According to a change in practice, foreign nationals seeking Indian visas in Austria will be required to visit an Indian visa application center to submit an Indian visa application on or after January 23, 2017. Additionally, foreign nationals filing in-person Indian visa applications in San Francisco must appear for biometrics at an Indian visa application center and must secure an appointment prior to visiting the application center.
Austria: EU employers must appoint document agent by January 1
Employers based in the European Union/European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland sending employees on assignment to Austria must appoint a document maintenance and information agent by January 1, 2017, according to a new law. For staffing assignments, appointing an agent is optional.
Employers can appoint an assigned employee who is in Austria during the entire project or a lawyer, notary or tax consultant based in Austria as the agent.
Employers must disclose the appointed agent and the document storage location at the beginning of every project, or at the latest with the first KIAB/ZKO filing that has a validity period on or after January 1, 2017.
Austria: New document retention requirements; general enforcement increased
Global: Immigration processing during the holiday season
During the holiday season, many government offices worldwide will close or have reduced staff and hours of operation, likely resulting in processing delays for work permits, residence permits and visas over the coming weeks and into the new year.The following is a non-exhaustive list of immigration office and government closings during the holiday season. Employers and foreign nationals with travel or relocation plans between now and early 2016 should contact their immigration service provider to discuss the impact of holiday closures on their specific circumstances.
Austria: Increased audits by immigration authorities
Employers with foreign employees in Austria should be prepared for increased audits by the Austrian authorities to check compliance with various tax payments such as income, corporate, social security and goods and services tax (VAT), and to ensure that a branch office or permanent place of business has not been established by the sending company, which would subject the sending company to Austrian corporate tax payments.
New border controls and asylum application volume causing delays in EU
Travellers into, out of and within the European Union and the Schengen Area will be subject to general travel and immigration service processing delays due to the influx of refugees, particularly to Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. Importantly, Germany introduced border controls yesterday that caused significant delays at entry and exit ports and other countries are continuing to implement controls. This is particularly relevant to rail and road border crossings; air travel is unlikely to be affected at this time.
Delays and Suspensions
Trains between Germany and Austria were suspended in both directions from Sunday until Monday morning. It is currently not clear how long other border controls will remain in place.
Foreign nationals should be prepared for immigration document checks on roads and trains throughout the European Union.
Foreign nationals seeking permits and visas at immigration offices in EU countries are experiencing long lines and processing delays due to the volume of asylum applications. Foreign nationals are advised to arrive at immigration offices well in advance of opening hours and should file renewal and other immigration applications well in advance of the deadlines to avoid additional delays.
What This Means For Foreign Nationals
All travellers, including EU nationals, are strongly advised to carry a valid passport and, as appropriate, residence permit or visa if crossing any international border within the European Union, even if passport-free travel is currently permitted. Train and road travel is likely to be significantly delayed and foreign nationals seeking immigration services in EU countries should account for delays and long lines.