Canada: Potential express entry reforms and expedited work permit processing option announced
At an event hosted by the Toronto Board of Trade and the Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy on May 24, 2016 to address Canada’s immigration policies and regulations from an economic standpoint, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Hon. John McCallum, announced potential immigration policy changes. A House of Commons committee is reviewing the existing temporary and permanent worker programs and the government plans to use the Committee’s recommendations to create policies that increase the number of economic immigrants and ensure national competitiveness.
Nehterlands: Minimum salary and Government filing fees to increase
Starting January 1, 2016, non-EEA nationals applying for work and/or residence authorization will be subject to higher minimum salary levels.
Knowledge Migrant Salary Threshold
Highly-skilled Knowledge Migrants will be subject to new minimum gross monthly salary requirements as follows (excluding holiday pay):
- Applicants over 30: EUR 4,240 (approximately USD 4,671), up from EUR 4,189
- Applicants under 30: EUR 3,108 (approximately USD 3,424), up from EUR 3,071.
- Applicants who are foreign graduates of a Dutch institution of higher education or foreign graduates taking advantage of the one-year search period to secure employment: EUR 2,228 (approximately USD 2,454), up from EUR 2,201.
Israel: Stricter regulations imposed for foreign workers and experts
A new regulation imposes stricter documentary and salary payment requirements for foreign experts, and process and entry changes for work visa applicants. The following are descriptions of key changes:
Foreign Experts
The regulation distinguishes between expert activities that require academic qualifications, and those that do not. For those who do not require an academic education, the employer must:
Malysia: Employers must submit 2016 Employment Pass projections
Employers registered with the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) and the Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (MDeC) should submit their Employment Pass (EP) projections for 2016 as soon as possible, for both initial and renewal EP applications.
Employers should note that:
- There may be processing delays due to holiday closures and the expected high volume of projection applications.
- All approved projection numbers granted in 2015 will no longer be valid in 2016, even if there are unused numbers left.
Kuwait: Dependants’ residency renewal limited to sponsor’s residency validity
Director of the Interior Ministry’s Residency Affairs Department Major General Talal Maarafi stressed that starting from January 10, 2016, the renewal validity of expatriates dependants’ residency visa (article 22) would be tied to the validity of those of their own sponsors. “This means that if an expat’s residency is valid for one year, he can only renew those of his wife or kids for a single year,” he explained
China: Work permit sponsors subject to new online pre-approval requirement in Beijing
Russia: Restrictions on Turkish workers and visitors forthcoming
Employers in Russia will not be able to employ Turkish nationals starting January 1, 2016. This ban will not apply to Turkish nationals already working in Russia on the basis of labour and civil agreements with Russian employers.
It is not yet clear if employers will be able to file work permit extensions for Turkish nationals already working in Russia.
Also on or after January 1, 2016, Turkish nationals will no longer be visa exempt for tourism or business purposes, except diplomats and those with residence permits.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Employers in Russia with Turkish nationals or those who seek to employ Turkish nationals should contact their immigration professional to discuss alternative options once the ban is in place.
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.
Italy: New residence permit format with digital microchip now available
Italy has begun to issue residence permits in a new format containing a microchip that stores the holder’s picture and fingerprint data, in accordance with a 2008 EU regulation requiring member countries to implement a card that meets uniform guidelines.
The microchip, which is not visible on the outside of the card, allows Italian and European police to instantly view and compare the card holders’ information with police and immigration databases.
Belgium: New minimum salary levels announced for Brussels and Flemish regions
Effective January 1, 2016, the minimum base salary for several work permit categories will increase. Regional authorities for Brussels and Flanders have provided unofficial salary figures for 2016, but authorities for Wallonia have yet to do so. Until the 2016 salary thresholds are published officially, they remain subject to change.
Mongolia: Change to entry requirements
Until 31 December 2015 you can visit Mongolia for tourist and business purposes for 30 days without a visa. This is applicable to visits beginning before 31 December and extending into January.
From 1 January 2016 you ’ll need a visa to enter Mongolia. A Mongolian visit visa is usually valid for a stay of up to 30 days within six months from the date of issue. You can extend your visa up to 30 days once within six months. Full details can be found at Immigration of Mongolia.
New UK passport design launched
The Home Office has unveiled the latest design for UK passports, the theme of which is ‘Creative United Kingdom’.
Passport designs are updated every five years, and this latest version features British cultural icons including Shakespeare, Charles Babbage, and Anish Kapoor as well as landmark structures like the Angel of the North and the Titanic Belfast.
The new passport contains new security features and uses advanced printing technology, making it the most secure passport ever produced in the UK.
Her Majesty’s Passport Office Director General, Mark Thomson, said: “Not only are we constantly striving to stay one step ahead of those who seek to undermine the passport, but we have created a document that marks just some of the greatest creative achievements in the UK.”
The new passport will be rolled out in a phased approach with the first due to be in circulation from December 2015.
Australia: Changes to 457 visa program to take effect 1 December 2015
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has announced changes to the 457 program to strengthen work agreement and enterprise agreement requirements, and provide further clarification on existing 457 visa conditions. The changes will take effect from 1 December 2015.
From 1 December 2015, changes to the 457 visa regulations will be implemented to clarify and strengthen existing policy in relation to work agreements, enterprise agreements and some 457 visa conditions. These changes are largely a response to the negotiation and implementation of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA).
France: Restrictive border controls implemented
Due to the recent terror attacks and related state of emergency, France has put strict border controls into place until at least December 13, 2015, at train stations, air and seaports. Travellers should expect increased security at entry checkpoints. Issuance of visas and immigration documents could be delayed or suspended at the discretion of the French government.
Canada: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program quota exhausted
The quota for the regular stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) (which includes applicants with Master’s degrees and PhDs) has been exhausted for 2015, after Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) received 2,500 nominations. New applications and employer pre-screen applications under this stream will not be accepted until January 1, 2016.
Australia: New medical exam standards to delay visa processing times
Foreign nationals submitting Australian visa applications and those with pending applications where medical examinations have not been undertaken will be subject to new medical examination standards on or after November 20, 2015, according to announced changes by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Additionally, the streamlined health examination process for subclass 457 visa applicants will be eliminated on that date. Applicants will likely face longer visa processing times when the new requirements are implemented.
Australia: Changes to health requirements for all Australian visas to take effect on 20 November 2015
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has announced a number of changes to health requirements for Australian visa applications, to take effect from 20 November 2015. As part of the changes, a new health matrix will be issued determining who is required to undertake medical examinations. The changes will also abolish streamlined health processing arrangements for 457 visa applicants which can affect the processing times.
UK: Higher Tier 2 minimum salary part of proposed changes to immigration rules
The Home Office is considering proposed changes to the Immigration Rules that would affect applications submitted on or after November 19, 2015, including a minimum salary of GPB 35,000 for Tier 2 applicants applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), a new English language test for ILR and naturalization applicants and adding nurses and four digital technology jobs to the Tier 2 Shortage Occupation List.
Saudi Arabia: Expats to get new IDs when renewing Iqamas
The new identity cards to be issued for expatriates starting October 15 will not be compulsory for those whose current Iqamas (residence permits) have not yet expired, according to the director general of the Passports Department (Jawazat).
“The expatriates whose residence permits are still valid do not have to replace them with the new identity cards,” Maj. Gen. Solaiman Al-Yahya said.
He said the carriers of valid residence permits can continue to use them until the time for their renewal has come. The new ID will be valid for five years. It will be renewed online every year.