This Week’s Immigration News

Effective Immediately, foreign nationals who Zambia without valid health insurance must obtain local health insurance through the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA), on arrival at the port of entry.

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Effective 1 January 2020, the minimum qualifying salary for the S Pass will be increased from SGD 2300 to SGD 2400.

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The Ministry of National Education has issued a Resolution establishing or modifying the requirements and processing times of degree validation processes.

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In an attempt to crack down on forged degree certificates submitted in support of business (commercial) visit visa and residence permit applications, the Kuwait Ministry of Interior has issued an internal memo containing new rules for Egyptian nationals and graduates of Egyptian universities.

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The latest vital global immigration news and insights in your weekly update from Newland Chase.

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The government of France has proposed changes to the immigration rules, including a more accurate analysis of skills shortages, leading to sectoral immigration targets and shortage occupations lists, debated and defined annually.

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Effective immediately, residence permits issued to European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Area (EFTA) citizens (L, B and C permits) will have a new credit card-like format, including a biometric photograph and signature (no fingerprints), replacing the old paper permits.

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Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced a targeted review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) job classification system, which has moved some lower-skilled occupations over to the medium skilled occupation group.

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Effective immediately, non-visa waiver nationals are no longer eligible for the fast-track Hi-Tech (HIT) one-year B-1 work permit and visa process. This affects both new and renewal applications.

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Effective 3 November 2019, the immigration authorities will only accept residence permit renewal applications if supported by an attested electronic work contract.

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With no official announcement or explanation, Saudi consular authorities have recently begun issuing Work Visit and Commercial Visit Visas in a new format, which includes the phrase “not permitted to work” or similar wording. 

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The strike unexpectedly declared last week at Israeli consulates worldwide ended on Sunday, 3 November.

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The latest vital global immigration news and insights in your weekly update from Newland Chase.

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On 28 October 2019, the EU agreed a new ‘flextension’ of the Article 50 period: until 31 January 2020, with the option of the UK leaving earlier if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified in time.

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Effective 1 November 2019, the validity of all approval letters issued by MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation) for ICT companies will be revised from three months to six months. 

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Effective 28 October 2019, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has approved new regulations and a new form for address registration.

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Effective immediately, employees of the consular sections within all Israeli missions worldwide have unexpectedly declared a strike. The duration of the strike has not been announced.

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The Australian Department of Immigration announced over the weekend that they will be including Perth, Western Australia and the Gold Coast, Queensland as ‘regional’ areas for immigration purposes from November of this year. 

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On 28 October 2019, the EU agreed a new ‘flextension’ of the Article 50 period: until 31 January 2020, with the option of the UK leaving earlier if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified in time.

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The latest vital global immigration news and insights in your weekly update from Newland Chase.

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On 24 October 2019, the government published another statement of changes to the Immigration Rules to prepare for a potential no-deal Brexit.

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[UPDATE]

The recent policy change requiring an end date for employment contracts for Subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa applications has been dropped.  Visa processing officers have been notified that applications should be assessed in line with previous policy advice.

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Employers engaging foreign labour in Russia have until 31 December 2019 to confirm the vaccination against measles of all foreign nationals they employ.

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On 11 September 2019, the Belgian Council of State annulled two Royal Decrees that lay down the payment of residence administrative fees (the first of 16 February 2015 that introduced the administrative fee and the second of 14 February 2017 that raised the fee amount).

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Effective immediately, companies which are eligible for expedited work permit processing at the One-Stop Service Centre (OSSC) can now also submit pre-work permit approval (PWPA) applications at the OSSC.

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Effective 11 October 2019, foreign nationals who do not hold a valid tourist card, visa application receipt and/or residence receipt must request, by email and at least five days in advance of travel, a permit in order to exit Chile.

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On 17 Oct 2019, the Government of the United Kingdom and the EU Council agreed a modified Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration. However, on 19 Oct 2019, the UK Parliament voted to force the UK Government to request another extension of the Article 50 period. On 22 Oct 2019, parliament voted to take forward the government's Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which must be approved before the Withdrawal Agreement can be ratified in the UK, but voted against the government's fast-track timetable for scrutinizing the bill.

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The latest vital global immigration news and insights in your weekly update from Newland Chase.

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Newland Chase is preparing a submission of evidence and comments on behalf of its clients to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on the future of UK immigration. We are seeking input from interested individuals, companies, and organizations to help influence the future UK immigration policy post-Brexit.

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The German authorities have published current waiting times for visa appointments at the various German missions around India.

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