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October 30, 2025 | 🌐Minimum Salary Changes Announced
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October 30, 2025 | ChinaMainland China: Work Permit and Social Security Cards Integrated Under New Enhanced System
October 30, 2025 | 🌐Minimum Salary Changes Announced
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Weekly Immigration Update: December 22–28, 2023

December 28, 2023

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In immigration news this week:

  • United States: Effective January 1, 2024, the State Department has indefinitely extended and expanded its nonimmigrant visa interview waiver program.
  • Minimum salary updates: The Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine have increased their minimum salaries. See our consolidated alert for details. 
  • The United Kingdom: It has been confirmed that those in the Skilled Work Route, and applications made before the rules change in Q2 2024, will not be subject to the new GBP 38,700 salary threshold when they change employment, extend their status, or settle in the United Kingdom. See the update in this alert.

These items and other news from Canada, Iraq, Jordan, Namibia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.

Important updates in immigration this week

Hong Kong SAR, December 28, 2023
Further Details Released on Relaunch of Residency-by-Investment Scheme

  • The Hong Kong SAR government announced additional details of the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES), which is a reopening of a residency-by-investment scheme which was suspended in 2015.
  • Eligible applicants can be from any country and will have to prove that they have minimum net assets of HK 30,000,000 and show that they have met certain investment requirements. The residence permit will be initially granted for up to two years.
  • The CIES program is expected to open for applicants in mid-2024.

To view entire article, click here.


United Arab Emirates,
December 28, 2023
Suspension of Employment Sponsorship Transfer in Effect Across Free Zones in Dubai

  • Effective immediately, employers of foreign nationals can no longer benefit from the streamlined employment sponsorship transfer option.
  • As a result, employers in free zones seeking to hire a foreign national who is currently employed by a company within the same free zone or in another free zone in the Emirate of Dubai, must now follow the standard immigration process.
  • The change in policy is expected to increase onboarding times for foreign nationals in these jurisdictions, which could potentially delay start dates.
  • While the suspension has been confirmed by several major free zones in the Emirate of Dubai, authorities have not announced if it is a temporary or permanent change.
  • In addition, dependents should be aware that they cannot exit and re-enter the United Arab Emirates during the gap in the principal applicant’s employment (or self-employment if that is the case) by the principal applicant.

To view entire article, click here.


United States,
December 27, 2023  
Premium Processing Fees Will Increase Effective February 26

  • The premium processing fee for I-140 immigrant worker petitions and most Form I-129 nonimmigrant worker petitions will increase to $2805, from $2500. Fees for premium processing of certain other petitions and applications will also increase.
  • The new fees will take effect for filings postmarked on or after February 26, 2024.

To view entire article, click here.

Hungary, December 27, 2023  
Suspension of Immigration Processing and Forthcoming New Immigration Laws

  • The Hungarian government has announced that they will not process most pending or new immigration applications between January 1, 2024 and February 29, 2024 to adjust to recently published new immigration laws, which will go into effect on January 1, 2024.
  • The new laws will significantly change the immigration landscape in Hungary with key changes including: a separate work permit category for Serbian and Ukrainian nationals and significant restrictions on “unskilled” workers.
  • While the new immigration laws were published on December 22, 2023, implementing regulations have not yet been released which will set out the application of the laws.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, December 22, 2023
State Department Announces Extension and Expansion of the Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Waiver Program

  • The U.S. State Department’s visa interview waiver program has been extended effective January 1, 2024. The program will remain in effect indefinitely and will be reviewed annually.
  • The classes of applicants eligible for the program have been expanded and now cover: (1) eligible first-time H-2 visa applicants; and (2) eligible foreign nationals applying for any nonimmigrant visa category if they were previously issued a nonimmigrant visa in any category (unless their only prior visa was a B visitor visa) and they are applying within 48 months of the expiration of their most recent visa.
  • The separate interview waiver program for certain applicants renewing a visa in the same category within 48 months of expiration remains in effect on an indefinite basis.
  • U.S. consulates are not required to implement these interview waiver policies but may do so as local conditions and resources allow.

To view entire article, click here.

Other weekly news briefs

Canada, December 21, 2023
Temporary Immigration Measures Introduced for Individuals from Israel and the Palestinian Territories Affected by the Israel-Hamas War

Iraq, December 27, 2023
New Law Changed Retirement Age, Added Registration Fees for Foreign Employees and Increased Pension Contributions

Jordan/Rwanda, December 28, 2023
Visa Waiver Introduced in Rwanda; Forthcoming in Jordan

Namibia, December 22, 2023
Visa-on-Arrival Expanded to Three Additional Border Posts

Saudi Arabia, December 22, 2023
Saudization Requirements Announced for Sales Professions in the Insurance Sector

South Africa, December 22, 2023
Additional Concession Granted for Individuals With Pending Applications Due to Processing Delays

Taiwan, December 28, 2023
Relaxed Deadlines for Foreign National Residents and Overstay Fines Implemented

Thailand, December 22, 2023
10-Year Sponsored Investor Visa Forthcoming

United Arab Emirates, December 28, 2023
New Private Teacher Work Permit Launched

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen. 

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