Category: Immigration Insights

March 8, 2018

Effective 22nd February 2018, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has issued a memorandum with new guidance on H-1B petitions for employees working at third-party worksites. What has changed? The guidance requires petitioners to demonstrate that, where a third-party worksite is involved, for the duration of the requested validity period: The beneficiary will be […]

March 8, 2018

Effective immediately, oil and gas companies that intend to hire foreign workers in Indonesia no longer require RPTKA (request for approval to hire foreign workers) or IMTA (work permit) recommendation letters from the Directorate General of Oil and Gas (“Dirjen MIGAS”) and can now apply for a work permit directly at the Ministry of Manpower. […]

March 7, 2018

The Ministry of Home Affairs in India has recently made several changes to the immigration regime. The key changes are as follows: Modified visa cancellation policy If a foreign national wishes to use a short duration visa (for example, a conference visa, transit visa or e-visa) to India while holding a long-term, consular-issued Indian visa, […]

March 7, 2018

Effective 9th January 2018, changes to the code of administrative offences mean that a host entity may now be fined for the late notification of a foreign national’s entry into Kazakhstan. Penalties If the host entity fails to notify the internal affairs body of foreign nationals’ arrival within three business days, a fine in the […]

March 6, 2018

The Ministry of Manpower has announced upcoming changes to its foreign workforce policy, including an expansion of the Fair Consideration Framework job advertising requirement for Employment Pass (EP) applications to include more companies and more positions, and an increase in the minimum salary requirement for S Pass holders. Job Advertising Effective 1st July 2018, for […]

March 6, 2018

Effective 24th February 2018, the Colombian government has authorised certain nationals of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar and Serbia to enter Colombia without a visa. Moreover, nationals of Nicaragua who hold a valid visa or residence status from a Schengen country, the United States or Canada, as well as those who are residents of the North […]

March 5, 2018

Effective immediately, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) has clarified an existing rule that, for the Atypical Worker Scheme, letters of approval issued for entry clearance must be used within 90 days of issuance, after which they will become invalid. Who is affected? This rule applies to all non-EEA nationals contracted to undertake short-term […]

March 5, 2018

VFS Global has announced via its website that its Premium Application Centres in the United States have temporarily suspended the Gold Premium Service until Tuesday 6th March 2018 due to unforeseen circumstances. The Gold Premium Service offers next business day processing of a UK visa application. VFS Global, the official partner for UK visa applicants […]

March 5, 2018

In this week’s edition, there’s news that the gold premium UK visa application service in the US has been temporarily suspended, and there is a new registration system for work permit applications in Turkey. Plus, we bring you updates from Italy, Argentina and Israel.   

March 2, 2018

Effective immediately, Italian consulates are more strictly assessing business visa applications, defining the allowable business activities according to Visa Decree 850/2011 as the following: to make contacts or conduct negotiations; or for learning and verifying the use and functioning of capital goods purchased or sold under commercial and industrial cooperation agreements. Previously, the Ministry of […]