The Law Firm of Faryal R. Poonah

02/07/2025

DHS announced on January 28, 2025, that it had decided to vacate the January 10, 2025, decision
of the former Secretary of Homeland Security to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
designation for Venezuela until October 2, 2026.

As a result of the vacatur, the Venezuela 2023 TPS designation and the Venezuela 2021 TPS
designation remain in effect until their previously granted expiration dates. Specifically, 2021 TPS
designation holders will remain in status until September 10, 2025, with an announcement
regarding extension or termination to be made by July 12, 2025. Similarly, the vacatur notice
indicated that 2023 TPS designation holders would remain in status until the expiration date of
April 2, 2025, with an announcement regarding extension or termination to be made by February
1, 2025.

Pursuant to the vacatur, USCIS will no longer accept Venezuela TPS re-registration applications
based on the January 17, 2025, notice. For those who have already filed pursuant to this extension,
USCIS will cease processing those applications and will issue refunds of any fees paid. For those
who have already received an extension with an October 2, 2026, date, USCIS will invalidate the
EADs, Form I-797s and Form I-94s and provide a refund. Finally, automatic extensions based on
the January 17 notice are rescinded.

Termination of 2023 Venezuela TPS Designation will occur on April 4, 2025. A formal notice terminating the 2023 Venezuelan TPS, entitled "Termination of the October 3, 2023 Designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status” will be published in the Federal Register on February 5, 2025 and will become effective sixty days later on April 4, 2025.

02/06/2025

It is so important to keep apprised of the news right now.

Use this information to avoid common immigration scams. If you suspect you are a victim of immigration fraud, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commi

02/06/2025

IRCC Canada announces the launch of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP). Both pilots are intended for skilled newcomers who decide to settle outside major urban areas. The RCIP supports rural communities experiencing workforce shortages and immigrants seeking employment and permanent residency in smaller towns and cities. The FCIP aims to enhance the demographic and economic sustainability of Francophone minority communities outside Quebec by increasing the number of French-speaking immigrants. The pilot will help meet the demand for bilingual professionals while ensuring the continued growth of Francophone culture in these regions.

02/06/2025

IRCC will launch two new immigration pilots for home care workers on March 31, 2025. These new pilots are referred to collectively by IRCC as Canada’s “Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots”. The new pilot programs will provide home care workers with permanent residence (PR) on arrival in Canada. They will also be allowed to work for organizations that provide temporary or part¬time care for people who are semi-independent or recovering from an injury or illness. For further details, please visit https://poonahimmigrationlaw.com/canada-announces-launch-date-for-new-permanent-residence-pathways-for-home-care-workers/

07/19/2024

USCIS updated its guidance on children’s acquisition of citizenship in response to public feedback. It also updated guidance based on the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sessions v. Morales-Santana, 582 U.S. 47 (2017), and clarified other provisions related to the acquisition of citizenship, effective July 18, 2024. Further information can be found at https://poonahimmigrationlaw.com/immigration-news/

03/31/2024

Students studying in the United States in F or M visa status must have a foreign residence that they have no intention of abandoning. A new USCIS policy manual update has clarified that being the beneficiary of a PERM application or an immigrant visa petition does not mean the student cannot demonstrate their intention to depart after their temporary stay in the United States.

03/25/2024

IRCC announced the eligibility criteria for spousal open work permits (SOWP) have changed for Spouses/ Common Law partners that are 1. applying for a SOWP on or after March 19, 2024; 2. applying for a SOWP before March 19, 2024; 3. applying to extend their existing SOWP.

There are some exceptions for the spouses or partners of undergraduate students. Spouses of undergraduate students in one of the following professional degree programs at a university are also eligible to apply for a SOWP:

• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
• Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)
• Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Doctor of Optometry (OD)
• Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN, BNSc)
• Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.)
• Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng., BE, BASc)

Spouses and partners applying for an SOWP must provide documents that prove a relationship to the student and one document showing proof of their partner’s enrolment in a degree-granting program of study.

03/25/2024

As of February 29, 2024, IRCC has changed the travel requirements for Mexican citizens. Employers must now ensure that Mexican workers applying to come to Canada must apply for a work permit visa before they travel to Canada. The port of entry will no longer process applications. Work permits for agricultural or seafood and fish processing industry will be prioritized. In addition, Mexican visitors who previously held an eTA, or submitted an application for an eTA before 11:30 p.m. ET on February 29, 2024, are now cancelled, and will not be eligible for use it to travel. Having a previously valid eTA does not guarantee approval for a new eTA or a visa. eTA's are only valid for those travelling by plane. For those coming by boat or car, they must apply for a visa. A visitor visa is an official document that is placed in the passport that shows the requirements to travel to Canada are met.

Applicants for eTA's must now must meet three eligibility criteria:
• A valid Mexican passport is being used to fly to Canada or to transit through a Canadian airport to another destination.
• Coming to Canada for a short visit (normally for stays of up to 6 months).
• Or, one of the following:
o have held a Canadian visitor visa (temporary resident visa) in the past 10 years, or
o currently hold a valid United States (U.S.) nonimmigrant visa
-canada

03/11/2024

IRCC announces two separate new immigration pilots – one for rural communities and another for francophone minority communities. Also, the existing Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which was introduced in January 2019, will transition into a permanent program.

03/11/2024

On February 13th, 14th and 16th, 2024, IRCC conducted three consecutive draws, Express Entry Draw #283, inviting 1,490 candidates with CRS scores of 535; Express Entry Draw #284 inviting 3,500 Healthcare occupations with a CRS score of 422; and, Express Entry Draw #285, which was the first category-based selection draw for Agriculture and Agri-Food occupations in 2024. For this draw, 150 candidates were selected with a CRS score of 437.