John Corgan

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Hands of businessman signing contract

On June 23, 2023, the Italian government announced that foreign workers would be permitted to begin working in Italy while they wait to sign a contratto di soggiorno (contract of stay) at the immigration office. The change is part of a package of reforms intended to enable qualified foreign workers to begin employment in Italy in a more rapid fashion. While the foreign worker is still eventually required to sign the contract of stay, they no longer have to wait to do so before beginning formal employment.  …

Continue Reading Italy Loosens Post-Arrival Requirements for Foreign Workers

The Polish government has reportedly begun relaxing work permit requirements for certain individuals working remotely in the country for foreign employers. The policy change has been announced in agency guidance issued by the Ministry of Family and Social Policy, which exercises responsibility over the Polish labor market. The move is a departure from the government’s previous policy requiring nearly all gainfully employed foreign workers located in Polish territory to obtain a work permit – even if their physical location was incidental to their work. Poland’s relaxation of work permit rules for remote workers comes as several other countries – including Spain, Italy, Romania, Iceland, and the United Arab Emirates – have introduced remote worker (or “Digital Nomad”) visas to attract an increasingly mobile class of global talent.  …

Continue Reading Poland Relaxes Work Authorization Rules for Remote Workers

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Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has announced that all subclass 482 visa holders will be eligible to apply for permanent residency by the end of 2023. Currently, subclass 482 visa holders in short-term occupations are unable to seek permanent residency. The government will also allow short-term subclass 482 visa holders to renew their visas indefinitely, and will reduce the required employment period before seeking permanent residency from three years to two. The new policies are designed to provide more equitable access to permanent residency in Australia.…

Continue Reading Australia Expands Eligibility for Permanent Residency

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Effective July 1, 2023, the Australian government will raise the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) from AUD $53,900 to AUD $70,000. The move is a response to the government’s independent “Review of the Migration System,” which recently recommended actions for updating Australia’s immigration system. Raising the TSMIT will affect eligibility for the Subclass 482 visa – a Temporary Skill Shortage visa designed to allow employers to sponsor a suitably skilled foreign worker to fill a position for which a qualified Australian candidate cannot be found. According to the government announcement, around 90% of full-time jobs in Australia are now paid more than the current TSMIT.…

Continue Reading Australia Raises Income Threshold for Skilled Migrant Visas

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On April 18, 2023, the European Parliament approved a visa liberalization regime for Kosovar nationals that enables visa-free travel to the Schengen Area. Under the plan, citizens of Kosovo will be allowed to travel to the Schengen Area without requesting a visa, for periods of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. EU citizens will likewise be allowed to travel to Kosovo without a visa. The law is set to enter into force once the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) becomes active, which is expected in 2024.…

Continue Reading European Parliament Approves Visa-Free Travel for Kosovo

Effective April 1, 2023, South Korea has temporarily exempted travelers from twenty-two countries and regions from the requirement to obtain a Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) before entry. The exemption will be in place through at least December 31, 2024. Among the locations covered by the exemptions are the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan. According to the notice by South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the temporary policy is intended to support the revitalization of the country’s tourism industry, which has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Continue Reading South Korea Announces Travel Authorization Exemptions

On Monday, March 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had received a sufficient number of H-1B registrations through its electronic registration system to reach the annual cap for FY 2024. The announcement includes registrations for both the 65,000 regular cap as well as the 20,000 slots allotted for the U.S. advanced degree exemption (or “master’s cap”). H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2024 may be submitted based on valid, selected registrations beginning April 1, 2023. While USCIS has not announced plans for additional selections, valid registrations remain eligible for selection if the number of petitions actually submitted does not allow the agency to reach the annual cap. …

Continue Reading USCIS Completes Initial H-1B Registration Selection Process for FY 2024

Effective September 1, 2023, the government of Singapore will require companies sponsoring foreign nationals for new Employment Passes (EPs) to verify the individual’s academic credentials. This policy will also apply to renewal applications as of September 1, 2024. Previously, verification of academic credentials was only required at government request and for select countries and institutions. Singapore’s announcement is intended to prevent fraudulent submissions and ensure the authenticity of visa applicants’ qualifications.…

Continue Reading Singapore Adopts Education Verification Requirement

Effective March 1, 2023, the Japanese government has lifted some COVID-related travel restrictions for passengers arriving from mainland China. Previously, all passengers traveling from mainland China were subject to on-arrival COVID testing. Under the new regulations, only around 20% of passengers arriving on direct flights from mainland China will be subject to on-arrival testing, with the goal of collecting samples for genome sequencing. All travelers from mainland China are still required to show proof of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. Japan’s announcement comes as other countries, such as South Korea, have begun rolling back travel requirements that were imposed on passengers from China following the end of that country’s “Zero COVID” policy.…

Continue Reading Japan Eases COVID Requirements for Travelers from China

On February 16, 2023, the Irish government announced the extension of a Temporary Protection program for individuals fleeing the war in Ukraine. As the initial Temporary Protection program was valid for only twelve months, the first set of permissions was set to expire on March 9, 2023. Under the terms of the announcement, the Temporary Protection program will be extended for an additional twelve months, to March 2024. Ireland’s move comes as the European Commission – the executive arm of the European Union – has extended its own Temporary Protection Directive through at least March 4, 2024.  …

Continue Reading Ireland Extends Temporary Protections for Ukrainian Nationals