Category: Immigration Insights

October 9, 2017

Effective October 2017, Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI), alongside the Immigration Bureau (IMM) and the Department of Employment (DOE), has launched a new online system for streamlined initial and renewal work permit and visa applications. The so-called Single Window System will replace the current hardcopy work permit booklet with a new digital work permit, allow […]

October 6, 2017

The government has announced an expansion to its Registered Traveller Service, which facilitates a faster entry at the UK border. From 5th October, business travellers and frequent visitors from 15 new countries are eligible to apply for membership of the service. Which countries have been added? The new countries covered by the service are Andorra, […]

October 6, 2017

On 3rd October 2017, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had resumed Premium Processing for all types of H-1B Petitions. Background USCIS suspended Premium Processing for all H-1B petitions starting 3rd April 2017, to reduce overall H-1B processing times. Previously, USCIS resumed Premium Processing for H-1B petitions filed on behalf of physicians […]

October 5, 2017

Effective 1st January 2018, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will raise the salary threshold for work pass holders to qualify for dependent privileges. What is the change? From 1st January 2018, Employment Pass and S Pass holders need to receive a minimum fixed monthly salary of: SGD 6000 (up from SGD 5000) to obtain a […]

October 5, 2017

As of Wednesday 4th October 2017, the recently enforced requirement to submit police clearance certificates in support of applications for work permits and passes has been suspended until further notice. Effective 2nd October 2017, the Kenyan Department of Immigration Services had begun enforcing a requirement that original police clearance certificates (PCC) must be submitted in […]

October 3, 2017

The Swiss Federal Council has decided to increase the work permit quotas for 2018. Which work permits are affected? The quotas are imposed on a national, rather than per-company, basis, on long-term B permits and short-term L permits. B permits are valid for up to five years and are renewable. Once the B permit quotas […]

October 2, 2017

In this week’s edition, we bring you news of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the EU, and announce that the US has imposed various new travel restrictions on nationals of certain countries. Plus, we bring you immigration news from Lithuania, Nigeria and Belgium.  

September 29, 2017

Following the implementation on 3rd September 2017 of stricter Saudization requirements for businesses, the Ministry of Labour (MOL) and the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) have introduced the “Parallel Nitaqat” system, to allow employers to buy into the required saudization category instead of hiring Saudi nationals. “Parallel Nitaqat” aims to help employers who are struggling […]

September 29, 2017

The Shanghai Foreign Expert Bureau is now accepting work permit applications from applicants classified as either Category A or B, and holding an M (business) or L (tourist) entry visa, rather than a Z (work) visa. Risks and benefits Note that Category B applicants risk their M or L entry visa expiring while their work permit […]

September 29, 2017

Effective 27th September 2017, the regulations governing work permits and temporary residence permits have been amended, introducing changes to permit categories, validity periods, minimum salaries, government filing fees, notification and renewal rules and documentary requirements, among other changes. Note that further clarification of the changes is expected from the Ukrainian authorities, and that there may […]