,

US: November 2016 Visa Bulletin

,

November 2016 Visa Bulletin: Modest Advancements for EB-2 India and China and EB-3 All Countries; Slight Advancement for EB-5 China

According to the State Department’s November Visa Bulletin, immigrant visa availability dates for final action in all categories will advance, with the greatest advances coming in the EB-2 category final action cut-offs for India and China. EB-2 India will advance by over nine and a half months, to November 1, 2007, and EB-2 China will advance by five months, to July 15, 2012. 

EB-3 for professionals and skilled workers shows movement across the board, with China advancing by three months, to April 15, 2013, Philippines by four months, to April 1, 2011, India by one week, to March 8, 2005, and all other countries by one month, to July 1, 2016.  EB-3 for other workers will advance by eight months for China, to September 1, 2005, four months for the Philippines, to April 1, 2011, one week for India, to March 8, 2005, and one month for all other countries, to July 1, 2016.

There will be no advancement in cut-off dates for eligibility to file an application for permanent residence in all backlogged employment categories.  In the coming days, USCIS is expected to announce on its own Visa Bulletin web page whether it will accept adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that makes them eligible to file in November.

FINAL ACTION CUT-OFF DATES FOR NOVEMBER 2016

EB-1

Current for all countries. 

EB-2

China: July 15, 2012
India: November 1, 2007
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

China: April 15, 2013
India: March 8, 2005
Philippines: April 1, 2011
All other countries: July 1, 2016

EB-3 Other Workers

China: September 1, 2005
India: March 8, 2005
Philippines: April 1, 2011
All other countries: July 1, 2016

EB-5

China: March 8, 2014
Current for all other countries.

FILING ELIGIBILITY CUT-OFF DATES - NOVEMBER 2016

EB-1

Current for all countries.

EB-2

China: March 1, 2013
India: April 22, 2009
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

China:  May 1, 2014
India: July 1, 2005
Philippines: September 1, 2013
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Other Workers

China: August 1, 2009
India: July 1, 2005
Philippines: September 1, 2013
All other countries: Current

EB-5

China: June 15, 2014
Current for all other countries and subcategories.

Blog
Balancing Cost in Global Mobility: Smart Cost Savings in a Difficult Time
Bag+packed+ready+to+do.jpg
How Coronavirus has affected Global Mobility
Hiring Domestic Staff in India
India, Culture, Customs
Hiring Domestic Staff in India
India, Culture, Customs

In India hiring domestic staff is a common practice but this may be an unusual experience for employees who have relocated. In this post, Preeti Roongta looks at the topic in more detail.

It’s very common in India to have domestic helpers to assist you in your daily housekeeping tasks. Domestic helpers can be hired for practically everything – driving, cooking, cleaning, laundry, washing up, babysitting etc. You name it - India has skilled people for the task.

Domestic staff arrangements

When employing domestic staff in India, there is some flexibility based on the number of hours of work required each day:

India, Culture, Customs
Do I Need to Register When Working in India?
India, Immigration, Global Mobility
Do I Need to Register When Working in India?
India, Immigration, Global Mobility

Foreign nationals who wish to reside long-term in India (typically longer than 180 days) are required to visit the FRRO (Foreign Regional Registration Office) within 14 days of their arrival in India.

The FRRO's role includes issuing residence permits, visa conversions, and addressing matters related to visa extensions related to non-nationals. In short, FRRO deals with all the legal formalities that need to be completed by those intending to stay long term.

Indian bureaucracy has a reputation for being lengthy and onerous but automation and IT are being deployed to ease these issues. However, for relocating employees and their HR teams…

India, Immigration, Global Mobility
India, New Market Entry
Should Your Business Expand Into India?
India, New Market Entry

You may have read our recent post about India as a potential destination for businesses considering expanding overseas. If not, you can read it here.

And who should make front page news this week by setting up business in India? None other than global brand and the world's largest furniture retailer, IKEA.

The Hyderabad store is IKEA's first opening in India, followed by plans to open shops in all major cities over the coming years, with sites already purchased in Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi.

IKEA's global chief executive Jesper Brodin said, "The market of India for us is a dream."

India, New Market Entry
India: Business Expansion Destination?
India, New Market Entry
India: Business Expansion Destination?
India, New Market Entry

India is fast becoming an attractive destination for foreign investments.

The Indian Government has taken huge steps to ease the regulatory environment for foreign investment, catapulting India into the position of one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

It has been ranked among the top attractive destinations for inbound investments in the world, according to Ernst and Young.

So, what has India got that is so attractive to foreign businesses?

India, New Market Entry
Inside Advice For Expats
Assignments, Global Mobility
Inside Advice For Expats
Assignments, Global Mobility

You have made your decision: you are going to work abroad. You are becoming an expat. For a year, two years, maybe even five years. On the one hand, you are (probably) looking forward to this new and exciting opportunity. On the other hand, there is so much to take care of before you can actually relocate. Are you well prepared? And how do you know if you have taken everything into account before moving? 

Assignments, Global Mobility
What You Need to Know Before You Relocate to India
Relocation, Culture, Global Mobility, India
What You Need to Know Before You Relocate to India
Relocation, Culture, Global Mobility, India

India isn't just a country - it is an experience that may well overwhelm your senses if you are not prepared. To help mitigate culture shock and to help you make the most of your time in India, here are some great practical tips you should know before you move there, courtesy of Preeti Roongta.

1. Local Registration

If you plan to stay in India for more than 180 consecutive days, you are required to register at the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within the first 14 days of your arrival.

Relocation, Culture, Global Mobility, India
The Ultimate Guide to Stamp Duty for Tenants in the UK
Housing, Property, Renting, Tax, UK
The Ultimate Guide to Stamp Duty for Tenants in the UK
Housing, Property, Renting, Tax, UK

Do You Have to Pay Tax?

When renting a residential property in the UK, the tenant must pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) if the rent is over a certain rental amount in England and Northern Ireland, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) in Scotland, or Land Transaction Tax (LTT) in Wales (as of 1st April 2018).

The value thresholds are £125,000 in England and Northern Ireland, £145,000 in Scotland, and £180,000 in Wales (as of 1st April 2018).

Housing, Property, Renting, Tax, UK
The Tax Rules You Need to Know When Relocating Employees to the UK
Tax, UK, Finance
The Tax Rules You Need to Know When Relocating Employees to the UK
Tax, UK, Finance

Are you relocating employees to the UK? Here we try to make the subject of relocation taxation a little clearer for you to understand.

If your organisation is considering relocating an employee to the UK or is already contributing towards employee relocation costs, the organisation will incur certain tax, National Insurance and reporting obligations, so you need to be aware of which relocation costs incur tax and what needs to be reported to HMRC. 

Tax, UK, Finance

Oliver Hague