U.S. to Require Most Foreign Nationals to Apply for Green Cards Outside the Country
Brazil backs ‘Bogotá Declaration’ on fair labour mobility across Latin America
Beijing launches city-wide 24-hour online exit-entry services, eliminating the need to visit passport halls
Latest News
IRCC data show Express Entry backlog hits record low, easing wait times for skilled immigrants
New IRCC inventory figures published 22 May 2026 show the Express Entry backlog at just 10 percent, its lowest level on record. Shorter processing times give Canadian employers more certainty when hiring global talent and reduce wait times for applicants in the economic-class immigration system.
Austrian Parliament passes migration-pact law, capping family reunification and expanding border procedures
On 22 May the Nationalrat approved a law implementing the EU Migration Pact: family-reunion visas move to a capped settlement quota, border-procedure detention is extended and care for unaccompanied minors is re-assigned. The reforms, due to start on 1 July, will lengthen timelines for bringing dependants to Austria and create new compliance steps at airports, impacting multinational companies that relocate staff with families.
Italy’s New Single Work Permit Rules Slash Processing Times to 30 Days
Legislative Decree 83/2026, effective 22 May 2026, cuts Italy’s work-permit issuance time from 60 to 30 days and caps the full entry-to-permit process at 90 days. A new biometric residence card and mandatory employer transparency aim to protect workers and speed up onboarding for companies. The reform makes Italy a more attractive destination for non-EU talent and gives HR teams firmer timelines for project staffing.
Spanish Supreme Court Allows Mass Immigrant Regularization to Proceed
On 22 May the Supreme Court refused to suspend Spain’s April decree that offers residence and work permits to roughly 500,000 undocumented migrants. With 549,596 applications already submitted, companies can hire successful applicants immediately, easing labour shortages but obliging HR teams to track subsequent renewals. The ruling neutralises efforts by Madrid’s regional government and Vox to halt the scheme and provides rare legal clarity in Spain’s often-contested immigration landscape.