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August 20, 2025 | ThailandThailand: New Rules Forthcoming for Board of Investment-Promoted Companies
August 21, 2025 | United StatesFragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™
August 21, 2025 | 🌐United States: Appeals Court Stays Postponement of TPS Terminations for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua
August 20, 2025 | European UnionEuropean Union/Schengen Area: Internal Schengen Border Checks Situation
August 20, 2025 | SingaporeSingapore: New Salary Benchmarking Table by Sector Now Available
August 20, 2025 | ThailandThailand: New Rules Forthcoming for Board of Investment-Promoted Companies
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Weekly Immigration Update: January 12–18, 2024

January 18, 2024

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In immigration news this week:

  • United States: The State Department has provided guidance on its new domestic visa renewal pilot program ahead of the January 29 launch, including an online prescreening assessment tool. Next month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plans to launch online organizational accounts for H-1B filings – including for FY 2025 H-1B cap registrations – and make Form I-129 H-1B petitions and any associated Form I-907 premium processing requests available for online filing.
  • France: Effective January 1, France launched a system to facilitate the visa applications of certain attendees of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
  • Malta: A newly launched ‘Specialist Employee Initiative’ is available as a highly skilled work permit option for non-EU nationals.
  • Saudi Arabia: Five new categories are now available under the long-term Premium Residency Permit (PRP) scheme, offering self-sponsored long-term residency permits to a wider range of foreign nationals. Additionally, the Mosadaqa electronic attestation platform has been expanded to permit the processing of educational certificates issued in Sudan. See our news brief for details.
  • United Kingdom: The UK Parliament approved a law increasing the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fees effective February 6.
  • Finland: Finland has confirmed that its closure of all land borders with Russia will remain in place until at least February 11. See our news brief for details.
  • Ecuador: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility and other governmental agencies have reopened. However, due to ongoing security concerns, most Ministry branches, including in Quito and Guayaquil, are operating with reduced staff. Employers and foreign nationals can again submit initial or renewal visa and other immigration-related applications in Ecuador, but should expect processing delays until the situation normalizes. See our alert for details.
  • Minimum salary update: Lithuania has increased its national minimum wage. See our consolidated alert for details. 
  • Panama: The deadline for foreign nationals in Panama whose visas expired on or after March 13, 2020 to regularize their status has been extended until February 29, 2024. See our news brief for details.
  • European Union/Schengen Area: Italy has extended its internal border checks into June 2024. See our consolidated alert for details. 
  • Worldwide/Ukraine: Austria has extended temporary protection status for Ukrainians until March 4, 2025. See our consolidated alert for details. 

These items and other news from Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, France, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Serbia, Singapore, and the United States follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.

Important updates in immigration this week

United States, January 18, 2024
State Department Posts Guidance on New Domestic Visa Renewal Pilot Program Ahead of January 29 Launch; Online Self-Assessment Tool Available

  • The U.S. Department of State’s guidance primarily confirms details already released to the public about the H-1B domestic visa renewal pilot program, with some additional explanations.
  • The agency’s online self-assessment tool is available for potential applicants to determine whether they meet the general screening parameters for the domestic visa renewal program.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United Kingdom, January 17, 2024
Immigration Health Surcharge Increase Confirmed to Begin February 6, 2024

  • The UK Parliament approved a law increasing the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fees, which will go into effect on February 6, 2024.
  • The annual IHS fees for adult applicants will increase to GBP 1,035 per person – a 66 percent increase from the current GBP 624.
  • Businesses may seek to move up any employee transfers or extensions prior to this date in order to benefit from the current, lower IHS rates.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Saudi Arabia, January 17, 2024
Five New Premium Residency Permit Categories Introduced

  • Saudi Arabia has launched five new categories under its long-term Premium Residency Permit (PRP) scheme, offering self-sponsored long-term residency permits to a wider range of foreign nationals.
  • Foreign nationals can apply under one of the following categories: special talent (including executives, and healthcare and scientific professionals); gifted individuals in culture, the arts, and sport; investors; entrepreneurs; or real estate owners or investors.
  • The expansion of the PRP – which is likely to increase the number of highly skilled individuals, entrepreneurs, and investors residing long-term in Saudi Arabia – continues the country’s current trend of seeking to attract and retain foreign investment and talent.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, January 12, 2024
USCIS Organizational Accounts and Online Filing for H-1B Petitions Coming Next Month

  • In February, USCIS plans to launch online organizational accounts for H-1B filings – including for FY 2025 H-1B cap registrations – and make Form I-129 H-1B petitions and any associated Form I-907 premium processing requests available for online filing.
  • Employers will still be permitted to file Forms I-129 and I-907 on paper with USCIS.
  • The agency will hold informational sessions starting on January 23 to provide the public with more information on the new tools.

To view entire article, click here.

 

France, January 12, 2024
Special Streamlined Visa Processes Introduced for Olympic Athletes, Staff, Official Guests

  • France launched a system to facilitate the visa applications of certain attendees of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.
  • This so-called ‘Olympic Consulate’ will process the short-stay visa applications for accredited athletes, staff, sports teams, delegations, and media (among others) – who will benefit from priority processing, waived visa application and service fees, minimal documentary requirements and the ability to keep their travel document or passport throughout the process instead of submitting it to authorities.
  • Additionally, as a warning, travelers planning to travel or relocate to France during this period should be aware that appointment and processing delays are expected due to a significant influx of visitors.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, January 12, 2024
February 2024 Visa Bulletin: Modest Advancement in Worldwide EB-2 and EB-3, EB-3 India, and EB-5 China; USCIS to Honor Dates for Filing for Employment-Based Categories

  • In February, USCIS will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is earlier than the Dates for Filing listed in the State Department’s February 2024 Visa Bulletin.
  • The Dates for Filing remain unchanged from the prior month.
  • The EB-2 Final Action Date for all countries except India and China will advance by two weeks, to November 15, 2022.
  • The EB-3 Professional/Skilled Worker Final Action Date for India will advance by one month, to July 1, 2012. Final Action Dates for the remaining countries (except China) in the category will advance by one month, to September 1, 2022.
  • The EB-5 China Unreserved Final Action Date will advance by one week, to December 15, 2015.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Malta, January 12, 2024
New Highly Skilled Work Permit Option for Non-EU Nationals

  • In January 2024, Malta launched the ‘Specialist Employee Initiative’ as a new highly skilled work permit option for non-EU nationals.
  • Among other requirements, applicants must be working for a Maltese-registered company, with an annual gross salary of at least EUR 25,000, and have adequate educational qualifications or professional experience.
  • The ‘Specialist Employee Initiative’ provides employers with a further pathway to onboard highly skilled foreign talent, ensuring employers can choose from a wider pool of global talent.

To view entire article, click here. 

Other weekly news briefs

Azerbaijan, January 18, 2024
Long-Term Multiple-Entry Visas Again Available

Ethiopia, January 16, 2024
Qatari Nationals Eligible for Visa-on-Arrival

France, January 12, 2024
Special Streamlined Visa Processes Introduced for Olympics Athletes, Staff, Official Guests

Kazakhstan, January 17, 2024
New Quotas for Certain Foreign Workers in Place

Mexico, January 12, 2024  
Annual Corporate Registration Update Reminder

Serbia, January 18, 2024
Consolidated D-Visa and Work Permit Process Forthcoming; Online Applications Temporarily Suspended During Transition

Singapore, January 18, 2024
Reminder for Employers to Prepare for Forthcoming COMPASS Implementation

United States, January 16, 2024
Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for First Half of FY 2024

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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