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  • Malaysia | Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass quota projections required

    The Malaysian government has reminded employers registered on the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) online portal to submit their Employment Pass (EP) and Professional Visit Pass (PVP) quota projections for 2024. Key Points: Employers can now submit their 2024 EP and PVP quota projections through the ESD

  • United States | January Visa Bulletin: Advancement in EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories

    The U.S. State Department released the January Visa Bulletin Monday, showing advancement in key employment-based categories. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had not yet announced whether it will use Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing to determine employment-based filing eligibility. Final Action Dates: Key Movements EB-1 China EB-1 will

  • Sri Lanka | New visa policies announced to boost tourism and foreign investment

    The Sri Lankan government will implement new measures designed to simplify visa policies, improve residence access and attract more investors and tourists. Key Points: The measures include the following changes: Instead of renewing visas annually, a new policy will allow foreign students to complete their entire

  • Hong Kong | Talent Engage Office Opens

    The Hong Kong government announced the opening of a new Talent Engage office in support of its mission to attract and retain high-skilled foreign talent. Key Points: • Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki stated that "our HKTE office will launch publicity, and offer

  • Travel confirmation notice issued to facilitate holiday travel

    Irish officials announced that certain individuals will be allowed to travel this holiday season on a recently expired Irish Residence Permit card, effective through Jan. 31, 2024. Key Points: To qualify, an application to renew the IRP card must have been submitted to Immigration Services Delivery

  • Vietnam | New labor market testing requirement

    The Vietnamese government recently introduced a new labor market testing requirement for companies requesting approval for foreign labor. ‌Key Points: Companies will be required to complete a job posting on one of the national or provincial dedicated employment service center websites. Vietnamese officials issued a decree on Sept. 18

  • China | Visa-free entry scheme expanded to six additional countries

    Chinese officials announced the expansion of its unilateral visa-free policy to six countries: France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Spain. Key Points: The new policy will be enacted on a trial basis and involve extending visa-free treatment to travelers holding ordinary passports from the six countries. From Dec. 1, 2023,

  • China | Visa policy for foreign residents of Macao updated

    Chinese officials announced new visa policies for foreign residents of Macao. Key Points: Foreign residents of Macao are now eligible for extended multiple-entry visas for up to five years for permanent residents and two years for non-permanent residents. The revised regulations also allow foreign professional employees to apply for multiple-entry visas

  • Ghana | Visa-on-arrival approved for the holiday travel season

      Ghanaian officials announced that travelers can obtain a visa-on-arrival at all ports of entry from Dec. 1, 2023, until Jan. 15, 2024. Key Points: Visitors arriving in Ghana through Jan. 15, 2024, will be admitted without pre-approval. Authorities will admit travelers and grant a 30-day single-entry visa upon arrival at an

  • United States | PERM, prevailing wage processing updates

    The Labor Department has posted updated processing times for permanent labor certification (PERM) applications and prevailing wage determination requests. PERM Processing: As of Nov. 30, the department was adjudicating applications filed in December 2022 and earlier, conducting audit reviews on applications filed in August 2022 and

  • United States | Winter travel reminders

    With the winter holidays approaching, many foreign national employees are planning to visit family abroad, vacation overseas and perhaps renew their visas while out of the country. Here are a few key reminders as we approach the holiday travel season: Travelers should be sure to check their passports and visas. Travelers

  • United Kingdom | Government announces plans to drastically cut net migration next year

    The Home Office announced a plan to cut net migration to the United Kingdom next year by 300,000 people. Key Points: The measures will cut immigration by reducing the high number of dependents coming to the U.K. and increasing the minimum salaries required for overseas workers and

  • Peru | Digital nomad visa introduced

    Peru’s government enacted legislation introducing a resident visa for digital nomads on Nov. 14. Key Points: The decree, published in El Peruano Official Gazette, amends the Migration Law to allow foreign nationals who work subordinately for a company outside Peru to apply for a resident visa.

  • Netherlands | New salary thresholds published

    Dutch officials published the 2024 salary thresholds for highly skilled migrants and key personnel of intra-corporate transfers as well as EU Blue Card holders and recent graduates. ‌Key Points: Effective Jan. 1, 2024, individuals who seek to apply for the following categories must show proof that their monthly income equals or

  • Brazil | eVisa online application platform launched

    The Brazilian government introduced a new visa application portal for Australian, Canadian and U.S. nationals. Key Points: Passport holders from Australia, Canada and the United States will require an eVisa to enter Brazil as of Jan. 10, 2024. The eVisa application process can be completed on this

  • United States | State Department issues near record of nonimmigrant visas, eyes future

    The U.S. State Department issued more than 10.4 million nonimmigrant visas last fiscal year, the most since 2015 and nearly a record. This figure represents a significant increase over the roughly 6.8 million nonimmigrant visas issued in the 2022 fiscal year and even eclipsed the number

  • Australia | Additional flexibility granted for partner and temporary graduate visas

    Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has updated the application process for the partner subclass 309 and 820 visas and the temporary graduate 485 subclass visa. Key Points: Partner subclass 309 and 820 applicants can now be in or outside Australia when their temporary visa application is granted.

  • Portugal | Immigration documents automatically extended

    The government of Portugal announced that immigration documents or visas that expire on or after Nov. 10 will be accepted until June 30, 2024. Key Points: Proof that a renewal appointment has been scheduled is required for documents to still be accepted under the same terms beyond the current validity. The

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