The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) has introduced a new electronic system for submission of visa applications which requires the foreign employee to appear at one of approximately 600 approved typing centers in Dubai, but eliminates the need for multiple appearances at a GDRFA branch. Most entry permits for visitors and residents will be issued electronically and emailed to the applicant, allowing the foreign national to carry the emailed copy instead of the original entry permit.
Dominican Republic: Business visitors and tourists subject to exit fee for extended stays
Holders of single-entry (NS) and multiple-entry (NM) business visas, the Business Visa for Employment Purposes (NM1) and tourists who extend their stays beyond 30 days are now subject to an exit fee at the port of exit when departing the Dominican Republic. Residence Permit holders are exempt from the exit fee.
France: New immigration law expected late 2016
A new law is expected to reorganize and create new work permit categories, create a work permit exemption for eligible foreign workers on assignments under three months and consolidate residence permit options. The implementation date of the new provisions is expected to be announced in November 2016, along with related process and documentary requirement changes.
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.
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.
Georgia: Stricter residence permit requirements to be implemented for employers
Employers with foreign workers who require residence permits must comply with new rules regarding employment contracts and general employment terms starting November 1, 2015, according to a recently published regulation.
The regulation states that employment contracts must be written in a language that is understood by the foreign national and translated into Georgian, and must contain the foreign worker’s full name, identification or residence permit number and local address. Lastly, the contract must state that it is governed by Georgian law and entered into only with foreign nationals legally in Georgia.
Turkey: Delays continue on dependents’ online residence permit appointment system
Foreign nationals in Istanbul attempting to book initial residence permit appointments for their dependents on the Istanbul Migration Directorate website are continuing to face delays.
Currently, dependents filing initial residence permit applications should expect a three-month processing delay and appointments for application submission are not available until the end of January.
There is not an expected resolution date for the online delays.
What This Means for Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals in Istanbul attempting to book initial residence permit appointments for their dependents are advised to apply far in advance of the principal applicant’s start date and to expect delays on the online system.
Significant visa, work & residence permit processing delays in Germany
While the German government deploys resources to aid increasing numbers of asylum seekers, foreign nationals with pending immigration appointments, pending applications filed with immigration offices, pending family reunion visas and work visa applications that require immigration office approval in Germany may experience delays up to several weeks.
Visa-exempt nationals, such as those from Australia, Israel and the United States, who can apply for a work and residence permit in Germany without an entry visa, should consider applying abroad for an entry work visa, which can be converted into a work permit after arrival in Germany. This way, the foreign national will not need to attend an appointment immediately upon arrival in Germany and will be able to work immediately upon arrival.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Employers and foreign nationals should account for significant processing and appointment delays in Germany, which could delay start dates and travel plans.
Courtesy of Fragomen.