Category: Immigration Insights

March 23, 2018

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, in order to reduce overall H-1B processing times, they will temporarily suspend premium processing for all Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B cap-subject petitions starting 2nd April 2018. What is Premium Processing? The premium processing service permits employers to request USCIS to adjudicate H-1B petitions within 15 calendar days by […]

March 21, 2018

Effective 2nd April 2018, the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) has confirmed additional documentary requirements for Alien Employment Permit (AEP) applications. What has changed? Certified true copies (per page) of the following additional documents are now required in support of an application for an AEP: Mayor’s Permit/Business Permit Certificate of Registration and Articles of […]

March 21, 2018

On 19th March 2018, the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) announced that a new visa scheme to attract highly-skilled talent to Australia will be piloted from 1st July 2018. Qualifying employers in two streams – established businesses and start-ups – will be able to access four-year subclass 482 (TSS) visas via streamlined applications and […]

March 21, 2018

Effective 12th March 2018, the United States embassy in Paris, France, has closed its “Golden Arrow” program for expedited E visas for critical employees of registered large multinational corporations. Delays should be anticipated as a result. Henceforth, all E-1 (Treaty Trader) and E-2 (Treaty Investor) visa applications in Paris must be submitted electronically for review […]

March 20, 2018

The current work authorisation requirements for Croatian workers in the UK will be lifted on 30th June 2018. Background When Croatia joined the EU in 2013, the UK and other member states were able to place restrictions on labour market access for Croatian nationals for five years, with the option to extend for a final […]

March 19, 2018

Effective 19th March 2018, a new, simplified process for applications for change of immigration status has been introduced, with in-person attendance at the immigration office, and an online application tracking system. Previously, several more steps were required, and it was possible to authorize a third-party representative to submit the application at the immigration office. Procedure […]

March 19, 2018

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have published updated fees for 2018/19 for all immigration and nationality applications made outside and from within the UK, effective Friday 6th April 2018. Applications made outside the UK There are to be increases to fees across a number of immigration categories, including but not limited to the following: Tier 1 […]

March 19, 2018

In this week’s edition, we bring you news of updated immigration fees in the UK. Canada has signed a trans-pacific partnership agreement and there’s a new Temporary Skills Shortage visa in Australia. Plus, there are updates from France, Poland and Brazil.

March 16, 2018

The Supreme Court of India has extended the 31st March 2018 deadline for residents to link their Aadhaar numbers to their bank account, mobile SIM card, PAN (Permanent Account Number) card and other services and schemes until it has delivered its verdict on the constitutional validity of the biometric identification number and its enabling law. […]

March 16, 2018

On 15th March 2018, the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) published the Migration Legislation Amendment which implements the new Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa, and which is effective 18th March 2018. However, the legislation to implement the new Skilling Australians Fund levy (“Training Levy”) has not yet been passed by Parliament. Therefore, the […]