Immigration Insights

October 20, 2021

The announcement regarding relaxation of the ban on travel to the U.S. from early November will bring relief to many travelers. The U.S. authorities have confirmed that regionally-based COVID-19 travel bans will be repealed and replaced by individual-based vaccination requirements as of 8 November 2021.

October 14, 2021

The White House has confirmed that the regionally-based COVID-19 travel bans will be repealed and replaced by individual-based COVID-19 vaccination requirements as of 8 November. Additionally, Department of Homeland Security has announced that “non-essential travelers who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation” will be allowed to enter the country via land and ferry ports of entry.

October 13, 2021

The Israeli Ministry of Interior (MOI) has increased the standard validity of the B-1 Short Employment Authorization (SEA) Visa from 45 to 90 days. Available to visa-waiver foreign experts only, the B-1 SEA Visa allows eligible foreign nationals to undertake urgent work requiring specialty expertise in Israel. The visa can be sponsored by both Israeli and foreign employers and is commonly used for machinery installation or repairs.

October 12, 2021

The New Zealand authorities recently introduced a new one-off Resident Visa scheme for eligible temporary and long-term work visa holders. Focusing on current resident foreign nationals whose primary purpose in the country is for work, the 2021 Resident Visa will allow holders to continue working and residing in New Zealand on a permanent basis.

October 6, 2021

Sopra Steria, which partners with the UK government to deliver services for people applying for a work or study visa, settlement or citizenship from within the UK, has announced it will be making several improvements to its UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) in the coming weeks.

October 6, 2021

From 1 October 2021, EEA and Swiss nationals are subject to new identity documentation requirements when travelling to Great Britain from the Republic of Ireland (ROI) under Common Travel Area arrangements.

October 2, 2021

In response to the ongoing crisis of a shortage of haulage drivers to move fuel and other supplies across the UK, the government has announced that Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers and poultry workers will be eligible for temporary visas from October 2021.

September 23, 2021

On 20 September 2021, the Biden administration announced it would simultaneously relax travel restrictions for foreign nationals traveling from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the U.K., Brazil, Ireland, South Africa, and India, and impose new travel requirements for travelers from all other countries.

September 17, 2021

The Home Office has issued its latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules. With a number of technical and minor changes being implemented, we outline the key developments most likely to impact Newland Chase’s clients.

September 9, 2021

As the whole of Europe continues to adjust to Brexit, many UK nationals are faced with new travel requirements and restrictions. We take an in-depth look at one of those new responsibilities for UK nationals: staying within the Schengen Area’s 90/180 day visa-free stay rule.

August 27, 2021

The Home Office has released the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System Sponsorship Roadmap, which outlines plans for reforms beginning in 2021 that aim to allow overseas workers to start work faster than in any other G20 country.

August 27, 2021

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that, effective 1 October, the COVID-19 vaccine is included in the list of vaccines required for applicants to obtain permanent residence and refugee status.

August 24, 2021

On 9 August 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that applicants filing for Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status are now able to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) or replacement card as part of their Adjustment of Status application process. 

August 20, 2021

On 12 August 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will extend the validity period of Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, to four years.

August 17, 2021

Last month, the UK’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy published a report titled ‘UK Innovation Strategy: Leading the future by creating it’. The report identifies four “key pillars” central to the UK government’s vision of a UK that better harnesses innovation to “enhance productivity across the economy, and in turn bring jobs, growth and prosperity to all parts of the UK”.

August 12, 2021

We’re continuing our discussion with Ray Rackham, Managing Director UK for CIBTvisas and Newland Chase, surrounding post-Brexit surprises and lingering misconceptions that employers have. This is the second of a two-part interview.

August 5, 2021

We sat down with Ray Rackham, Managing Director UK for CIBTvisas and Newland Chase, to discuss the current status of business travel and immigration seven months after Brexit and the opportunities that it is creating for employers to reimagine their programmes. This is the first of a two-part interview; the second instalment will be shared later this month.

July 9, 2021

Following our recent webinar, Resuming Business Travel to China: German Challenges and Best Practices, Newland Chase experts answer the most pressing questions on the challenges and solutions of German business travel to China.

July 8, 2021

Newland Chase has in-depth understanding and knowledge of a unique immigration category called work permit exemptions which fall in-between a business visa and work authorization. Work permit exemptions are attractive to companies because they are often less expensive, require fewer documents, and have faster processing times than a full work authorization process.

July 2, 2021

As the world starts to emerge from the pandemic and global travel slowly reopens, many countries are considering putting in place a system whereby travelers can prove their vaccination status to facilitate travel across borders. Newland Chase takes a look at some of the systems in place across the world and explores how companies can find their way through the maze of approaches and requirements.