China

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US: February Visa Bulletin Update

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USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action under the State Department’s February Visa Bulletin.

Employment-Based Priority Date Cut-offs for February 2017

To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment application in February, employer-sponsored foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country.

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USA: February 2017 Visa Bulletin: Some Advancement in Final Action Dates for EB-2 China, EB-3 India and China

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According to the State Department’s February Visa Bulletin, immigrant visa availability dates for final action will advance by one month for EB-2 China, to November 15, 2012, while EB-2 India will remain at April 15, 2008.

The EB-3 subcategory for professionals and skilled workers will advance by three weeks for China, to October 1, 2013; one week for India, to March 22, 2005; nearly three months for the Philippines, to October 15, 2011; and two months for all other countries, to October 1, 2016. The EB-3 other worker subcategory will advance by one week for India, to March 22, 2005; nearly three months for the Philippines, to October 15, 2011; 

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USA: January Visa Bulletin Update

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USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action under the State Department’s January Visa Bulletin.

Employment-Based Priority Date Cut-offs for January 2017

To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment application in January, employer-sponsored foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country.

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China: Unified Work Authorization Application Policy

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The State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs of China has released policy guidelines for the Unified Work Authorization Application.

The Unified Work authorization Application has been designed to attract highly-skilled foreign nationals, streamline the application process, increase transparency and improve data sharing schemes. Further implementation details for the three different categories of foreign applicants are expected to be released in the near future.

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US: CBP to launch electronic visa update system for non-immigrants

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Designated classes of non-immigrant visa holders will soon be required to enrol in the new Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) before travelling to the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced.

Foreign nationals travelling on a passport issued by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and a U.S. B-1/B-2, B-1 or B-2 visitor visa valid for 10 years will be the first group required to register for travel that takes place on or after November 29, 2016.

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China: Unified work authorisation application policy forthcoming

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A unified work authorization application policy will be piloted in Anhui, Beijing, Guangdong, Hebei, Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan and Tianjin Provinces and the Ning Xia Hui autonomous region starting October 2016, and will be applied nationwide after April 2017. The new system should streamline and simplify the work permit application process.

Currently, there are two separate application systems: the Foreign Expert Certificate application, handled by the Foreign Expert Bureau, and the Alien Work Permit application, handled by the Labor Bureau.

US: September Visa Bulletin

USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action according to the State Department’s September Visa Bulletin.

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China: Relaxed immigration rules and procedures implemented

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New immigration policies are being piloted in Guangdong Province that should make it easier for four main categories of foreign nationals to obtain Permanent Residence status and should simplify various application procedures, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Public Security. There are also plans to extend the visa-free policy from 72 hours to 144 hours.

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US: August 2016 Visa Bulletin

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According to the State Department’s August Visa Bulletin, cut-off dates for final issuance of an immigrant visa will be imposed for EB-1 India and China and for EB-2 Worldwide, as projected last month.  The cut-off dates for EB-1 India and China have been set at January 1, 2010, while the cut-off dates for EB-2 Worldwide have been set at February 1, 2014. According to the State Department, it was necessary to implement this retrogression given the high demand for classification in these categories.  It anticipates that these categories will be current again in October, the first month of fiscal year 2017.

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Israel/China: Reciprocal ten-year multiple-entry visa agreement signed

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The Israeli parliament has ratified a multiple-entry visa agreement with China under which Chinese business visitors and tourists can enter Israel multiple times with the same ten-year visa and vice versa. Until recently, both Israeli and Chinese tourists and business visitors had to obtain a single-entry visa for each trip. Visitors cannot conduct work under the visa, and may face penalties if they do.

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US: June Visa Bulletin update

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USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action according to the State Department’s June Visa Bulletin. 

Employer-sponsored foreign nationals with a priority date that makes them eligible for filing, but not final action, will not be able to submit an adjustment application next month

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USA: May 2016 Visa Bulletin

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According to the State Department’s May Visa Bulletin, there will be modest advancement in the cut-off dates for final issuance of an immigrant visa for EB-2 and EB-3 India next month, while the cut-off dates in these categories for China will remain mostly unchanged.  In the EB-2 category, the final action cut-off date for India will advance by two weeks, to November 22, 2008, while China will remain at September 1, 2012. 

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US: April Visa Bulletin update

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USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action according to the State Department’s April Visa Bulletin. 

Employer-sponsored foreign nationals with a priority date that makes them eligible for filing, but not final action, will not be able to submit an adjustment application next month.

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US: April 2016 Visa Bulletin

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According to the State Department’s April Visa Bulletin, the cut-off date for final issuance of an immigrant visa will advance by one month for EB-2 China, to September 1, 2012, and by three weeks for EB-2 India, to November 8, 2008. 

Final action cut-off dates for EB-3 professionals and skilled workers will advance by two and one-half months for China, to August 15, 2013; by three weeks for India, to August 8, 2004; by six weeks for the Philippines, to May 1, 2008; and by six weeks for all other countries, to February 15, 2016. Final action cut-off dates for EB-5 China, in both the Regional Center and non-Regional Center programs, will advance by one week, to February 1, 2014.

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Rental variations in China

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Many issues, legalities and paperwork differ in China from province to province. Housing rental prices are no exception, and vary greatly from 1st to 3rd tier cities, and the methods of rental and deposit payments also vary from city to city. Landlords and developers in some regions have different requirements when it comes to rental and deposit payments.

When assignees are relocating to China, they should be aware that the policies are not standardized, and below is an example of various cities with differing payment regulations.

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US: March visa bulletin update

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USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action according to the State Department’s March Visa Bulletin. 

Employer-sponsored foreign nationals with a priority date that makes them eligible for filing, but not final action, will not be able to submit an adjustment application next month, despite the State Department announcing significant advancements in the cutoff dates for filing eligibility.  

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US: March 2016 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India and China final action dates will advance again

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According to the State Department’s March Visa Bulletin, the cutoff date for final issuance of an immigrant visa will advance by five months for EB-2 China, to August 1, 2012, and by six weeks for EB-2 India, to October 15, 2008. 

Final action cut-off dates for EB-3 professionals and skilled workers will advance by eight months for China, to June 1, 2013; by one month for India, to July 15, 2004; by just over two months for the Philippines, to March 15, 2008; and by three months for all other countries, to January 1, 2016.  Final action cut-off dates for EB-5 China, in both the Regional Centre and non-Regional Centre programs, will advance by one week, to January 22, 2014.

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Asia: Lunar New Year to cause Government closures; travel delays

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Millions of people are expected to travel throughout East and South-East Asia during the Lunar New Year holiday season, which falls on February 8, 2016. Travel-related delays and government office and business interruptions will peak February 5-10, and could last longer in Taiwan and China, where the holiday will be celebrated through February 13.

To meet the travel demand, some airlines have increased flights, and railways have added additional trains. However, potential poor weather may exacerbate delays

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China: Relaxed immigration rules and procedures forthcoming for foreign nationals in Beijing

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New immigration policies that will be piloted starting March 1, 2016 should make it easier for four main categories of foreign nationals to obtain Permanent Residence status and should simplify various application procedures, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Public Security. There are also plans to extend the visa-free policy from 72 hours to 144 hours.

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UK: New visit visa for Chinese nationals

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A new two-year visit visa for Chinese nationals was launched on Monday 11th January.

The new visa will enable Chinese visitors to make multiple trips to the UK for a longer period, and will provide them with a better deal than the standard Schengen visitor visa, which is limited to 90 days maximum.

British visitors to China will benefit from the same visa arrangement, with the Chinese government reducing its two-year visitor visa fee to the equivalent of £85 and, for the first time, matching the UK’s offer of a 10-year visitor visa.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said: “The number of Chinese visitors to the UK is rising year on year and this visa will allow Chinese visitors to further take advantage of the opportunities the UK has to offer for both tourism and business purposes.”

The new visa will cost £85, the same as the existing six month visitor visa.