’s lottery to take advantage of the $10 fee while applicable.