Immigration Insights

UNITED STATES: Significant Forward Progress for Several Categories in October 2020 Visa Bulletin

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.

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China Reopens Borders Webinar Q&A | Return to China with Our Guided-Entry Visa Solution

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.

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UNITED KINGDOM: Increase of Immigration Health Surcharge Postponed (Updated 1 Oct)

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.

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Travel and Mobility Strategies to Successfully Manage the Unexpected

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.

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Immigration Controls in a Pandemic: Border Control Approaches Compared

September 22, 2020

An in-depth study of how different countries have adapted to incoming international arrivals in the COVID-19 era. Authored by Irene Gallagher of Newland Chase Australia.

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AUSTRALIA: Employer-Sponsored Visa Changes September 2020

September 3, 2020

The Australian Government has announced a number of changes to the employer-sponsored visa program, with the aim to fill urgent skills needs in critical sectors while also ensuring that Australian workers have first access to job vacancies.

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SINGAPORE: Changes to Minimum Qualifying Salary and Advertising Requirement

August 28, 2020

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has raised the minimum Qualifying Fixed Monthly Salary for NEW applications for EP and S Pass and extended the FCF job advertising requirements to include S Pass applications submitted from Thursday 1 October 2020.

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UK Home Office Webinar Q&A | A First-Hand Exploration of the UK’s New Immigration System

August 26, 2020

Further to the recent UK Home Office webinar, view our Q&A report which provides answers to your most pressing questions on the UK's new, post-Brexit immigration system.

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COVID-19 Webinar Q&A | Office Not Required: Travel and Mobility Impacts of Work from Home Policies

August 21, 2020

Posted Worker regulations have become a hot topic of discussion in the European mobility industry. Yet another new Directive comes into effect from 30 July 2020, which will see further revisions to posted worker employment conditions (“equal pay for equal work”), and reductions in the assignment duration, during which only limited host country conditions need to be applied. This FAQ addresses many concerns your business may have.

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UNITED STATES: USCIS Reopens Fiscal Year 2021 H-1B Lottery

August 20, 2020

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently begun selecting additional, previously unselected H-1B registrations that were submitted in March 2020 for the fiscal year 2021 H-1B lottery. 

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White Paper | Brexit and the UK’s New Immigration System

August 18, 2020

1 January 2021 marks the end of EU freedom of movement rights in the UK. In this white paper, Newland Chase experts explore what to expect, how the significant changes will transform how foreign nationals migrate to the UK, and the effects on businesses' operational requirements and recruitment policies.

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CHINA: Certain Nationals Holding Valid Residence Permits May be Able to Obtain a Visa Without a Letter of Invitation

August 11, 2020

The Chinese authorities have confirmed that holders of valid residence permits, including for work or family reunion, who are nationals of certain countries, are now able to apply for a visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate in these countries without a letter of invitation (LOI or “PU Letter”).

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Posted Workers: Navigating the New Obligations for Employers

August 6, 2020

Intra-EU travel is getting complicated. In this short article, we will set out what the Posted Worker Directives are all about; what changed on July 30, 2020; give some illustrative examples, and set out what you need to know, and do, now. 

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China Opens Borders: Challenges and Solutions for Returning Travelers to China

August 4, 2020

Learn the China Essential Traveler criteria and application process to return mission-critical business travelers to China as borders slowly reopen.

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REMINDER | Posted Workers: Notification May Be Required on 30 July

July 27, 2020

Employers are encouraged to check if they have any posted workers on postings between 12-18 months on 30 July, and to check on the motivated notification requirements for those countries related to an extended application of core working conditions under the new Posted Worker Directive.

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Webinar Q&A | Posted Worker Rules: Navigating the New Obligations for Employers

July 23, 2020

Posted Worker regulations have become a hot topic of discussion in the European mobility industry. Yet another new Directive comes into effect from 30 July 2020, which will see further revisions to posted worker employment conditions (“equal pay for equal work”), and reductions in the assignment duration, during which only limited host country conditions need to be applied. This FAQ addresses many concerns your business may have.

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DENMARK: Expansion of Positive List

July 15, 2020

Effective 1 July 2020, the Danish immigration authorities have expanded the ‘positive list’ of shortage occupations to include a ‘Positive List for Skilled Work’ and the previous positive list has been renamed the ‘Positive List for the Highly Educated’.

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UNITED KINGDOM: Further Details of the Future Immigration System

July 13, 2020

The UK government has released further details of its proposed new points-based system for employment immigration routes, due to take effect from 1 January 2021, under which free movement will end and EU nationals will be covered by the same rules as non-EU nationals.

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NEW ZEALAND: No More ANZSCO for Essential Skills Work Visa Skill Level Assessment

July 10, 2020

Effective 27 July 2020, the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) will no longer be used to assess the skill level of jobs for essential skills work visas.

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SWEDEN: New Rules for Posted Worker Notifications

July 10, 2020

Effective 30 July, the Swedish Work Environment Authority (SWEA) has announced some changes to the rules on posting workers from abroad.

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