Immigration Digest: 16 February 2024

At Mauve, we’re experts in global expansion and employment solutions, with our Visa & Immigration service integral to supporting businesses in broadening their horizons.

We know that today’s employers face an ever-evolving business landscape. With the shift towards international work and remote work, the option of expanding internationally or hiring abroad is becoming more and more appealing.

This brings the challenge of exploring your options, when it comes to seconding employees abroad and/or hiring new talent overseas. That’s where we come in. At Mauve Group, our talented and thorough Visa and Immigration team can help you to understand and comply with visa, immigration, and residency rules in your chosen country or countries.

Using our in-country expertise and worldwide network, we'll advise on the best immigration routes, and carry out your corporate work permit, global visa, and residency applications. So, you can trust us with the quick and compliant transfers of your new hires, business visitors, employees and dependents.

Naturally, it is vital for us to keep up-to-date with any and all updates to international visa and immigration regulations. Take a look at our latest Immigration Digest, and get in touch to find out how we can help you on your global expansion journey.

INDONESIA: New visa sub-types introduced

Indonesia has introduced new visa sub-types for exemption visas, single entry visas, multiple entry visas, and Limited Stay Visas (VITAS).

The new sub-types were introduced on January 9^th 2024, with the Indonesian government also launching a new platform to manage visa applications, which will support the introduction and integration of the new visa sub-types.

CANADA: Canada-Ukraine Authorisation for Emergency Travel (CUAET) Programme Update

In Canada, the programme known as CUAET has been extended in order to support individuals impacted by the war in Ukraine.

The updates include:

• An extended travel period until March 31^st 2024;
• The ability to extend visas free of charge while in-country until March 31^st 2024;
• An update to work permit eligibility criteria for Ukrainians and their immediate family members, along with several other measures.

More information on these updates is available here.

CANADA: Employers to review and adjust wages under temporary foreign worker program

Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) Workforce Solutions Road Map has been extended until August 30^th 2024.

From January 1^st 2024, foreign worker wages must be reviewed annually, to ensure fair remuneration. The goal of this update is to meet labour needs while prioritising Canadian employment. More information is available here.

PHILIPPINES: ACR-I annual report

A reminder has been issued by The Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines, to foreign nationals holding an Alien Certificate Registration (ACR-I) card, that they must complete the mandatory annual reporting.

HUNGARY: Updates to immigration rules + new immigration law

A new law which has been signed by Hungary's president nine months sooner than expected, and came into effect from January 1^st, introduced significant changes to immigration regulations; including separate categories for skilled workers and guest workers and the introduction of a new 10-year work permit for investors.

From January 1^st to February 28^th 2024, no new immigration or employment applications will be accepted or processed. Applications received prior to January 1^st will continue to be processed after February 29^th. Registration Certificates for EU nationals may also be suspended, but this remains unconfirmed. Residence permits with expiry dates during this time will be automatically extended until April 30^th.

PORTUGAL: Residence permits extended until June 30^th, 2024

In Portugal, Residence Permits and National Visas have been extended once again in response to processing delays. This extension does not apply to those who travelled from Ukraine and hold Temporary Protection Status in Portugal.

USA: Washington announces ‘final rule’ on H-1B visas

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a final rule to “strengthen the integrity of and reduce the potential for fraud” in the H-1B registration process. The final rule aims to create “a beneficiary-centric selection process for registrations by employers, codify start date flexibility for certain petitions subject to the congressionally mandated H-1B cap, and add more integrity measures related to the registration process.”

The initial registration period dates for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap were also announced. More information is available here.

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To enquire about Mauve’s global visa and immigration service, contact our team of experts here.