Work and residence permit applicants and those seeking related appointments are experiencing delays of up to several weeks due to a case backlog at the immigration authority. The delays will especially affect local hires, whose applications are processed by the Federal Employment Agency.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nations
Processing and appointment delays could delay start dates and travel plans for up to several weeks. Employers and foreign nationals should take this into account while planning assignments.
Employers should contact their immigration professional to start the work permit application process early to avoid unnecessary delays.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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Fragomen is recognized at the National Tier 1 level for Immigration Law in the 2026 edition of The Best Law Firms – United States, with 15 offices across the country also recognized for their excellence in immigration law.
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Fragomen receives Altair Global’s 2025 Super Star Award for Humanitarian Commitment, honoring the firm’s leadership in advancing humanitarian mobility initiatives.
Media mentions
Partner Rick Lamanna discusses Canada’s 2025 federal budget and its significant shift in immigration policy including new limits on international student permits and temporary residents.
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Fragomen is cited in the UK House of Lords’ landmark report, “The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out,” published on 4 November by the UK Engagement with Space Committee.
Blog post
Manager Zaur Gasimov discusses Georgia’s new immigration and labour-migration reforms introducing mandatory work permits, stricter employer compliance requirements and increased penalties for non-compliance.
Awards
Senior Associate Agata Danuta Richardson is recognized with a prestigious Pro Bono Publico Award by the Casa Cornelia Law Center.
Media mentions
Frankfurt Managing Partner Dr. Axel Boysen highlights the growing skilled labor gap as Europe’s defense industry expands.
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Senior Manager William Diaz outlines the US visa options available to the games industry for bringing international talent to the United States, including O-1, L-1 and E-2.
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