Weekly Immigration Update: December 1–7, 2023

United Kingdom, December 7, 2023
New Statement of Changes Expands Permitted Activities Under Visitor Visas; Relaxes Travel Document Requirements for School Groups from France; and Expands Youth Mobility Scheme

Among other updates, the new Statement of Changes:

• Expands activities that can be conducted on Visitor Visas and confirms remote work rights under such visas;
• Relaxes travel document requirements to pre-Brexit rules for school groups from France; and
• Expands the Youth Mobility Scheme to nationals of Uruguay and increases the number of places for nationals of Japan and South Korea.

The above changes will come into effect on January 31, 2024.

To view entire article, click here.

 

South Africa, December 7, 2023
Nationals of Lesotho and Zimbabwean Now Eligible for Automatically Extended Exemption Permits

• Zimbabwean nationals who were granted Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) in 2009 and Lesotho nationals who were issued Lesotho Exemption Permits (LEPs) in 2019 have been granted automatically extended Exemption Permits valid until December 31, 2025. Although the authorities have extended their permits until November 29, 2025, they still have to apply for the new permit at the Visa Facilitation Service (VFS).
• Zimbabwean nationals who already applied for waivers and other visas in terms of the South African immigration law are exempted from applying for new exemption permits pending the outcome of their applications.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Malaysia, December 5, 2023
Opening for 2024 Projection Applications for Employers Registered with Expatriate Services Division

• The Expatriate Services Division (ESD) will begin accepting applications on December 15, 2023, from companies in Malaysia registered with the ESD who plan to submit Employment Pass and Professional Visit Pass applications in 2024.
• These companies are required to submit projections for the number of foreign nationals they seek to sponsor in the following year.
• Although there is no deadline for submission, affected employers who do not have approved projections for 2024 cannot submit initial or renewal Employment Pass (EP) and Professional Visit Pass (PVP) applications until they obtain the required approval.
• Companies that do not submit projection submissions risk their foreign national employees in Malaysia being unable to timely renew their EP or PVP, which may result in them having to leave Malaysia for a period of time.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United Kingdom, December 4, 2023
Restrictive Changes Announced for Work Migration Routes

• The UK Home Secretary announced numerous changes that will restrict work migration to the United Kingdom and which will come into effect in Q2 of 2024. Key changes include:
  • Increasing the minimum general salary for occupations under the Skilled Worker Route;
  • Exempting Health and Social Care Visa Workers from the minimum salary increase, but eliminating the ability for these individuals to bring dependents to the United Kingdom;
  • Removing the salary discount for occupations on the Shortage Occupation List; and
  • Increasing financial requirements for family applications.
• Employers should review their immigration programs in order to navigate the new costs they will incur using the increasingly expensive UK immigration system.

To view entire article, click here.