Fragomen Immigration Update: June 25 - July 1, 2015
July 2, 2015
In United States immigration news this week, the State Department confirmed that U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide have resumed scheduling interviews and issuing visas in the wake of a system outage that halted visa processing from June 9 to 19. The State Department continues to work through backlogged cases and expects its system to be fully functional by next week.
New Zealand has implemented an online work, business and student visa application system that allows foreign nationals or certain representatives to apply for a visa, pay visa fees fee and upload supporting documentation online.
These items and other news from Belgium, the European Union, Greece, Guatemala, Mozambique, Norway and the United Kingdom follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.
Important Updates in Immigration This Week
United States, July 2, 2015
State Department System Expected To Be Fully Functional By Early Next Week
All U.S. embassies and consulates have resumed scheduling visa interviews and issuing visas. Although the State Department has cleared most of the processing backlog, some visa applications remain stalled because they cannot be accessed in the system, a problem the agency expects to resolve by next week.
To view entire article, click here.
New Zealand, July 1, 2015
Online Visa Application System Launched
Business, work or student visa applicants can now use an online system called Immigration ONLINE to apply and pay for visas. Users of the online system should also see faster processing times than those submitting paper applications. Foreign nationals traveling with dependents must still submit paper applications.
To view entire article, click here.
Other Immigration News This Week
Belgium/European Union/United Kingdom: Chinese Nationals to See Simplified Schengen/UK Visa Process – Chinese nationals traveling to Belgium as their main destination as well as the UK can now apply for a UK visa and a Schengen visa with one visit to a UK visa application center (VAC), instead of having to apply separately for a UK visa since the UK is not a Schengen country. Chinese nationals will be able to apply online using one set of documents and schedule a British visa appointment in the same online process. The expected processing time for both visas is ten business days. This simplified process will be piloted starting July 1, 2015 at the Beijing and Shanghai VACs. Travelers with a Schengen visa can travel freely within any of the 25 other Schengen countries. Interested foreign nationals should contact their immigration professional to discuss the online application process.
Greece: Immigration Delays Possible in Coming Weeks – Foreign nationals and employers seeking immigration services in Greece may experience significant delays over the coming weeks since government offices, including the Ministry of Interior, may be slowed down due to the closure of banks and other public institutions. Affected foreign nationals and employers should contact their immigration professional to discuss alternative application routes, processing delay time frames, and potential effects on visa extension applications.
Guatemala: Work Permit Processing Delays Likely – Foreign nationals filing work permit applications, cancellations, amendments and renewals are likely to experience significant delays due to the recent replacement of the Minister of Labor and Social Security. Affected applicants should work with their employers to address possible delayed start dates.
Mozambique:Investment Visa Category Introduced – Foreign investors or legal representatives of a company with a pre-approved investment project of at least USD 50 million are eligible for new visa category called the Investment Activity Visa. This visa allows multiple entries and a total stay up to two years, with the possibility of extensions. Interested foreign nationals should contact their immigration professional to discuss details and application options.
Norway: Case Processing Delays Expected in Summer Months – Work permit and other immigration application case processing is expected to take 28 instead of 10 business days during the summer, according to an announcement on the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration's website. Foreign nationals should submit applications as soon as possible in order to avoid unnecessary delays, and should be prepared for delayed employment start dates.
Global Immigration News Links
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and eight other business immigration advocacy groups urged USCIS Director León Rodríguez to modify his agency’s recent draft guidance on H-1B worksite changes in the wake of the Matter of Simeio Solutions decision. The agency’s plan to require employers to file amendments retroactively will create “unnecessary costs and burdens,” the groups argue.
Two Fifth Circuit judges who upheld an injunction against the Obama Administration's planned expansion of deferred action for undocumented foreign nationals have been reappointed to hear arguments from the Justice Department and more than two dozen states when the Fifth Circuit takes up the broader legal case on July 10.
In the UK, landlords will face penalties for failing to monitor their tenants’ immigration status, as part of the right to rent requirements that will apply across the country.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
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