Weekly Immigration Update: May 13–19, 2022

Belarus: Visa-Free Regime for Latvian and Lithuanian Nationals Extended – The visa-free entry regime for Latvian and Lithuanian nationals, which was implemented on April 15, 2022, and set to end on May 15, 2022, has been extended until December 31, 2022. The visa-free regime allows these citizens to cross the Belarusian border without a visa at checkpoints on the Belarusian-Latvian and Belarusian-Lithuanian borders an unlimited number of times for temporary stays of up to 90 days in a calendar year, and to visit the border zone without a pass.

Belgium: Government Fees to Decrease – Effective May 26, 2022, government filing fees in Belgium will decrease to EUR 126 for Single Permit applications (including highly skilled workers, EU Blue Card and EU Intra-Company Transferee Permit), down from EUR 366; and to EUR 181 for spouses of employment-based permit applicants, down from EUR 209. D Visa application fees will remain unchanged at EUR 180. The fees are due to a reassessment of the government's costs in processing immigration applications.

Czech Republic: Higher Income Required for Permanent Residence Applicants – Czech authorities published a legislative update increasing the funds required for permanent residence permit applications; applicants were previously only required to demonstrate 'sufficient funds'. As of April 1, 2022, applicants must demonstrate sufficient stable income to cover subsistence and housing for the principal applicant and any accompanying dependents. Specifically, applicants must have access to CZK 3,910 for the oldest applicant (themself or their spouse/partner); CZK 3,530 for another adult applicant; and between CZK 2,170 to 3,050 for dependent children, depending on their age. Applicants must have access to an additional CZK 13,629-22,495 for housing (including rent, electricity, water etc.). Applicants are advised to budget for the increased funding requirements and anticipate additional time to prepare supporting documents.

Italy: Work Permit Portal Back Online, Issues Persist – As an update, the Ministry of Interior website utilized to file work permit applications is back online. However, the new website is not yet fully functional and users are reporting frequent technical issues, causing delays and difficulties in filing work permit applications. Additionally, online applications must now include scanned copies of all mandatory supporting documents, whereas previously, only the application form was mandatory, and documents were submitted upon completion of background checks by immigration, labour and police authorities. Separately, immigration offices in Florence, Milan, Rome and Torino, among others, have cancelled residence permit appointments because appointment scheduling systems are currently blocked. It is not yet clear when these technological issues will be resolved. Applicants should anticipate filing and processing delays.

Russia: Proposed Law Would Allow Favorable Work and Residence Conditions for Information Technology Specialists – The Russian government has introduced a draft law in the State Duma which, if passed, would allow foreign information technology specialists employed in Russia by accredited information technology companies (with the exception of residents in certain economic zones) to work without work permits and to obtain permanent residence permits without having a temporary residence permit for one year. The foreign national’s permanent residence permit will be linked to their information technology specialist status, which will be subject to cancelation if the foreign national ends their employment with their company and is not hired by another information technology company within 30 business days, or if their information technology company loses accreditation. Dependents of these foreign nationals (including spouses, children, parents, spouses of children, spouses of parents, grandparents and grandchildren) will be able to obtain permanent residence permits. If the law is adopted, it will take effect 90 days following the date of its publication.

Saudi Arabia: New Saudization Requirements Announced for Select Professions in Amusement Parks and Entertainment Centers – The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) issued a decision implementing strict Saudization requirements at amusement parks and entertainment centers for select professions, such as branch managers, supervisors, and customer service and sales agents, effective September 23, 2022. Specifically, 100 percent of the employees will be required to be Saudi nationals for amusement parks within closed commercial complexes (malls) and 70 percent of the employees will be required to be Saudi nationals for establishments in the independent and seasonal entertainment cities and family entertainment centers. However, for both locations, certain professions are exempt from these requirements, such as painters, cleaners, bus drivers, and loading and unloading workers, among others. Exempt professions cannot exceed 50 percent of all employees in one shift if there are three or more employees, or 40 percent of all employees in one shift if there are seven or more employees. Saudization ratios only apply if there are three or more employees in one shift. Non-compliant employers will be subject to penalties, including the suspension of new work permits and the prohibition of the transfer of employees.

United Arab Emirates: One-Year Residence Visa Scheme Implemented for Nationals of Ukraine – Effective immediately, the UAE authorities have implemented a one-year residence visa scheme for nationals of Ukraine, in a move to facilitate long-term residency for Ukrainians who arrived in the United Arab Emirates through visa-on-arrival or are in the United Arab Emirates under a cancelled or expired visa. The eligibility criteria for this scheme does not include Ukrainian nationals who are outside the United Arab Emirates. Standard documentation such as a passport with a minimum validity of six months, a passport photo and a health insurance policy are a requirement for the visa scheme. Additionally, a medical test is mandatory for Ukrainian nationals above 18 years of age.

United Kingdom: Visa-Free Travel for El Salvador Nationals Suspended – A Statement of Changes has suspended the visa-free regime for nationals of El Salvador entering the United Kingdom, effectively adding these nationals to the visa-required list. During a transitional period until June 8, 2022, Salvadorian nationals who hold confirmed reservations to the United Kingdom made before May 11, 2022, and whose arrival is no later than June 8, 2022, will be exempt from the visa requirement.

United Kingdom: Electronic Visa Waiver Program Expanded – Effective June 1, 2022, Bahrain and Saudi Arabian nationals will be permitted to use the Electronic Visa Waiver scheme in the United Kingdom. Instead of obtaining a visa, the traveller must complete the waiver application prior to a single-entry flight to the United Kingdom. The Visa Waiver program allows stays for up to six months. This change brings Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in line with other Gulf states, whose nationals are also eligible for the Electronic Visa Waiver program.

United States/China: Certain Travelers Departing from Shanghai Exempt from Pre-Departure COVID Testing Through June 10 – Through 11:59 PM EDT on June 10, 2022, U.S. citizens and nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents (LPRs), valid U.S. immigrant visa holders, and nonimmigrants traveling with U.S. citizens and LPRs who are departing from Shanghai, China, are exempt from providing proof of negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding a flight to the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The policy had originally been set to expire on May 11, 2022. Note that COVID vaccination and vaccine exception rules under current international air travel policy remain in effect, where applicable, for this group of travelers.