Taiwan

US: FY 2018 Diversity Visa lottery registration opens October 4

The State Department will begin accepting online registrations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery starting Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at noon EDT.

Foreign nationals who wish to enter the lottery have until Monday, November 7, 2016 at noon EST to file online.

The DV lottery program makes 50,000 green card numbers available each year through random selection. FY 2018 lottery results will be announced in May 2017. Foreign nationals selected in the FY 2018 lottery can submit their green card applications starting on October 1, 2017.

UK: Registered Traveller service expanded

The Home Office has announced the expansion of the Registered Traveller service to eligible foreign nationals from Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Additionally, Registered Traveller members will be able to use ePassport Gates and EU/UK lanes at Bristol and Cardiff Airports in the coming months.  

Background

The Registered Traveller service was introduced in April 2015 to travellers from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States who hold a UK visa or have visited the United Kingdom at least four times in the previous two years.

Applications are submitted online and once accepted, travellers with biometric passports can use ePassport Gates and EU/UK lanes at Eurostar terminals at Paris, Brussels and Lille and the following airports

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

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

Taiwan: Eased qualifications and criteria proposed for skilled foreign workers

As a follow-up to its plans to introduce a new points system last year, the Ministry of Labor (MOL) has proposed to ease the qualifications and criteria for hiring foreign nationals to provide more options for sponsors to recruit qualified white-collar foreign workers.

Employers would be able to utilize the proposed or existing application scheme when applying for a work permit, depending on the worker’s qualifications and technical skills.

Taiwan: Electronic visa application system launched

Visa Information

The eVisa offers an unextendable 30-day single-entry stay. Aside from tourism and business visitors, eligible visiting relatives and international conference or sporting event attendees can also utilize the eVisa system.  The eVisa is expected to be processed within one to two days.

The eVisa may not be used for Alien Resident Certificate applicants in Taiwan.

Taiwan: Mandatory online work permit application system to open January 2016

Employers applying for work permits through the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) must set up an account online and use a mandatory online work permit application system starting January 2016. Hard copies will still be accepted during a transitional period until further notice from the WDA. 

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Employers should contact their immigration professional to provide an access code to allow them to act as an authorized agent. 

The user manual for the new system is available here.

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.

Taiwan: Eased requirements for foreign workers and students

A new points system effective January 1, 2016 aimed at retaining foreign workers, executives and students will remove restrictions and ease work experience requirements that are currently in place.

USA: Reminder: FY 2017 Diversity Visa lottery registration ends November 3

Registration for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery ends on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at noon EST. Foreign nationals who wish to register for the FY 2017 DV lottery must submit their online registration forms and accompanying digital photographs by that time. Applicants must carefully follow the State Department’s official lottery instructions to avoid having their registrations disqualified.