Weekly Immigration Update: October 14–20, 2022

United Kingdom, October 20, 2022
Updates to UK Immigration Rules in Statement of Changes

The UK government amended the UK Immigration Rules in a new Statement of Changes. Key changes include:

• Updates to several Global Business Mobility routes, including a revision to the Service Supplier sub-route, enabling permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand to qualify for this route via a free trade agreement;
• An update allowing foreign nationals from British Overseas Territories to apply for a student visa without proof of English fluency, as was previously required; and
• Citizens of Colombia, Guyana, and Peru have been removed from the visa national list and can now enter the United Kingdom as visitors without needing to apply for pre-travel authorisation.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Hong Kong SAR, October 19, 2022
Policy Address Announces New Initiatives to Attract Talent

• Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee has delivered the first Policy Address of the new administration, which includes initiatives to attract business, investment and talent to raise Hong Kong SAR’s international competitiveness.
• A new Top Talent Pass Scheme will be introduced for individuals who have been earning at least HKD 2.5 million a year, or those who have graduated from the world’s top 100 universities and have at least three years of work experience.
• Employers will also benefit from the relaxation of the General Employment Policy scheme and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, including the elimination of the labour market test for certain occupations or high income earners, among other plans to boost the economy

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, October 18, 2022
Parole Process for Venezuelan Citizens Opens Today

• Starting today, Venezuelan citizens and their immediate family members can be sponsored for parole via a new DHS entry process.
• To qualify, applicants must be outside the United States, be a citizen of Venezuela or the spouse, common law partner, or unmarried child of a Venezuelan citizen, have a U.S.-based sponsor, and undergo security vetting, along with several other criteria.
• U.S. sponsors initiate the process by filing a declaration of support with USCIS, certifying their commitment to provide financial and other support to named beneficiaries.
• Approved beneficiaries are eligible for parole into the United States and work authorization for up to two years.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Malaysia, October 18, 2022
Companies Must Submit 2023 Employment Pass and Professional Visit Pass Projections

• Companies in Malaysia registered with the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (MDEC), who plan to submit Professional Visit Pass (PVP) and Employment Pass applications in 2023 are required to submit projections for the number of foreign nationals they wish to sponsor under PVPs as soon as possible.
• The ESD has started accepting projection applications and the MDEC will start accepting projection applications starting November 1, 2022.
• Although there is no deadline for submission, affected employers who do not have approved projections for 2023 cannot submit initial or renewal work pass applications until they obtain the required approval.
• Foreign nationals already in Malaysia may need to leave if their new work passes cannot be obtained prior to the expiry of the current one

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, October 17, 2022
District Court Rules Against New DACA Regulation But Preserves Status Quo for Current DACA Beneficiaries

• A federal district court in the Southern District of Texas has confirmed that its injunction blocking the Department of Homeland Security’s 2012 DACA memorandum also blocks the agency’s new DACA regulation, published in August 2022.
• The DACA regulation will not take effect on October 31, 2022 as originally scheduled.
• However, the lower court’s ruling preserves the current partial stay of its injunction, allowing current DACA beneficiaries to continue to maintain and renew DACA protection.
• DACA beneficiaries should continue to file renewals as soon as possible, as further DACA litigation activity is expected.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Namibia, October 14, 2022
Remote Work Visa Introduced

• A Digital Nomad Visa for foreign nationals intending to work remotely for companies outside Namibia has been launched.
• The visa is valid for six months, with the possibility of renewal for another six months at a time.
• Applicants must email an application form to a dedicated government email address. The timeline for issuing the visa after processing is yet to be announced

To view entire article, click here.

 

Sweden, October 14, 2022
New Passport Control Requirement Forthcoming for Residence Permit Applicants

• Starting November 1, 2022, foreign nationals applying for residence permits in Sweden will need to present their original passport in person before an approval can be granted, instead of the current process where visa-exempt applicants can submit biometrics in Sweden once the application has been approved.
• The change will not affect initial applications by visa required applicants, who present their passport when submitting biometric data (a photograph and fingerprints) as part of their visa or residence permit application.
• For renewal applicants, the new requirement only applies to individuals who obtained a new passport during their stay in Sweden; this does not affect those who already presented their passport in person previously.

To view entire article, click here.