Latest Story

Spain: Heightened Degree Requirements for Work Permits in Fast-Track Processing

Spain: Heightened Degree Requirements for Work Permits in Fast-Track Processing

Work permit applicants are now required to hold the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree or a three-year degree plus a graduate-level degree in order to qualify for expedited immigration processing through Spain’s Large Business Immigration Unit. The Spanish government is imposing a heightened degree requirement on highly skilled work permit applicants using fast-track... »

Mozambique: New Short-Term Work Permit for Petroleum and Mining Industries

Mozambique: New Short-Term Work Permit for Petroleum and Mining Industries

The new permit will allow foreign nationals to work for employers in the petroleum and mining sectors for up to 180 days within a calendar year. The government of Mozambique has announced a new short-term permit that will allow foreign nationals to work for... »

Ireland: Government Plans New Investor/Entrepreneur Program and Other Immigration Changes for 2012

Ireland: Government Plans New Investor/Entrepreneur Program and Other Immigration Changes for 2012

In 2012, the Irish government intends to implement a new immigration program for investors and entrepreneurs, provide greater clarity on family reunification policy and enhance immigration cooperation with the United Kingdom, according to a recent announcement by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defense.... »

Finland: New Biometric Residence Permit Card Requires In-Person Registration

Finland: New Biometric Residence Permit Card Requires In-Person Registration

The Finnish government has begun issuing a new biometric residence permit card. Foreign nationals applying for a residence permit or permit extension must now apply in person to submit biometrics for the card. On January 1, 2012, the Finnish government began issuing a new... »

United States: President Signs Executive Order to Speed Visa Processing

United States: President Signs Executive Order to Speed Visa Processing

The executive order calls on the State Department to interview 80 percent of all visa applicants within three weeks and pilot a program to increase nonimmigrant visa processing in China and Brazil by 40 percent. The government also plans to expand the Visa Waiver... »

Czech Republic: Non-EU Nationals Must Register with Labor Office

Czech Republic: Non-EU Nationals Must Register with Labor Office

Non-European Union workers are now required to register with Czech labor authorities by their first day of employment if they began work after January 1, 2012. The new requirement is part of sweeping labor law reforms that took effect on January 1. Previously, only EU... »

France: Government Eases Work Options for Foreign Graduates

France: Government Eases Work Options for Foreign Graduates

The French government is lessening its scrutiny of work permit applications from foreign students seeking a change to employment status, which could make it easier for recent graduates to obtain work authorization. Under a new policy that took effect January 12, the French government... »

Nigeria: Government Stops Accepting New Immigration Applications During General Strike

Nigeria: Government Stops Accepting New Immigration Applications During General Strike

Though the Nigerian Immigration Service remains open and is expected to process pending applications, new applications are not being accepted during the strike. Long application processing delays are likely as a result. The Nigerian government has temporarily stopped accepting new immigration-related applications due to... »

United States: February 2012 Visa Bulletin: India/China EB-2 Priority Dates Advance One Year

United States: February 2012 Visa Bulletin: India/China EB-2 Priority Dates Advance One Year

In February, EB-2 priority dates for India and China will advance by one year, to January 1, 2010. EB-3 priority dates for professionals and skilled workers will advance by one week for India, to August 15, 2002; approximately one and a half months for... »

India: Government Allows Intracompany Changes of Employment

India: Government Allows Intracompany Changes of Employment

Foreign workers can change employers within the same corporate family, the Indian government has announced. Bangalore and Chennai are piloting an online foreign registration system, and Bangalore will now accept visa extension applications up to 60 days in advance – four weeks earlier than... »

Azerbaijan: Government Restructuring Leads to Longer Work Permit Processing Times

Azerbaijan: Government Restructuring Leads to Longer Work Permit Processing Times

Processing times for Azerbaijan work permits have increased significantly since the government involved a second agency in the application review process. Work permit applications are now adjudicated by the State Migration Service (SMS) as well as the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of... »

Panama: Faster Visa Processing Expected for Dependents of Most Foreign Workers

Panama: Faster Visa Processing Expected for Dependents of Most Foreign Workers

Visas for the dependents of many foreign workers are expected to be processed in two and a half to three months following an agreement among Panamanian government agencies to adjudicate dependent applications more quickly. Previously, dependent visas took six to nine months to process.... »

United States: DOL Postpones H-2B Wage Rule Until October 1, 2012

United States: DOL Postpones H-2B Wage Rule Until October 1, 2012

DOL has postponed until October 1, 2012 the effective date of a regulation to increase H-2B prevailing wages, as lawsuits against the rule continue and in the wake of a federal appropriations law that prohibits the agency from using funds to implement it. H-2B... »

Dominican Republic: Government Begins to Implement New Immigration Law

Dominican Republic: Government Begins to Implement New Immigration Law

In January 2012, the Dominican Republic will begin to implement its new immigration law. Over the coming months, new eligibility criteria and application procedures will be introduced for temporary work and permanent visa categories, with full implementation of the law expected to occur after... »

Belgium: Work Permit Requirement Extended for Bulgarian and Romanian Nationals

Belgium: Work Permit Requirement Extended for Bulgarian and Romanian Nationals

Bulgarian and Romanian nationals will need a work permit to take up employment in Belgium through December 31, 2013, the government has decided. However, Bulgarians and Romanians who seek to work in an occupation that is in demand may benefit from a streamlined application... »