Immigration Insights

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).

November 15, 2021

In September this year the Home Office issued a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules which will see a change to how applicants (and their dependants) for Student and Skilled Worker visas make their applications. The change will apply from 30 November 2021.

November 12, 2021

Amid continued political disputes between Lebanon and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has temporarily suspended all new visa issuance for Lebanese citizens effective November 10, 2021.

November 12, 2021

After its original November 1, 2021 launch was delayed, New Zealand’s new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme will now be introduced on July 4, 2022. As part of New Zealand’s recent efforts to increase the skill level of foreign workers, the AEWV program will streamline six current and previous work visa options into a simplified application system.

November 3, 2021

Effective 1 November 2021, the Malaysian authorities have opened the window for companies to submit their 2022 foreign worker projections. This is applicable to both companies registered with the Expatriates Services Division (ESD) online portal and companies registered with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) eXpats portal.

November 3, 2021

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

November 3, 2021

Effective 31 October 2021, Russian authorities amended the medical testing requirements for foreign nationals seeking work authorization in the country. Most notably, these new regulations now include visa-required Highly Qualified Specialist (HQS) Work Permit applicants.

November 2, 2021

A Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules published on, and effective from, 1 November 2021 amends the Seasonal Worker route for temporary workers to include those coming to conduct ‘specified pork butchery work’.