Fragomen Immigration Update: September 26 - October 3, 2014

In United States immigration news this week, the State Department began accepting online registrations for the Fiscal Year 2016 Diversity Visa lottery. Foreign nationals who wish to enter the lottery have until Monday, November 3, 2014 at noon EST to submit their online registration forms and accompanying digital photographs. 

In India, companies applying for new Employment Visas on behalf of foreign workers must provide the Indian sponsoring entity’s Employees Provident Fund Organization identification number on the application form, which will be used to verify the employer’s compliance with future social security payment obligations. 

In Kenya, foreign nationals with pending work permit applications are likely to experience processing delays of at least two weeks, due to an adjudication slowdown at the Department of Immigration Services. Applicants who need to work urgently may need to seek short-term work authorization. 

The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection is seeking input from industry leaders on how to improve the current structure and operation of Australia’s skilled migration and temporary visa programs. 

A new Uruguayan law will offer 30-day expedited processing of permanent residence permits for MERCOSUR nationals and certain relatives of Uruguayan nationals born abroad. 

These items and other news from the Czech Republic, South Africa 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, October 1, 2014

FY 2016 Diversity Visa Lottery Opens Today

From today, foreign nationals have until Monday, November 3, 2014 at noon EST to submit their online registration forms and accompanying digital photographs at the State Department’s official lottery website. Applicants must carefully follow the State Department’s official lottery instructions to avoid having their registrations disqualified.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Kenya, October 2, 2014

Delays in Final Adjudication of Pending Work Permit Applications

A slowdown in work permit processing at the Department of Immigration Services means that foreign nationals with pending applications are likely to see delays of two weeks or more. Applicants who need to work urgently may need to seek short-term work authorization.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Uruguay, October 2, 2014

Faster Permanent Residence Processing and Other Benefits for MERCOSUR Nationals, Relatives of Uruguayans

MERCOSUR nationals and relatives of Uruguayan nationals born abroad will see processing of permanent residence permits in 30 business days and automatic work authorization. MERCOSUR nationals may be able to apply for permanent residence without first residing in Uruguay.

To view entire article, click here.

 

India, September 29, 2014

Sponsor’s Social Security ID Number Now Required for Employment Visa Applications

Companies applying for Employment Visas on behalf of foreign workers must provide the Indian sponsoring entity’s Employees Provident Fund Organization identification number on the application form, which will be used to verify the employer’s compliance with future social security payment obligations.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Australia, September 26, 2014

Australian Government Calls for Suggestions to Simplify Skilled Migration and Temporary Visa Programs

The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection has released a discussion paper to gain input from industry leaders on how to improve the current structure and operation of Australia’s skilled migration and temporary visa programs. The paper indicates that the validity period of subclass 400 visas may be extended from three to six months.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Other Immigration News This Week

United States: Deferred Enforced Departure and Employment Authorization Extended for Eligible Liberians - On September 26, 2014, President Obama announced his decision to extend Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberian nationals from October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2016. Qualifying Liberian nationals will be able to remain in the United States and obtain employment authorization through that date.

USCIS will issue new employment authorization documents (EADs) with a September 30, 2016 expiration date to Liberians whose DED has been extended under the Presidential Memorandum and who apply for EADs by filing an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) under this extension. USCIS began accepting these applications on October 1, 2014. Because some DED-eligible Liberians may not receive a new EAD before their current EAD expires, USCIS is automatically extending the validity of DED-related EADs that have an expiration date of September 30, 2014 and bear the notation of "A-11" on the face of the card, for 6 months, through March 30, 2015. For Form I-9 employment eligibility verification purposes, through March 30, 2015, employers may accept a DED-related EAD with a September 30, 2014 expiration date, along with a copy of the most recent Federal Register notice extending DED for eligible Liberians.

Liberian nationals (and persons without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia) are eligible for DED if they are physically present in the United States; have continuously resided in the United States since October 1, 2002; are currently covered by DED through September 30, 2014, and are not subject to any bars to eligibility. 

Czech Republic: Fast-Track Visa and Work Permit Quota Almost Filled – Eighty percent of the Czech Republic’s Fast-Track visa and work permits for 2014 have been allocated, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has indicated. The Fast-Track program expedites visa and work permit applications for intracompany transferees on foreign payroll and nationals on local payroll, including intracompany transferees and local hires operating in a management or specialist capacity. All employers registered for Fast-Track will receive official statements from the Ministry of Industry and Trade informing them of this development. 

South Africa: South Africa Imposes Visa Requirements On British Diplomats and Official Passport Holders - The South African government has introduced visa requirements for British diplomatic and official passport holders. British diplomats and officials must apply in person and undergo an interview at the South African High Commission in the UK before visiting South Africa. The visa requirement comes in the wake of the UK government’s decision to require South African travelers to obtain visas to enter the UK.

 

Global Immigration News Links 

• The New York Times reports that President Obama has approved a plan to allow children from Central American countries to apply for refugee status in the United States, facilitated by in-country refugee processing centers.
• Governor Jerry Brown of California signed three immigration reform bills into law that will assist the undocumented population, including legislation for a loan program, the ability to apply for some professional state licenses, and an allocation of funds for unaccompanied children to receive representation in court.
• Massachusetts will launch the Global Entrepreneur in Residence (GEIR) program this fall using a provision for nonprofit research that exempts applicants from the H-1B visa cap.
• BBC reports that the UK Independence Party (UKIP) announced its intentions to allow a "priority entry" for Britons at all border entry points and expressed their desire to abandon a treaty that requires asylum seekers to stay in the first European country that they enter.
• Canada launched a training program with a focus on finding immigration systems that get the best results and help policy makers, organizations, groups, and private sectors who deal with immigrants on a regular basis.
• The rise in population in Switzerland between 2012 and 2013 was highly related to immigration from primarily European countries. This trend is expected to slow down as immigration caps for EU countries go into effect.
• Sicily has developed a contingency plan for health care implications of sudden and mass arrivals of immigrants to allow for higher regional capacity through homogeneous procedures.

 

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