Immigration Digest: December Edition

Following another year of disruption and back-and-forth travel restrictions, we’re ending the year with a round-up of the latest immigration news from the last month.

New Zealand – 2022 Border Exemptions for Skilled Workers

On 15th December 2021, the New Zealand government announced further border exemptions to allow skilled workers to enter the country while border restrictions remain in place. The new exemptions will allow workers, partners, and dependent children of the technology sector to travel to New Zealand. Eligible workers include software and application programmers, intracompany transfer managers, intracompany transfer security specialists, and multimedia specialists.

Eligible workers, excluding multimedia specialists, must meet an annual salary threshold of a minimum of NZD 120,000 a year. Multimedia specialists must meet a minimum annual threshold of NZD 95,000. The new border exemptions will begin in early 2022.

For more information on other workers eligible for border exemptions, click here.

United States – USCIS Temporarily Waves 60-Day Signature Rule for Form I-693

Due to processing delays and disruptions from Covid-19, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced it will temporarily waive the requirement for a civil surgeon to sign on the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) within 60 days of an individual filing an application.  

The waiver is effective until 30th September 2022 – this is to assist applicants who have been impacted by the application processing delays, which have prevented them from finishing their medical exam by the correct deadline. The waiver permits applicants to submit their completed Form I-693 along with an application for immigration benefits, regardless of whether a civil surgeon has signed the form earlier than 60 days before.

For further information, click here.

Poland – New Quarantine Entrance Requirements for Non-EU Travellers

The government of Poland has announced an update on quarantine requirements for individuals travelling to Poland from outside of the European Union.

Until 31st January 2022, travellers to Poland from countries outside of the European Union will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine unless they present proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hour hours of departure. Currently, the government strictly only allows PCR tests, but further clarification on eligible Covid-19 tests is due to be released soon.

Fully vaccinated travellers will be exempt from the new quarantine requirements, providing they have received the final dose of a vaccine at least 14 days prior to departure.

For more updates from the Polish Government, click here for their website.

Ireland – Temporary Extensions of Immigration and International Protection Permissions

On 17th December 2021, the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee announced a further temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to the 31st May 2022. This applies to all permissions that were due to expire between the 15th of January and the 31st of May 2022.

All individuals wishing to stay in Ireland and are covered by the temporary extension should register or renew their permission to ensure they are eligible to remain in the State beyond the deadline.

The public registration office located in Burgh Quay is currently open for appointments. Dublin-based customers are permitted to renew their permission online. Due to increased demand for first-time registration appointments in the Dublin region, the Department is further announcing a new Freephone telephone booking system in January 2022.

For more information and contact details for the registration offices outside Dublin, click here.

United Kingdom – Introducing Vaccination Certificates for Fully Vaccinated 12-15-Year-Olds

The UK government has announced that fully vaccinated individuals aged 12 to 15 are now eligible to receive a Covid-19 vaccination certificate for international travel.

Since 13th December 2021, fully vaccinated individuals aged 12-15 can access the Covid-19 vaccination certificate. The intention is to ease travel restrictions and allow more dependent youths with approved vaccines to travel to more countries, such as Canada, which requires 12-15-year-olds to have received full vaccination to be exempt from specific quarantine and entrance requirements.

For more updates on international travel restrictions in the UK, click here.

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