Weekly Immigration Update: November 4–10, 2022

United Kingdom, November 10, 2022
Improvements Related to Salary Reductions, Government Notifications and Fees Implemented

The UK government has implemented three key improvements for employers sponsoring Skilled Workers and foreign nationals under the Global Business Mobility route:

• A change of employment application is no longer required for salary reductions due to temporary reduction in hours for individual health reasons;
• Employers are no longer required to notify the Home Office of delayed start dates for foreign nationals, unless the delay is more than 28 days; and
• Effective January 1, 2023, employers will be exempt from paying the Immigration Skills Surcharge when sponsoring certain EU senior or specialist workers assigned to work for less than a three-year period

To view entire article, click here.

 

Canada, November 9, 2022
Transition to 2021 National Occupational Classification System

• On November 16, 2022, Canada will be transitioning to the 2021 version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
• The 4-digit NOC codes from the current system used to define occupations will be replaced by 5-digit NOC codes that better distinguish between occupation and skill types under new Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) categories

To view entire article, click here.

 

Malta, November 9, 2022
Start-Up Residence Program Launched

• The Maltese government recently launched the Start-Up Residence Program, intended for innovative individuals or scale-ups seeking to develop and build up their business in Malta.
• The program has minimum investment requirements and is available to those operating in manufacturing, software development, industrial services, healthcare, sustainability practices, or the provision of services not readily available in Malta.
• Successful applicants, including employees and family members, will be granted a three-year residency permit with automatic work authorization. The permit is extendable for an additional five years.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, November 7, 2022
Travel Guidance for the Holiday Season

• Foreign nationals planning to travel internationally and return to the United States this holiday season should consider several factors, including evolving COVID-19 policies worldwide, updated U.S. vaccination requirements, and continued reduced operations at many U.S. consulates.
• If you will need to apply for a visa while abroad, be prepared for limited consular appointments in certain regions, possible delays in visa issuance, and potential appointment cancellations due to changing COVID-19 local conditions.
• Ensure that all of your travel documentation is accurate and contains sufficient validity to minimize reentry issues.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United Arab Emirates, November 4, 2022
Updates on New Visa Schemes and Regulations

• Following the introduction of new immigration regulations in July 2022, certain measures have become effective, including changes to residence permit validity, overstay fines and sponsorship requirements.
• Additionally, certain visa categories of the newly-implemented Advanced Visa System are now open to applicants, including the Visit Visa for Exploring Job Opportunities, Visit Visa for Exploring Business Opportunities and the Green Residency Visa (Green Visa).
• Several parts of the new visa schemes and regulations remain unclear or have not been enforced yet, but further developments are expected in the coming months.

To view entire article, click here.