Fragomen Immigration Update: July 18 - 25, 2014

In U.S. immigration news, U.S. visa applicants may experience delays obtaining visa stamps in their passports, due to a State Department consular system outage reported late Wednesday. Though the agency is working to bring the system back online as soon as possible, delays could be prolonged if the outage persists. 

In Norway, the minimum salary thresholds for new and renewal Residence and Work Permit applicants have increased slightly. 

Employers in Kazakhstan who plan to submit quota allocation applications for 2015 must do so by September 1, 2014. Each year, Kazakh employers are encouraged — but are not required — to file a report outlining their need for foreign workers during the following year. 

Australia no longer requires all foreign nationals engaged in offshore resources activities to hold work visas. 

Government offices in the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia are expected to close for Eid-al-Fitr around July 28, depending on lunar sightings. 

These items and other news from Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru 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

United States, July 24, 2014

U.S. Visa Issuance Delays Possible Worldwide Due to State Department System Outage

U.S. visa applicants could experience delays due to a State Department consular system outage that was reported late Wednesday. The outage means that U.S. consulates worldwide are unable to complete visa stamping in the passports of applicants. Though the agency is working to bring the system back online today, delays could be prolonged if the outage persists.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Norway, July 24, 2014

Minimum Salary Increases for Non-EU Workers

The minimum salary threshold for new and renewal Residence and Work Permit applicants with bachelor’s degrees has increased to NOK 380,300 per year, provided no industry-specific collective bargaining agreement applies, effective July 1, 2014. The annual salary threshold for those holding a master’s degree is NOK 409,700.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Worldwide, July 24, 2014

Immigration Offices Will Close Across the Middle East, North Africa and Parts of Asia for Eid-al-Fitr

Government offices in the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia are expected to close for the holiday around July 28, depending on lunar sightings.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Australia, July 22, 2014

Offshore Workers Are Again Exempt from Standard Work Authorization Requirements

Foreign nationals engaging in offshore resource activities are no longer required to hold a visa granting employment authorization, unless engaging in activities involving an Australian resources installation that is fixed to the Australian seabed, such as a traditional oil rig.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Kazakhstan, July 22, 2014

2015 Quota Allocation Applications Due by September 1

Employers are not required to file quota allocation applications but are encouraged to do so because it may give them priority access to additional quota numbers at the end of the year. Quota allocation applications are strongly advised for employers that sponsor more than ten work permits per year.

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 July 18, 2014, it had received filings on behalf of 26,015 H-2B beneficiaries for the second half of FY 2014. Of these, 24,769 had been approved and 1,246 remained pending. For employment in the first half of FY 2015, the agency had received filings on behalf of 437 beneficiaries. 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. 

Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru: Reciprocal Working Holiday Visa Program Announced – Under a recently announced working holiday program, nationals of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru between the ages of 18 to 30 will be eligible for visas that will allow them to travel and work in these Pacific Alliance member states for up to one year. Each country will issue no more than 300 working holiday visas per year. Individual travelers will be limited to a single working holiday visa per country. None of the four countries have announced implementation plans, and the visas are not expected to become available for several months.

 

Global Immigration News Links 

• With only days left before Congress begins its five-week recess, it remains unclear whether Democrats and Republicans can agree on a plan to address the surge in migrant children. U.S. officials are suggesting that the country is nearing a point of implosion, as U.S. immigration courts have a backlog of over 370,000 cases, with some hearing dates as far off as 2018.
• Despite the sheer number of migrant children crossing the border, overall, the number of immigrants caught crossing the border remains at near historic low levels.
• Earlier this week, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed SB 1310, aimed at reducing deportations of noncitizens who are legal residents and cutting the maximum possible misdemeanor sentence in the state.
• Indian industry representatives called on the UK to examine its visa system to make movement easier for greater economic cooperation between both countries.
• Tory ministers call a report on UK immigration too pro-European, as it concludes the influx of EU migrants has had a largely positive effect, and cites evidence suggesting they are less likely to use benefits than Britons.
• The British government's 2010 pledge to reduce net migration has resulted in a slowdown in the immigration rate of highly skilled workers, which the Financial Times columnist calls counterproductive to other government goals, such as making the UK home to the world’s "the best and brightest."
• France is proposing immigration reforms that include increasing the maximum validity period of residence permits to four years, provided applicants pass civics and language tests, and a new visa category for skilled workers.

 

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