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The Swiss government has set work permit quotas for 2024, leaving them unchanged for EU/EFTA, non-EU/EFTA and U.K. nationals. Quotas for 2024 are as follows: Additional Information: Foreign nationals may apply for L permits if they are staying in Switzerland
Canadian officials announced that a dedicated humanitarian pathway to provide permanent residence to Colombian, Haitian and Venezuelan foreign nationals is now open for applications. Key Points: As previously reported, Canada will provide a new pathway to permanent residence for citizens of
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa has resumed the issuance of e-visas to Canadian tourists and business travelers. Key Points: • India issues e-visas to Canadian nationals only for tourism and business purposes. • The announcement confirmed the e-visa facility has been restored, two months after it was suspended. • The Indian government previously
The Bureau of Immigration has resumed face-to-face interviews for applicants of spousal visas. Key Points: The issuance of Proclamation No. 297 lifted the public health emergency throughout the Philippines, making all prior orders, memoranda and issuances during the state of public health emergency withdrawn and no
The Chinese government announced that public documents within the scope of the Apostille Convention now only need to apply for an apostille before they are sent to China for further legal use. Background: China officially acceded to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization
Irish officials announced that, effective Nov. 30, certain applicants for a Stamp 4 immigration permission will no longer be required to obtain a letter of support from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Key Points: Currently, Critical Skills Employment Permit holders, Researchers on a Hosting
The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor recently published a joint temporary final rule to increase the number of available H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year 2024. Key Points: The rule will make available an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for FY 2024, which
The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) six member states unanimously approved the introduction of the unified tourist visa Key Points: The GCC’s member states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The countries unanimously approved the new visa at the GCC summit in Muscat, Oman on Nov.
The European Council announced the approval for the digitalization of the Schengen visa process. Key Points: EU officials announced on Nov. 13 that they had approved new rules to create an online EU visa application platform for EU citizens. Applicants will be able to enter all the relevant data, upload electronic
The Home Office announced that it will increase the minimum wage by more than 9% in April 2024. Key Points: The hourly national minimum wage will increase from £10.42 to £11.44 for workers over the age of 20. The new minimum wage will take effect April 1, 2024. The minimum
Government officials announced a new wage review process for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program that will be in place until Aug. 30, 2024. Key Points: The TFW Program Workforce Solutions Road Map was introduced to help Canadian employers fill job vacancies due to labor shortages. The government confirmed that, as of
Canadian officials announced the launch of CAN Work Philippines, a pilot program for eligible Canadian employers recruiting in the Philippines. Key Points: • Eligible Canadian employers can schedule group appointments for medical examinations and biometrics for potential employees as part of the new streamlined process. • The pilot is open to Canadian employers
Immigration authorities announced they have reinstated the issuance of i-KAD cards for Employment Pass holders, effective Oct. 24. Key Points: The Expatriate Services Division is now issuing i-KAD cards for Employment Pass holders, as well as Resident Pass holders and their dependents under the talent category. Applicants whose endorsement payments were
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) announced that a “rolling” calculation will now be used to monitor residence under the short-term track. Key Points: • Within the Fast Track Scheme, the short-term track grants a residence and work permit valid for up to 90 days. • These 90 days can
Swedish immigration authorities advised that work permits now must meet more stringent conditions. Key Points: As part of the new work permit model announced in May, Standard Industrial Classification (SNI) codes, which specify the field(s) of industry a business operates in, and the Swedish Standard Classification of Occupations (SSYK) codes, which
The Swiss Federal Council announced protection status S will remain in place for Ukrainian refugees until March 2025. Key Points: • Government officials originally granted protection status S to Ukrainian refugees in March 2022, citing the ongoing conflict with Russia and the need to offer temporary protection to those in need. • An
Immigration New Zealand confirmed that employers can no longer use 90-day trial periods in employment agreements when hiring foreign nationals on an Accredited Employer Work Visa. Key Points: • Immigration officials will decline or request updated information if an AEWV job check application includes an employment agreement with a trial period. • The
Federal lawmakers agreed to a short-term spending measure that will fund government through early next year, averting a shutdown that would have impacted some immigration functions. Key Points: The Senate voted in favor of a
Hundreds of thousands of student athletes have made money from their name, image and likeness since the National Collegiate Athletic Association first allowed them to do so on July 1, 2021. While these deals have provided financial support for athletes at all levels of college sports, one group has been
Lawmakers reach a deal to avert a government shutdown. The government publishes a regulation on additional H-2B visas. And a new report estimates the economic cost of the U.S. green card backlog. Get this news and more in the new episode of BAL’s podcast,