Weekly Immigration Update: January 5 – 11, 2018

In United States immigration news this week, a Federal Court ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume accepting applications to renew Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals while the court continues to consider a challenge to the program’s termination.  Also in the United States, DHS announced that it will terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador effective September 9, 2019.

California’s Immigrant Worker Protection Act took effect on January 1, 2018. 

All persons flying within the United States on or after January 22, 2018, must have identification that complies with the REAL ID Act.

In Peru, foreign nationals and their dependents who are renewing their Residence Visas no longer need to pay an annual tax to immigration authorities.

Work permit renewal rules were amended in Serbia.

In the United Arab Emirates, a new law that will likely go into effect in February will require foreign nationals seeking employment  to submit with their visa application a legalized police clearance certificate from the applicant’s home country and all countries of residence in the past five years.

Minimum salary levels have increased in both Israel and Romania.

These items and other news from Bahrain, Ireland, Israel, Poland, Romania, 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, January 10, 2018 
Federal Court Orders DHS to Accept DACA Renewals While a Challenge to the Program's Termination Proceeds

In a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a federal district judge has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to resume accepting renewal applications from DACA beneficiaries while the case goes forward. It is not yet known when DHS will begin to accept renewal applications. The agency is expected to appeal the ruling and could seek a stay of the district court's order while an appeal proceeds.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, January 8, 2018 
DHS to Terminate TPS for El Salvador with 18-Month Delay

Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador will be terminated effective September 9, 2019. Salvadoran TPS beneficiaries will be required to re-register to extend their benefits through the expiration date.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, January 5, 2018 
California's Immigrant Worker Protection Act Takes Effect

California's Immigrant Worker Protection Act took effect on January 1, 2018. The new law:

• Prohibits employers from allowing immigration enforcement agents to enter nonpublic areas without a judicial warrant, or to access, obtain or review employee records without a subpoena or judicial warrant;
• Requires employers to notify employees before and after certain I-9 inspections take place;
• Prohibits employers from improperly reverifying employees’ employment eligibility.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, January 5, 2018 
Reminder: REAL ID Domestic Air Travel Requirements Take Effect on January 22

If you fly within the United States on or after January 22, 2018, your state-issued driver’s license or ID card will be acceptable for domestic air travel if your state is in compliance with REAL ID security standards or has received an extension of time to comply.  If your state is not compliant and has not received an extension, you will need alternative identification – such as a valid passport – for domestic air travel on or after January 22.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Serbia, January 11, 2018 
Work Permit Renewal Changes and Other Amendments Introduced

The following changes apply in Serbia, effective December 25, 2017:

• Work permit renewals for assignees and intracompany transfers require an additional approval, with certain exceptions.
• Intracompany transfers can renew their work permits up to a cumulative total of two years only, with certain exceptions (previously not restricted).
• Renewal applications can now be filed up to the last day of validity rather than 15 days before expiry.
• A new work permit type was introduced for training and development.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United Arab Emirates, January 11, 2018
Police Clearance Certificate to be Required for Employment Visas

The United Arab Emirates’ Cabinet has approved a law that will require foreign nationals seeking employment in the United Arab Emirates to submit a legalized police clearance certificate from the applicant’s home country and all countries of residence in the past five years with their visa application.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Peru, January 11, 2018
Annual Tax Payments No Longer Required for Residence Visa Holders

Residence Visa renewal applicants and their dependents are no longer required to pay the annual tax to the immigration authorities. This will reduce the cost of residing in Peru.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Romania, January 9, 2018
Minimum Salary Level for Foreign Workers Increased Significantly

Effective January 6, 2018, the minimum monthly salary for foreign workers in Romania has increased to RON 4,162, up 33 percent from last year. The minimum monthly salary for highly-skilled workers has increased to RON 16,648.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Poland, January 8, 2018
Restrictions and Increased Administrative Burdens Implemented for Some Workers

• Foreign nationals subject to labor market testing must now submit documents proving their qualifications. 
• The work permit exemption process for nationals from Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine has been restricted, significantly increasing the administrative burden.
• Further changes are expected mid-February, including a new residence permit for secondment of non-EU workers within the European Union by a non-EU employer. 

To view entire article, click here.

 

Israel, January 8, 2018
Improvements Expected for High-Tech Work Permit Process

In 2018, the Israeli Ministry of Interior is expected to improve the high-tech work permit process, including: 

• Introducing an online application process that will speed up adjudications;
• Allowing spouses of high-tech work permit visa holders to work; and
• Allowing 500 foreign students in Israel to work in the high-tech industry without meeting prevailing wage requirements.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Israel, January 8, 2018
Minimum Salary Level and Work Visa Government Fees Increased

The minimum monthly salary in Israel increased to NIS 5,300, up 6 percent from last year. Government fees for work visas have also increased slightly.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Romania, January 8, 2018
2018 Quotas Available

The Romanian government released the 2018 work authorization quota numbers.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Ireland, January 5, 2018
National Minimum Wage Increased

• Effective January 1, 2018, the national minimum wage in Ireland has increased to EUR 9.55 per hour (EUR 19,367.40 annually, based on a 39-hour work week), up 3 percent from last year. 
• Because most work authorization categories in Ireland require a minimum salary that is significantly higher than the national minimum wage, this change affects only specific work authorization categories that allow a lower minimum salary.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Weekly News Briefs

Bahrain: Increase of Minimum Salary for Sponsorship of Dependents - The Ministry of Interior has increased the minimum salary requirement for the sponsorship of dependent family members by foreign nationals to BHD 400 per month. Previously, the foreign national’s monthly income had to be not less than BHD 250. 

Ecuador: Update: Immigration Appointments Still Unavailable - As an update on immigration appointment unavailability, although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ online system is now working, it is not showing available appointments in Quito. Random appointments may become available with short notice. It is still possible to schedule an appointment in Guayaquil, however, the next available appointment is for the end of February. Foreign nationals traveling to Ecuador should consider scheduling an appointment in Guayaquil, but must take into account a likely delay. Fragomen will issue updates on this developing situation.

United Arab Emirates: More Egyptian Visa Applicants Require In-Person Appearance - Effective immediately, Egyptian nationals applying for a new employment residence permit in Dubai sponsored by a company in the Dubai Creative Clusters Free Zone must now personally appear at a designated UAE visa service center in Cairo to obtain an entry visa.  This requirement applies to Egyptian nationals in the Dubai Airport Free Zone or the Dubai International Financial Center Free Zone as of November 30, 2017. Egyptian nationals already in the United Arab Emirates are not affected by this new rule. As a result of this new rule, Egyptian nationals must attend a medical examination in their home country and pick up their UAE entry visa in Cairo, whereas previously, they could travel to the UAE based on an electronic copy of the employment entry permit or collect one on arrival in the United Arab Emirates. Employers of affected Egyptian nationals should prepare for longer processing times and additional costs related to the medical exam and consular processing fees.

Global Immigration News Links

• Small business to face effects of Temporary Protected Status programs ending.
• Google calls Australia’s new business visa system ‘uncompetitive’.
• China to issue long-term visas to attract highly-skilled workers.

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