Category: Immigration Insights

September 22, 2017

Effective 3rd July 2017, the Thai Board of Investment (BOI) has established a new Strategic Talent Centre (STC) to help Thai and foreign companies that are seeking to recruit highly skilled Thai and foreign specialists in the fields of science and technology to support their businesses in Thailand. The STC is available to all private […]

September 22, 2017

On 18th September 2017, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had resumed Premium Processing for all H-1B Petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 H-1B cap of 65,000 visas. USCIS has also resumed Premium Processing for the annual 20,000 additional H-1B petitions that are intended for individuals with a US master’s degree or […]

September 22, 2017

The Migration Department of Moscow region (Greenwood Business Centre) has added to the list of documents required in support of applications for correction and extension of Highly Qualified Specialist (HQS) work permits. The application should now also be accompanied by copies of quarterly salary notifications covering the whole validity period of the work permit. Our […]

September 22, 2017

The Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates has approved the expansion of the visa on arrival program to Indian nationals who have a valid residence visa from either the United Kingdom or another European Union member state. The new policy has not yet been implemented. Background In May 2017, the UAE opened the visa-on-arrival program […]

September 21, 2017

Companies who are registered with the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) can start to apply for their 2018 projection for Employment Passes and Professional Visit Passes from 1st October 2017. How does it work? Companies who intend to employ foreign nationals in Malaysia in 2018 must have the projection approved and made available in the ESD […]

September 21, 2017

Effective 27th September 2017, Qatar will introduce a single-entry electronic travel authorisation, valid for 30 days and renewable once, for holders of valid visas or residence permits from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Schengen countries or the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). How does it work? Nationals of eligible countries can apply online with […]

September 21, 2017

Amendments to Lithuania’s Law on Legal Status of Foreigners took effect on 1st September 2017, implementing the EU ICT directive. Intra-corporate Transfer (ICT) Permit The amendments transpose European Union Directive 2014/66/EU “on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer” by introducing a new ICT permit. Qualifying Criteria […]

September 20, 2017

1st January 2018 is the deadline for foreign nationals legally residing in Nigeria to obtain a National Identity Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Without a NIN, a foreign national will not be able to obtain or renew a long-term work and residence permit. Background On 1st August 2017, the Comptroller […]

September 19, 2017

Effective 30th August 2017, an urgent e-visa option is now available for Azerbaijan, with a processing time of three hours. What are the changes? Nationals who qualify to use the online ”ASAN Viza” e-visa system now have the option of an urgent e-visa service, which is available on weekends and public holidays. The urgent service […]

September 19, 2017

Effective immediately, the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIBD) has rolled out a new online portal for applications for employment permit approvals, and is no longer accepting applications submitted manually. Registration Construction-related companies intending to hire foreign nationals must first complete registration procedures to set up an online account. Once an online account is […]