Fragomen Immigration Update: November 20 - 24, 2015

In United States immigration news this week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services proposed guidance on job changes for employment-based adjustment applicants. The guidance broadly recognizes that these foreign nationals should be able to advance in their careers or move to new jobs in the same or a related field without the need for a new labor certification or Form I-140 immigrant petition.

In other United States news, the State Department will discontinue the option to add pages to a U.S. passport on December 31. After that date, frequent international travelers must apply for a new passport if they need additional space for visa and entry/exit stamps.

In Germany, third-country nationals applying for work authorization under the EU Blue Card program will be subject to higher minimum salary levels starting January 1, 2016. Belgium is expected to increase the minimum salary for several work permit categories as of January 2016. In Ireland, foreign nationals filing re-entry visa applications in person in Dublin must now book an appointment online and can no longer walk in without an appointment.

Third-country students and researchers in the European Union could benefit from streamlined travel rules and longer stays. If the rules are approved, EU member states would have two years to apply the new provisions.

 

Important Updates in Immigration This Week

United States, November 23, 2015

USCIS Proposes Guidance on Job Changes By Employment-Based Adjustment Applicants

The draft guidance indicates that USCIS will generally rely on SOC codes to determine whether two jobs are similar, but also recognizes that adjustment applicants should be able to advance in their careers and move to related jobs without the need for a new labor certification or immigrant petition. The guidance could also mean that job changes may be scrutinized more closely than in the past.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, November 20, 2015

State Department to Discontinue Option to Add Pages to U.S. Passports

Beginning January 1, 2016, frequent international travelers will no longer be able to add visa pages to their U.S. passports. Instead, they must apply for a new passport if they need additional space for visa and entry/exit stamps. Travelers have through December 31, 2015 to obtain extra pages in an existing U.S. passport. 

To view entire article, click here.

 

Belgium, November 24, 2015

New Minimum Salary Levels Announced for Brussels and Flemish Regions

Effective January 1, 2016, the minimum base salary for highly skilled foreign workers applying for Type “B” work permits is expected to increase to €39,824 annually, for senior management and foreign nationals in executive-level positions to €66,442 annually, and for Blue Card holders to €51,494. 

To view entire article, click here.

 

Germany, November 23, 2015

Blue Card Minimum Salary Increases on January 1

The minimum salary for non-EEA nationals applying for work authorization under the European Blue Card program will increase to €49,600, or to €38,688 if the applicant will work in a shortage occupation.

To view entire article, click here.

 

European Union, November 23, 2015

Students and Researchers to Benefit from Streamlined Travel Rules, Longer Stays

An informal agreement reached by the European Parliament would harmonize entry and residence rules for students and researchers from third-countries and facilitate cultural exchanges for non-EU interns, volunteers, school pupils and au pairs.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Ireland, November 20, 2015

In-Person Re-Entry Visa Applicants Must Use New Online Appointment System

Foreign nationals filing re-entry visa applications in person in Dublin must now book an appointment online and can no longer walk in without an appointment. This service replaces the previous queuing and ticketing system at the Re-entry Visa Public Office in Dublin. Due to the appointment system, Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) residency card applicants may have difficulty obtaining their GNIB card and re-entry visa on the same day.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Global Immigration News Links

The Obama Administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the appeals court’s ruling that blocked President Obama’s executive action providing relief to undocumented immigrants. Texas’ Attorney General, however, followed suit with a 30-day extension to file a reply brief, which, if accepted by the Supreme Court, could mean that justices might only hear the case next term, and possibly only decide it after the presidential election.

Switzerland’s right-wing Swiss People’s Party might be ready to compromise on immigration quotas adopted in a referendum last year, Reuters reports.

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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