Weekly Immigration Update: July 15–21, 2022
July 21, 2022
In immigration news this week:
- Worldwide: Jurisdictions around the world continue to adapt their coronavirus-related travel restrictions and health requirements based on several factors, including fluctuating infection rates and growing vaccination initiatives. Visit Fragomen’s COVID-19 website for the latest immigration updates.
- United States: Beginning August 1, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will modestly expand eligibility for premium processing upgrades of EB-1 multinational manager and EB-2 national interest waiver I-140 petitions.
- Taiwan: Under a pilot program, the National Immigration Agency is now accepting online applications for Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) from foreign nationals and their dependents.
- Ireland: Certain non-Ukrainian refugees holding Convention Travel Documents issued by ‘safe’ European countries will now need to apply for a visa to travel to Ireland for less than 90 days.
- European Union: All EU Member States have implemented the EU Temporary Protected Status Directive. The Netherlands has closed EU Temporary Protection Directive applications for third-country nationals who were residing in Ukraine with a temporary residence permit.
These items and other news from Equatorial Guinea, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.
Important updates in immigration this week
Ireland, July 20, 2022
Certain Non-Ukrainian Refugees Now Require Visa for Short-Term Entry
- Due to Ireland temporarily suspending the Council of Europe Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees, refugees holding Convention Travel Documents issued by ‘safe’ European countries will now need to apply for a visa to travel to Ireland for less than 90 days.
- Visa-free travel is still available for Ukrainian nationals.
- The government has stated the change will last for an initial 12-month period and is designed to strengthen the integrity of the immigration system.
To view entire article, click here.
Taiwan, July 20, 2022
Pilot Program for Online Alien Resident Certificate Submissions Launched
- The Taiwanese government is now accepting submissions for Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) applications online from foreign nationals and their dependents.
- Initial ARC applicants filing online must submit their applications within 15 calendar days from their work permit approval.
- The Taiwanese government will take five business days to process online ARC applications and an additional three business days to prepare the physical ARC.
To view entire article, click here.
United States, July 15, 2022
USCIS Modestly Expands Eligibility for Premium Processing Upgrades of EB-1 Multinational Manager and EB-2 National Interest Waiver I-140 Petitions
- Beginning August 1, USCIS will accept Form I-907 Premium Processing upgrade requests for pending EB-1 Multinational Manager Form I-140 petitions that were filed on or before July 1, 2021, and pending EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) I-140 petitions that were filed on or before August 1, 2021.
To view entire article, click here.
Other weekly news briefs
Equatorial Guinea: Regularization of Undocumented Foreign Nationals – Undocumented foreign nationals in Equatorial Guinea have until August 31, 2022 to regularize their status in the country. Those who fail to regularize their status by this date may face fines and deportation, and their employers may face fines as well.
Hungary: Government Processing Delays – Due to high case volume from the Russia-Ukraine crisis, government processing times for initial and renewal Local Hire Permits and EU Intracompany Transferee Permits have increased to 120 days, up from 70 days. Delays can also be expected for Local Hire Permit and EU intracompany Transferee Permit renewals, short-term work permits and family reunification applications.
Kazakhstan: Visa-Free Travel for Iranian, Chinese and Indian Nationals – Iranian, Chinese and Indian nationals can enter Kazakhstan for up to 14 days for tourism or unpaid business travel, based on a new visa-free agreement. Travelers under this agreement can take up to three trips that last up to 14 days each, within a 180-day period. No work can be done during each stay.
Kazakhstan: Quota Applications Due September 30 in Nur-Sultan – The Labour Department is now accepting applications from companies seeking to apply for work permits for foreign workers in positions subject to 2023 quotas. Companies registered in the Nur-Sultan region of Kazakhstan must file their 2023 quota applications by September 30, 2022. Other regions may announce other deadlines, depending on when those regions’ quota positions are filled. Companies that fail to file their quota applications by the prescribed deadline may be barred from hiring foreign workers. Note that the Atyrau and West Kazakhstan regions had only opened the 2023 quota application period on July 1, 2022.
Spain/United Kingdom/Russia: Delays at Spanish Consulates – Spanish consulates in Russia are taking approximately 10 business days to reply to applicants requesting visa appointments and approximately three to four days to assign visa appointments. Additionally, due to an ongoing partial personnel strike at the Spanish consulate in London, the consulate is taking approximately one month to issue visas from the date of submission of the application. Fragomen advises applicants in these countries to utilize the in-country process in Spain to avoid delays.
Sweden: D Visa Available as Possible Solution for Foreign Nationals Awaiting Work Permit Extensions – Foreign nationals who are awaiting approval of their work permit extension application may be eligible for a D visa to allow them to return to Sweden if they must leave to conduct business activities outside of the country. The D visa is available to visa nationals who are holders of the Swedish national work and residence permit and are awaiting a renewal of their permit but need to exit Sweden on business trips. Dependents, students, EU Directive permit holders (Blue Card and Intracompany Transferee permit holders) and other residence permit holders may not qualify.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
