Fragomen Immigration Update: May 6 - 12, 2016
May 13, 2016
In United States immigration news this week, the cutoff dates for final issuance of an immigrant visa will retrogress by more than four years for EB-2 India and 20 months for EB-2 China, according to the State Department’s June Visa Bulletin. EB-3 will retrogress by more than three years and seven months for China, but will advance modestly for India and the Philippines. EB-5 will advance by one week for China.
In Canada, the 2016 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program quota has been met for several streams, and therefore intake for some high-volume streams has been suspended for the year. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's selection process for the 33rd Express Entry draw continues to indicate flexibility.
In Israel, sponsor affidavits are now required with each employee's individual B-1 work permit application. In Bahrain, employers can now apply for work permits even if they cannot comply with the relevant Bahrainization rate; however, they must pay an additional government fee during the application process.
Employers in the United Arab Emirates must provide health insurance coverage to all residents and visitors by June 30, 2016 or incur fines and other penalties.
The European Commission has proposed removing the tourist and business visa requirement for Turkish nationals traveling to EU member states and associated Schengen states, except for Ireland and the United Kingdom.
In Mozambique, minimum wages were increased in many key sectors.
These items and other news from Australia, the Dominican Republic, Israel and the United States follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.
Important Updates in Immigration This Week
United States, May 6, 2016
June 2016 Visa Bulletin: Significant Retrogression for EB-2 China and India, EB-3 China
In June, the cutoff dates for final issuance of an immigrant visa will retrogress by more than four years for EB-2 India and 20 months for EB-2 China. EB-3 will retrogress by more than three years and seven months for China, but will advance modestly for India and the Philippines. EB-5 will advance by one week for China.
To view entire article, click here.
Israel, May 12, 2016
Individual Sponsor Affidavit Now Required for Each Employee
The Semech affidavit - a document provided by the sponsoring company containing the company's legal obligations toward the foreign employee and Israel - must now be provided and signed with each employee's individual B-1 work permit application, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Interior.
To view entire article, click here.
United Arab Emirates, May 11, 2016
Health Insurance Coverage to be Mandatory in Dubai
Employers in the Emirate of Dubai must provide health insurance coverage to all residents and visitors by June 30, 2016. Noncompliance with the regulation may result in fines and other penalties.
To view entire article, click here.
Dominican Republic, May 11, 2016
New Policy Streamlines Residence Permit Process
Foreign nationals seeking to obtain or renew a Temporary Residence or Investor's Residence permit can now provide proof of repatriation insurance instead of a series of documents required for each process.
To view entire article, click here.
Canada, May 11, 2016
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Quota Met for Some Streams
The 2016 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) quota has been met for several streams, and therefore intake for some high-volume streams such as the Employer Pre-screen, International Student - Masters Graduate stream and International Student - PhD Graduate stream, has been suspended for the year. Lower-volume streams of the OINP and other options continue to be available. It is expected that the province will reopen the OINP application period in the fall, once the 2017 nomination allocation is received.
To view entire article, click here.
Israel, May 10, 2016
Government Offices Closed on May 12
Israeli government offices will be closed on May 12 for Israeli Independence Day. Work permits and visa applications will not be adjudicated in Israel and Israeli consular posts abroad may suspend their operations or conduct limited processing that day.
To view entire article, click here.
Bahrain, May 10, 2016
Employers Noncompliant With Bahrainization Can Now Apply for Work Permits
Employers that do not comply with the relevant Bahrainization rate can now apply for work permits for foreign nationals, provided that they pay an additional government fee. In April 2017, this option is also expected to become available for employers that do not meet Bahrainization rates but that seek to renew work permits.
To view entire article, click here.
Canada, May 6, 2016
Latest Express Entry Selection Shows Ongoing Flexibility
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will invite 799 candidates to apply for permanent residence in its most recent Express Entry draw, which ends tomorrow. The minimum score required to be invited to apply for permanent residence was increased in this round of invitation and subsequently, the number of candidates receiving those invitations has dropped from that seen in recent rounds of invitation.
To view entire article, click here.
European Union/Turkey, May 6, 2016
Proposal Would Exempt Turkish Nationals from Schengen Visa Requirement
The European Commission has proposed to remove the tourist and business visa requirement for Turkish nationals traveling to EU member states and associated Schengen states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) except for Ireland and the United Kingdom. Until the proposal is approved, Turkish nationals will require Schengen visas. If the proposal is approved, Turkey is expected to remove visa restrictions for nationals of EU member states and associated Schengen states.
To view entire article, click here.
Mozambique, May 6, 2016
Minimum Wage Levels Increased
Minimum wages were increased between 3.6% and 12.5% in many key sectors on April 1, 2016, and are effective immediately and retrospectively.
To view entire article, click here.
Other Immigration News This Week
United States: USCIS Updates H-2B Cap Count – USCIS reports that as of May 9, 2016, it had received filings on behalf of 36,150 H-2B beneficiaries for the second half of FY 2016. Of these, 31,637 had been approved and 4,513 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.
Australia: Work and Holiday Visa Introduced for Israeli Nationals – Israeli nationals between the ages of 18 to 30 with secondary school qualifications and who have completed military service or are legally exempt from military service will be able to travel to Australia for up to one year, as part of a new Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462 visa) agreement between Australia and Israel. The visa allows work for any one employer for up to six months. Interested applicants should contact their immigration professional to discuss application options.
Global Immigration News Links
Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.) unveiled a bill that would ban religious discrimination in the context of immigration.
According to the Office for National Statistics, UK’s immigration statistics gap—the growing gap between headline official immigration statistics and the number of people arriving in the UK registering for National Insurance numbers, which are necessary to work and receive benefits in the UK—is largely due to a rise in the numbers of short-term migrants, the Wall Street Journal reports.
In the run up to the upcoming EU referendum, voters share their views on whether the UK should leave or remain with the EU.
British travelers heading for the United States are now required to possess a modern electronic passport.
A Paris museum puts immigration back into French history, in an effort to provide education about immigrant communities that migrated to France and to integrate their histories into the national conversation.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
