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September 5, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: DHS Announces End of Temporary Protected Status for 2021 Venezuela Designation
September 4, 2025 | OmanOman: New Licensing Requirement for Select Roles 
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Weekly Immigration Update: February 16–22, 2024

February 22, 2024

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In immigration news this week:

  • Serbia: Serbia has implemented a significant overhaul of its immigration processes and rules, including the launch of a new portal for submitting visa and permit applications, changing its labor market testing processes, and relaxing the validity period and renewal process for its Assignment and Intra-company Transfer Work Permits.
  • United States: A reminder that effective February 26, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is increasing the fees for premium processing of certain applications and petitions.
  • United Kingdom: As anticipated, the UK government has formally presented changes to rules restricting the eligibility and dependency rights of health and care workers under the Skilled Worker pathway. The Statement of Changes also included changes to the UK’s temporary protection schemes for Ukrainian nationals.
  • Belarus/Lithuania/Poland: Eligible Belarussian nationals will continue to be able to apply for Polish travel documents until at least June 30, following Poland’s recent extension of this program. See our updated news brief for details.
  • Worldwide/Ukraine: The United Kingdom has announced an extension, as well as significant changes, to its temporary protection regime for Ukrainian nationals. Poland and Slovakia have auto-extended temporary protection until June 30, 2024 and March 4, 2025, respectively. See our consolidated alert for more details.

These items and other news from Belarus, Canada, Hungary, Kenya, Lithuania, Malawi, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.

Important updates in immigration this week

United States, February 21, 2024
Reminder: Effective February 26, Premium Processing Fees to Increase

  • The premium processing fee for I-140 immigrant worker petitions and most Form I-129 nonimmigrant worker petitions will increase to $2,805, from $2,500. 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.
  • Under a separate new rule, starting April 1, premium processing adjudication timeframes will change from calendar days to business days, effectively increasing processing times by one week or more, depending on the case type.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Serbia, February 20, 2024
Significant Overhaul of Immigration Processes Comes into Effect

  • In February 2024, Serbia implemented a significant overhaul of its immigration processes and rules, including:
    • launching a new portal for submitting visa and permit applications;
    • overhauling its labor market testing processes; and
    • relaxing the validity period and renewal process for its Assignment and Intra-company Transfer Work Permits.
  • These new processes and rules are in addition to other significant changes – which all came into effect on February 1, 2024 or earlier. This includes a new ‘Single Permit’, which combines the Residence and Work Permit.
  • These changes seek to streamline, expedite and relax the visa application process for applicants and employers as part of a broader strategy of attracting and retaining foreign talent.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United Kingdom, February 20, 2024
Statement of Changes Affects Skilled Worker Pathway, Ukraine Scheme

  • As anticipated, the UK government has formally presented changes to rules restricting the eligibility and dependency rights of health and care workers under the Skilled Worker pathway.
  • The changes were presented in the form of a Statement of Changes to the UK’s immigration rules, which also included changes to the UK’s temporary protection schemes for Ukrainian nationals.
  • The Skilled Worker pathway changes are likely to have only a limited direct impact on the businesses, charities and voluntary organisations who use these routes to sponsor workers.

To view entire article, click here.

Other weekly news briefs

Canada, February 16, 2024
Alberta Opportunity Stream Applications Temporarily Suspended

Canada, February 21, 2024
New Provincial Nominee Stream for the Tourism and Hospitality Sector in Alberta

Hungary, February 20, 2024
New Cultural Exam Forthcoming

Hungary, February 20, 2024  
EU Blue Card Now Expanded to Those with Technology Skills Instead of Education

Kenya, February 22, 2024
Electronic Travel Authorization Fee Waived for Some Countries

Lithuania/Belarus, February 22, 2024
Lithuania to Close More Border Crossings with Belarus

Malawi, February 22, 2024
New Visa Waiver and Longer Stays for Those Under Multiple-Entry Visas

Qatar, February 21, 2024
Documentary and Process Changes for Dependent Family Residence Permit Renewals

Saudi Arabia, February 22, 2024
Increased Engineering-Sector Saudization Requirements from July 2024

Singapore, February 22, 2024
Minimum Salary Amount for Local Workers to Increase

Sweden, February 21, 2024
Official Government Report on Labor Immigration Policy Released

Trinidad and Tobago, February 16, 2024
Transition to Online System for Visa Applications Forthcoming; Temporary Suspension of Visa Services in Effect

United Arab Emirates, February 16, 2024
Labor Card Applications Now Require Proof of Unemployment Insurance Subscription

United Arab Emirates, February 20, 2024
Visa Exemption for Tourism Granted to Uzbekistan Nationals

United Arab Emirates, February 22, 2024
Eligibility Conditions Relaxed for Real Estate Investor Golden Visa

United States, February 20, 2024
DOL Extends Comment Period for RFI on Revising Schedule A to May 13

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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