Fragomen Immigration Update: December 4 - 11, 2014

This week in United States immigration news, the State Department issued the January Visa Bulletin, which announced that the immigrant visa cut-off for the EB-3 category will advance by nine months for China, to March 1, 2011, and seven months for most other countries, to June 1, 2013. In H-1B news, employers are beginning to prepare for the FY 2016 H-1B cap filing season, which will open on Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Though April 1 is several months away, it is not too early for organizations to begin assessing their H-1B needs and making initial preparations for filing.

Russia will be soon implement new work permit rules and changes to the Highly Qualified Specialist visa program. In Italy, foreign nationals who fail to register at their local police headquarters may incur fines.

Effective January 1, 2015, employers of foreign nationals assigned to projects in Austria will see new regulatory provisions, which affect minimum salary compliance and KIAB declarations for EU/EEC/Swiss-based employers.

Saudi Arabia is increasing the percentage of Saudi workers that certain organizations – including large IT companies and financial institutions – must employ, and is subjecting more industries to the requirement. In the United Arab Emirates, the TECOM Freezone has launched a mandatory online portal for immigration services.

These items and other news from Australia, India, Russia, South Africa, Turkey 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.

^{© 2009 - 2015 © Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.}