Immigration Insights

January 1, 2022

As 2022 gets underway and the Omicron variant surges throughout the world, international travel continues to see rapidly changing requirements, protocols, and entry restrictions. While trends remain temporary in nature, many countries have either introduced new or changed restrictions, or extended the current ones into January 2022. It is anticipated that new and extended restrictions will continue into at least early 2022 and beyond if Omicron continues to be a major concern.

December 29, 2021

Beginning February 1, 2022, individuals applying for new Long-Term Passes, Work Passes, and Permanent Residence, as well as renewals of any existing Work Passes will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

December 29, 2021

Effective through December 31, 2022, the U.S. State Department has authorized consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for select groups of visa applicants.

December 21, 2021

On Dec. 15, 2021, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) extended the flexibility previously afforded to the Form I-9 compliance rules regarding physical document inspection through April 30, 2022.

December 21, 2021

From 6 April 2022, individuals in possession of Biometric Residence Permits (BRP), Biometric Residence Cards (BRC), or Frontier Worker Permits (FWP) will evidence their right to work in the UK exclusively via the Home Office online checking service.

December 21, 2021

As 2021 comes to an end, Newland Chase revisits new UK visa routes announced earlier this year and that are due to open in Spring 2022. These include “Scale-Up” visa, “High Potential Individual” visa and “Global Business Mobility” visa.

December 16, 2021

The UAE authorities have announced a new penalty structure for immigration non-compliance relating to visa issuance, renewal, and cancellations. The implementation date for these new consequences has yet to be announced by the UAE government, but is expected in the upcoming months.

December 16, 2021

As part of continued efforts to strengthen long-standing diplomatic ties, Switzerland and Australia have announced eased visa measures and new visa opportunities between their nations. Both countries will introduce these changes on 1 January 2022.

December 16, 2021

In an effort both to support work-life balance for employees and further align the country with the global economy, the UAE will make changes to the country’s public sector work week, effective 1 January 2022.

December 10, 2021

On 9 December 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will temporarily waive the requirement that the civil surgeon sign Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record within 60 days of filing an application for the underlying immigration benefit. This temporary waiver is effective immediately and will continue until 30 September 2022.

December 1, 2021

On 24 November 2021, the Federal Council of Switzerland announced that quotas will remain the same for new work permit applications submitted during the 2022 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).

December 1, 2021

While the world awaits further information on the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, many countries have introduced new travel restrictions against individuals from, or with recent travel to, several Southern African countries.

November 30, 2021

From 15 December 2021, eligible visa holders who have been fully vaccinated with a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recognized vaccine will be free to travel to and from Australia without the need to first apply for a Travel Exemption.

November 28, 2021

Starting 22 January, 2022, the Biden administration will require foreign national travelers engaged in essential travel to be fully vaccinated when crossing U.S. land borders or ferry terminals.

November 24, 2021

To seek relief from immigration application delays, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and its partners filed a lawsuit, which was settled with the Department of Homeland Security.

November 22, 2021

Effective 1 November 2021, fully-vaccinated and medically-exempt Australians will no longer require a travel exemption to depart Australia.

November 18, 2021

The Swiss Federal Council recently announced that Croatian citizens will be granted full freedom of movement beginning on January 1, 2022. This change will put Croatian nationals on equal terms with EU/EFTA nationals. As such, as of January 1, 2022, they will be allowed to follow the streamlined EU/EFTA national immigration process.

November 17, 2021

Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, T.D., has announced improvements to holiday travel allowances and to citizenship applications.

November 17, 2021

Sri Lanka has officially increased the standard duration of their Employment and Dependent Residence Visas from the current two years to five years.

November 17, 2021

Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced new criteria for individuals vaccinated in the United States to prove their vaccination status and use the country’s Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs).