Global Immigration Digest:

Our Global Immigration Digest is back for April; this week’s news post explores and summarises the visa and immigration developments affecting some of our key global locations this Spring.

United Kingdom

A ministerial statement published in March advised that Croatian workers will no longer be subject to the current work authorisation requirements in the UK which will be repealed on 30 June 2018.

When Croatia joined the EU in 2013, the UK and other member states were permitted to place restrictions on labour market access for Croatian nationals for five years – this could be further extended for an additional two years if evidence was shown that removing restrictions would lead to a ‘serious labour market disturbance’.

These restrictions have prevented Croatian nationals from working in the UK without permission – the new ruling will allow Croatians to work in the UK as EU nationals.

USA

To reduce overall H-1B processing times, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that premium processing for all Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B cap-subject petitions will be temporarily suspended until further notice, starting 2 April 2018.

UAE

From 1st April 2018, the UAE has provisionally suspended one of the document requirements for a new employment visa application until further notice; the good conduct certificate, also known as a police clearance certificate.

This requirement for new employment visa applications to provide a good conduct certificate, in Arabic and attested by the UAE embassy, was introduced in February 2018.

Panama

From 1st April 2018, Panama’s National Immigration Authority will be introducing a compulsory online application process to obtain travel permits for minors exiting the country with one or no parents. The introduction and administration related to the new system may cause delays which should be taken into account.

This new ruling applies only to Panamanian nationals or minor-aged residents and who are traveling with either one of their parents, with permission from the other parent, or with a third party permitted by both parents.

Travel permits are not needed if both parents are travelling with the child; the parents are able to exit using only their passports, and the child can do so with a Panamanian ID card or birth certificate.

To obtain the travel permit, applicants should complete an online application which involves uploaded passport and Panamanian ID copies for both parents and the minor in question. The authorisation then should be printed and certified by a notary.

Ireland

Effective 26 March 2018, the Employment Permits (Amendment) Regulations 2018 have introduced several changes to immigration and work permit options in Ireland, including important new document requirements and expansion of the qualifying roles permitted to apply for intra-company transfers.

The new rules require a copy of the signed employment contract to be submitted in support of all initial and renewal employment permit applications. Additionally, the Ineligible Categories of Employment List (ICEL) have been abandoned for Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit applications. Shortage occupations such as animation are now being incentivised to make ICT applications through their addition to the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations list (HSEOL).

For more information on any of the locations mentioned in this month’s digest or any general enquiries, please get in touch via the Contact Form – our global experts are on-hand for a free, no obligation 15-minute consultation.