Category: Immigration Insights

November 7, 2017

The Dubai Creative Clusters Authority (DCCA) free zone has removed the Internal Visa Transfer option for foreign employees transferring to a new employer within the DCCA. Employees in this situation now need to use the “Government Transfer” option, which requires a medical test (unlike the Internal Visa Transfer option). Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, the original […]

November 7, 2017

Effective 1st November 2017, the Visapoint system has closed and is no longer available for booking appointments for visa or residence permit applications. All appointments available until 30th November 2017 have already been booked, and remain valid. A new system of registration to apply for a visa or residence permit, to start on 1st December […]

November 7, 2017

Effective 6th November 2017, foreign nationals applying for a limited stay permit (ITAS) at the South Jakarta immigration office must submit a domicile letter, as proof of residency, in support of their application. The change brings the South Jakarta immigration office into line with the other immigration offices in Jakarta, which had already implemented this […]

November 6, 2017

On 1st November 2017, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced Canada’s immigration plan. The plan breaks with practice of previous years by laying out immigration targets for the next three years. The plan of 310,000 new permanent residents in 2018, growing to 330,000 in 2019 and 340,000 by 2020, will meet the government’s target of close to […]

November 6, 2017

On 23rd October 2017, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) cancelled policy guidelines, in effect since April 2004, regarding requests for the extension of certain non-immigrant visas (i.e. visa petitions filed using Form I-129). Previously, an adjudicator’s determination that a non-US citizen met the eligibility requirements for granting a non-immigrant visa was given deference in […]

November 6, 2017

In this week’s edition, we bring you news of new combined work and residence permits in Austria and new procedures for fast-track residence cards in Madrid, Spain. Plus, there are changes to the employment pass application process in Malaysia. There’s also immigration news from Tanzania, Kuwait and Taiwan.   

November 4, 2017

On 31st October 2017, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed an agreement (a “Memorandum of Understanding”) on the short-stay visa waiver for holders of ordinary passports. As nationals of each country could already travel visa-free to the other, there are likely to be few if any noticeable changes as a result of the […]

November 4, 2017

Effective immediately, Indian nationals holding a 14-day visa on arrival, issued on the basis of a US visa valid for at least six months or Green Card, or of a valid UK or EU residence visa, cannot change status to another visa type, such as a tourist, business or employment visa, while in the UAE. […]

November 3, 2017

On 31st October 2017, the Taiwan Legislative Yuan passed the new Act Governing Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals. The new law, which has no implementation date as yet, will have various benefits for foreign nationals working in Taiwan and their employers. Key Changes Foreign nationals working in Taiwan will be able to extend their […]

November 3, 2017

Employers of foreign nationals in Mexico are reminded that all foreign residents in Mexico must notify the Mexican National Immigration Institute (INM) of their personal address within 90 days of any change of address due to the recent earthquakes in Mexico, or for any other reason. Failure to comply with this obligation may subject the foreign […]