This week in immigration news, a revised Bilateral Security Agreement between the United States and Afghanistan brings stricter immigration requirements to foreign nationals in Afghanistan. U.S. contractors and their employees must present a valid passport and visa to enter and exit Afghanistan, and must obtain work permits in certain cases.
In India, Japanese nationals will receive Employment Visas and residence permits with the same validity period. Authorized representatives can now apply for visas and residence permits on behalf of Japanese nationals.
In the United Kingdom, foreign nationals who hold Tier 1 (General) status will no longer be allowed to apply for extensions of stay after April 5, 2015 due to the closure of the Tier 1 (General) program. Those seeking an extension had to ensure that they complied with financial holdings requirements by January 5, 2015.
In Azerbaijan, certain business visitors can now work for up to 90 days cumulatively per year without a work permit.
Effective March 16, foreign nationals approved for Singapore Employment Passes must await the online issuance of the Employment Pass and Notification Letter before they can commence work.
In Colombia, a new visa category called the TP-15 has been created for MERCOSUR nationals and their dependents, which will allow MERCOSUR dependents to be included as part of the MERCOSUR residence application.
These items and other news from Hong Kong, Malaysia 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.
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Blog post
Media mentions
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler outlines the key compliance considerations for employers with employees working across the EU.
Podcast
Associates Stephanie D. Weaver and Julia Manacher examine immigration issues emerging in a popular reality television series, including K-1 visa denials, consular non-reviewability, fraud findings and changing adjudication policies.
Blog post
Manager Dr. Adela Schmidt examines common misconceptions in German citizenship law, including birthright citizenship, dual citizenship, citizenship by descent and naturalization processing, and explains why eligibility often depends on specific legal requirements, timelines and documentation.
Awards
Partner Audrea Golding, Senior Associate Kyle Sommer and Senior Talent Development Director Wendy Milici have been named finalists in the 2026 TLC Lions Human Awards Americas, recognizing their contributions to human-centered leadership, workplace culture and inclusion.
Media mentions
Fragomen and SICPA have launched a global joint venture to develop an end-to-end digital identity platform that enables secure identity verification, document authentication and verifiable credential management.
Media mentions
Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses how potential changes to H-1B visas, employment-based green cards and OPT could impact employers’ workforce planning and compliance obligations.
Media mentions
In a Leaders in Motion interview with World Business Travel Forum, Partner Ali Haider and Nomadic CEO Carsten Østberg discuss recent travel and mobility developments across the Middle East and practical considerations for employers managing cross-border talent in the region.
Media mentions
Partner Rachel Beardsley explains how new DHS guidance clarifies that dairy employers may use the H-2A program when they can demonstrate a temporary or seasonal labor need.
Fragomen news
Fragomen and SICPA announced the formation of a global joint venture to advance next-generation digital identity solutions for governments, enterprises and individuals.
Blog post
Senior Associate Kyle Sommer and Adam Schwartz, Director in the Global Mobility practice at Andersen, discuss how immigration and tax considerations intersect across common US immigration classifications and why early coordination can help travelers, employers and advisors reduce compliance risks and make more informed mobility decisions.
