Fragomen Immigration Update: August 18 - 22, 2014

This week in immigration news, Russian citizens are now required to notify the Russian government when they obtain overseas permanent residence or citizenship. The government has released standard forms and clarified filing deadlines for the new requirement, which took effect August 4. 

In Singapore, companies may no longer apply to transfer employment pass holders to subsidiary companies in Singapore as part of a secondment or due to career progression. The sponsoring subsidiary must apply for new employment passes for affected employees. 

These items and other news from Israel, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and the United States follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update. 

Remember that the Immigration Update is available through both e-mail and Web version by clicking on "View as Web Page" above.

 

Important Updates in Immigration This Week

Israel/United States, August 21, 2014

Reciprocal Investor Visa Programs One Step Closer to Implementation

Israel has approved the creation of a new temporary investor visa category for U.S. citizens, and is expected to begin accepting applications for the visa in the near future. After that occurs, the United States is expected to begin accepting E-2 visa applications from Israeli investors.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Singapore, August 19, 2014

Requests to Transfer Employment Pass Holders to Subsidiaries No Longer Permitted

Companies may no longer apply to transfer employment pass holders to subsidiary companies in Singapore as part of a secondment or due to career progression. Instead, the sponsoring subsidiary must apply for new employment passes for these employees.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Russia, August 18, 2014

Notification Requirements for Russian Citizens Abroad: What Individuals Need to Know

New notification requirements for Russian citizens obtaining a permanent residence permit or citizenship overseas took effect on August 4. Russian authorities have released standard forms and clarified filing deadlines for the new requirement.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Other Immigration News This Week

United States: USCIS Updates H-2B Cap Count – USCIS continues to accept H-2B petitions for employment start dates in the second half of FY 2014. The agency reports that as of August 20, 2014, it had received filings on behalf of 27,022 H-2B beneficiaries for the second half of FY 2014. Of these, 25,781 had been approved and 1,241 remained pending. For employment in the first half of FY 2015, the agency had received filings on behalf of 2,879 beneficiaries. Of these, 1,640 had been approved and 1,239 remained pending. The cap for each half-year is 33,000, but USCIS accepts filings in excess of the cap because some cases will be denied or withdrawn and because employers may ultimately employ fewer H-2B beneficiaries than reflected in their petitions. 

Israel: Foreign Same-Sex Spouses Now Eligible for Derivative Citizenship Benefits – Foreign same-sex spouses of Jews obtaining Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return are also entitled to receive citizenship, effective immediately. Israel’s Law of Return provides an immediate naturalization process for eligible individuals with Jewish ancestry and their spouses. Before now, only opposite-sex spouses could obtain derivative citizenship under these circumstances. Fragomen worked closely with Kan-Tor & Acco to prepare this update. 

Philippines: New Limited Work Permit Available for Volunteers Sponsored by Foreign Governments – Foreign government-sponsored volunteers who are commissioned for cross-cultural, artistic and educational exchanges may now be issued a Limited Permit to Work (LPW) that will be valid from three months to one year. Applicants must submit evidence of an inter-country agreement in which the Philippines is a co-signatory and a Memorandum of Understanding between a local sponsor and a local government unit in the Philippines, among other supporting documents, and pay a P3,620 processing fee, unless the fee is waived under the relevant agreement. A LPW cannot be converted to any other immigration status.

Saudi Arabia: Visa Extension Restrictions Lifted for Accompanying Family Members; New Online Filing Service for Extensions – Holders of family visit visas are again permitted to renew their visas and extend their stays from within Saudi Arabia. Family visit visa holders had been unable to extend their visas since temporary restrictions were implemented on July 1. In addition, family visit visa holders may now extend their visit visas electronically using Absher, the Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior’s online services portal. 

Saudi consular posts are also no longer limiting the number of new family, commercial, and work visit visas they will issue.

 

Global Immigration News Links

• The Wall Street Journal reports that the Obama administration is considering initiatives aimed at helping businesses as part of a broader review of immigration procedures that would also likely provide new protections for undocumented and documented immigrants.
• The New York Times’ Editorial Board discusses the issues facing homeland security in managing its enforcement policies on immigration across its various agencies.
• An editorial in Australia’s The Age argues that immigration does not have a detrimental effect on the Australian job market, as only 50% of new arrivals are placed in new jobs. Reports also show that many subclass 457 visa holders help train Australian workers within firms.
• The Kenyan government has appointed retired Major-General Gordon Kihalangwa to be the country's new Director of Immigration. The appointment of Kihalangwa, who long served in the Kenyan military, is expected to help enhance border and internal security. He replaces Acting Director Jane Waikenda, who has been named the Deputy Ambassador at the Kenyan High Commission in South Africa.

 

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