Week: December 16 - 20, 2024

In this week's newsletter, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule to modernize the H-1B visa program as well as the final rule for modernizing H-2 program requirements for temporary agricultural (H-2A) and temporary non-agricultural (H-2B) nonimmigrant workers and their employers. Also, U.S. embassies and consulates in India have centralized processing nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview cases and rescheduling. Plus, the latest global immigration news.

In this week's episode of the BAL Immigration Report, an advisory update on the new European travel systems and some of our favorite immigration-themed books, movies and media you may want to discover over the holidays.

Visit BAL.com/news for the latest news and don’t forget to subscribe to the BAL Newsletter.

• United States | DHS issues final rule modernizing H-1B visa program

DHS announced a final rule to modernize the H-1B visa program by clarifying the requirements of the H-1B program, providing more flexibility for petitioners and beneficiaries and strengthening program integrity measures. The final rule is scheduled to be published Dec. 18, 2025 and become effective Jan. 17, 2025.

• United States | DHS finalizes regulation amendments for H-2 programs

DHS announced the final rule for modernizing H-2 program requirements for temporary agricultural (H-2A) and temporary non-agricultural (H-2B) nonimmigrant workers and their employers.

• United States | Changes to NIV interview processing and rescheduling in India

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India have centralized processing of nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview cases and made changes to the visa rescheduling process that take effect Jan. 1, 2025.

• The BAL Immigration Report | UK ETA Update + That’s Immi-tainment Faves

In Episode 103 of the BAL Immigration Report, we discuss advisory updates on the new travel systems in Europe and the U.K. and in a special segment share favorite “immi-tainment” books, movies and media.

• Thailand | e-Visa system available Jan. 1
• Australia | National Innovation visa introduced
• New Zealand | Reforms to Accredited Employer Work Visa

• BAL's Eileen Lohmann featured in Forbes