Immigration Insights

November 30, 2020

View our comprehensive guide, which gathers together the knowledge and data we have on entry restrictions, immigration restrictions (office closures, visa suspensions, etc.) and immigration concessions, worldwide. Updated twice daily as new information is released. 

November 27, 2020

The Dutch immigration authorities (IND) have announced new minimum salary levels for knowledge migrant workers (aka Highly Skilled Migrants), graduates and Blue Card applicants coming to the Netherlands.

November 25, 2020

On 25 November 2020, the Federal Council of Switzerland announced that quotas will remain the same for new work permit applications submitted during the 2021 calendar year for non-European Union/European Free Trade Agreement (non-EU/EFTA) nationals (with a stay greater than four consecutive months/120 days per year) and service providers/seconded workers based in the EU/EFTA (also with a stay greater than four consecutive months/120 days per year).

November 24, 2020

On 19 November 2020 the UK government published updated guidance for employers on how to sponsor individuals on the new Worker (formerly Tier 2) and Temporary Worker (formerly Tier 5) immigration routes.

November 11, 2020

Effective 1 January 2021 (postponed from 1 November 2020), all companies (including those registered both with ESD and with MDEC) intending to apply for new or renewal employment permits for foreign workers are required to place an advertisement for the job vacancy for at least 30 days at the MYFutureJobs portal.

November 9, 2020

Large multinational corporations such as Facebook and Microsoft have recently announced company policy shifts allowing employees to work from home permanently. It is important that employers carefully review and evaluate potential implications from an immigration, tax, and employment law perspective when making this decision.

November 6, 2020

Through a newly formed alliance, Newland Chase and U.S. law firm Greenberg Traurig can support qualified travelers with assessing eligibility to travel to the United States. Contact us to learn how we can assist your foreign nationals who need to enter the U.S. during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

November 5, 2020

Employers engaging foreign labor in Russia have until 31 December 2020 to confirm the vaccination against measles of all the foreign nationals they currently employ.

October 29, 2020

Effective 1 January 2021, increased minimum gross annual salary levels for foreign employees have been announced for the Belgian regions of Brussels and Flanders. Wallonia is expected to publish its new salary scales shortly.

October 23, 2020

On 22 October 2020, the UK government has published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, introducing the expected “Points-Based” Immigration System.

October 19, 2020

On 30 September 2020, the US Senate passed and the president signed H.R. 8337 to keep the US government operational until 11 December 2020, maintaining vital immigration programs such as the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program, E-Verify, Conrad 30 Waiver Program for J-1 medical doctors and non-minister religious workers programs.

October 14, 2020

The increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) from £400 to £624, will take effect on 27 October 2020. UK immigration applications submitted before 27 October will therefore be significantly cheaper.

October 14, 2020

The release of the 2020-21 Budget has revealed a number of planned changes to the Department of Home Affairs and the migration program, with significant changes to the General Skilled, Family, and Global Talent categories.

October 12, 2020

The government has issued both the DOL wage rule and the DHS H-1B regulation as interim final rules, citing the COVID-19 public health emergency as rationale. This means they avoid the normal public comment and rulemaking process but are arguably more vulnerable to court challenges.

October 8, 2020

The Australian government has released new legislation on the Labor Market Testing (LMT) requirements for employer-sponsored visas.

October 1, 2020

2020 has been a year of change, challenge and uncharted territory for organisations everywhere. As the UK moves forward with its departure from the EU, employers must now prepare for further change – the introduction of new rules for EU nationals and a visa system to accommodate them.

October 1, 2020

On 24 September 2020, the US Department of State (DOS) released the October 2020 Visa Bulletin, the first of the new government fiscal year (FY 2021). It showed significant advancement in most categories, but especially for applicants under the EB-3 category who were born in India.

September 29, 2020

Following our recent webinar, China Reopens Borders: Return to China with Our Guided-Entry Visa Solution, Newland Chase experts answer the most pressing questions on China immigration.

September 24, 2020

The planned increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) from £400 to £624 has been postponed until at least 15 October 2020.

September 23, 2020

Newland Chase’s September COVID-19 webinar focused on strategies that global mobility managers and travel managers can utilize to surf the waves of the continually changing immigration and global entry landscape. Global mobility managers and travel managers are encouraged to carefully evaluate these suggestions to successfully steer their immigration program through the choppy waters of global travel during the COVID-19 era.