ICYMI: climate change, immigration updates, and political upheaval

Welcome back to our bi-weekly review of what has been happening (or is coming) that could impact your global mobility program and locations where you might be moving talent! Europe and North America are experiencing some of the hottest temperatures on record, flash flooding is overwhelming some locations, and some places have local strikes and protests going on! 

In case you missed it,  catch up on some of these events and stay on top of duty of care for your relocating employees. Let's look around the world and see what's happening:

1. United Kingdom: Significant changes have been introduced to the UK’s immigration system, including a rebranding of the Skilled Worker visa to the "UK Work Visa" and the Intra-Company Transfer visa to the "Innovator Visa". The Global Talent visa has also been expanded to include a wider range of fields, such as fashion, film, and architecture. Additionally, the UK has lowered the general salary threshold for skilled workers and implemented a new "Fast Track" system for certain healthcare professionals to expedite their visa applications. More information on these changes can be found at Newland Chase. Amidst these changes, the UK has also announced significant fee increases for immigration applications. The fee hikes range from 1.5% to 33%, impacting various visa categories, including work visas, family visas, and British citizenship applications.
2. Kenya: The New York Times is covering antigovernment protests across Kenya that have left 31 people dead over the past weeks. These protests over price hikes and new taxes have cost the country about $20 million each day, not counting lost foreign investment as investors look towards other locations like Tanzania.
3. Kuwait: In a recent poll on LInkedIn, Kuwait came in as the location liked least by expats confirming what this year's Expat Insider survey reported. Per the AL-Monitor, Kuwait has performed consistently low over the past 10 years of the survey. Expatriates are particularly unhappy with their quality of life (53rd) and their leisure options (53rd). Almost half of those surveyed said they feel they cannot openly express their opinions and found it difficult to find friends. In addition, the country’s healthcare system falls short in terms of availability, affordability, and quality.
4. Spain: In our other LinkedIn poll, we noted that Spain came out as country that expats like most, elevating Spain above Mexico, which was the winner in the Expat Insider survey this year. Expats enjoy the comfortable climate, rich and diverse culture, great healthcare, high quality of life, and many residence permit options! At the same time, unionized rail workers and airline pilots have been striking and creating some travel challenges that your employees should be alert of potential travel disruptions. Spain and Greece also have travel alerts related to "extreme heat".
5. Israel: The United States and Israel have signed an agreement to include Israel in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This move allows Israeli citizens to visit the United States for up to 90 days without needing a visa, simplifying travel between the two countries. However, the implementation of Israel's inclusion in the VWP will only occur after specific security measures and requirements are met, ensuring the safety and integrity of the program. 
6. Czech Republic: The Czech government has given the green light to a new residence permit program for digital nomads. The program allows remote workers to live and work in the Czech Republic for up to two years. Digital nomads will need to prove sufficient income and health insurance coverage to be eligible for the residence permit.
7. Sweden: Sweden is planning to tighten its immigration rules for family members of foreign residents starting in October 2023. Family members of non-EU residents will face stricter requirements to join their relatives in Sweden. The new rules aim to reduce the number of family reunification visas granted and could make it more challenging for non-EU residents to be reunited with their family members in Sweden.
8. New Zealand: Starting October 2023, New Zealand is set to launch a new Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) visa route. The updated SMC visa will prioritize highly skilled workers, with points awarded for factors such as work experience, qualifications, and job offers. This new route aims to attract skilled talent to New Zealand and address specific labor market needs, making it easier for qualified individuals to immigrate to the country for work opportunities. More criteria for this new visa can be found here.
9. Canada: New measures have been announced to make it easier for Hong Kong residents to stay and work in Canada. As of July 2023, Hong Kong residents who have graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution can apply for an open work permit, allowing them to work for any employer in Canada without a job offer. Additionally, individuals who have completed at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada can apply for permanent residency through the new pathway, facilitating their transition to becoming Canadian permanent residents.
10. United States: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a remote I-9 verification option in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This alternative allows employers to verify the identity and employment authorization of their employees without conducting in-person document examinations. The remote option will remain available until the DHS declares an end to the virtual verification policy or provides further updates.

Europe is having numerous ongoing strikes and protests and Euronews.travel is a good resource to bookmark! As is TPG, The Points Guy. And as always, tapping into the risk alerts from Crisis24 can catch you up each morning on where specific daily issues are occuring.