ICYMI: June 12-26

Before we jump into global updates, let's talk about passports. Business travelers, short-term assignments, international permanent moves - they all need a passport and an appropriate visa for the type of move. For Americans, if your passport is set to expire, the process to renew it is relatively straightforward and most applicants can do it easily online. A few key notes from The Points Guy related to passports:

• When timing your passport renewal, there are many dates to consider. The most important date to remember is six months before your passport expires. This is because many countries require travelers to have a minimum of six months of passport validity left at the time of entry.
• U.S. passports are valid for 10 years for most adults and five years for passports issued before the age of 16.
• When you identify all of the dates for your specific circumstances, you should check current passport processing times, which change frequently. 

Additionally, BAL shared that the U.S. State Department is opening 6 new passport agencies across the country. The six new passport agencies equipped to provide services for urgent travel needs will be established in Salt Lake City, Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; Orlando, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Now, let's catch you up on what's happening around the world that might impact global mobility programs:

1. Singapore: Singapore’s port, already one of the busiest in the world, is facing a sustained period of congestion as vessel diversions to avoid the Red Sea push more container ships to the Asian maritime hub. Per this Bloomberg article, “Singapore’s yard utilization rates, a measure of how busy a container port is, rose to nearly 90% last month, compared with optimum levels of around 70%”. The congestion of containers ships isn’t likely to dissipate anytime soon, and spot rates for vessels are likely to climb even further.
    
2. Thailand: Thailand has become the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of passing the bill following a final reading, with 130 senators voting in favor and only four opposing. The bill still requires endorsement from the king before marriage equality can become reality in Thailand, but this process is considered a formality. The law will then come into effect 120 days after it is published in the royal gazette. Expect updates from immigration partners soon.
    
3. China: According to Envoy Global, the government of China transitioned the online work permit application system to a new website called the National Human Resources and Social Security Government Service Platform. This change aims to simplify and streamline the application process. Employers registered on the old site must reset their passwords to submit new work permit applications or continue with ongoing ones, and they may need to resubmit some documents. Temporary technical issues may occur during the transition phase.  China also announced that it will include Australia in its visa waiver program, in the latest sign of warming relations between the two countries.
    
4.  India: Per Reuters, an Indian health ministry official said there were more than 40,000 suspected heat stroke cases and at least 110 confirmed deaths between March 1 and June 18, when northwest and eastern India recorded twice the usual number of heat wave days. The weather office has forecast above normal temperatures for this month too, as authorities say Indian cities have become "heat traps" due to unbalanced growth. It's a good time to check with employees that they have a plan in place for monitoring their health and know what to do in case of emergencies. Bangalore and Delhi also face water shortages that exacerbate the challenges of staying hydrated.
    
5. Kuwait: Fragomen reports that Kuwait has implemented several revisions to its work permit system. First, work permits no longer distinguish between local or foreign workers. Second, the standard government processing fee for a work permit for foreign workers is now KWD 325, up from KWD 175. Third, foreign workers who change employers within three years of being granted their work permit must now pay an early transfer fee of KWD 300.
    
6. Ireland: This is a very specific update that may only impact a few mobility programs relocating people into the counties of Cork or Limerick. From Fragomen, first-time IRP applicants from these counties will need to apply in person at the Burgh Quay Registration Office in Dublin; while IRP renewal applicants from these counties will need to apply online, using the Immigration Service Delivery online portal. Many first-time applicants will face a more inconvenient application process as they now need to travel to Dublin; while renewal applicants will benefit from a simpler process.
    
7. Czech Republic: The Czech Republic will permit nationals of nine countries free access to the Czech labor market beginning 1 July 2024. These countries include: Australia, New Zealand, U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Find more here from Envoy Global. 
    
8. United States: Per EIG, the Biden administration announced the U.S. will allow individuals, who have earned a degree at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education in the United States, and who have received an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree, to more quickly receive work visas. This includes DACA recipients. DHS will join the Department of State to more efficiently facilitate certain employment-based nonimmigrant visas for eligible individuals. USCIS also has a new email address: USCIS has transitioned their email messaging service to a “.gov” email address. Future emails from the USCIS feed will show this new “uscis@messages.dhs.gov” sender address and no longer display the “@public.govdelivery.com” handle.
    
9. United Kingdom: Randstad UK’s January 2024 poll, which surveyed 12,000 individuals aged 18 to retirement, revealed that 27 percent of workers intend to switch jobs within the next half year. The survey also highlighted that nearly a fifth of employees (19%) had already changed jobs in the six months leading up to January 2024. The top cited reasons were to improve work-life balance, getting a better offer, lack career growth, and lack of interest/engagement.
    
10. UAE: The UAE Government has announced the launch of the second phase of the Work Bundle, expanded to include all emirates through the digital ‘Work in UAE’ platform (www.workinuae.ae). This will provide a range of services enabling private-sector companies, individuals, and investors to complete employment and residency procedures using a unified, integrated platform that brings all relevant entities together. Additionally, the UAE was able to cut residency visa, work permit processing time from 1 month to 5 days!
     
11. Australia: According to EIG, as of July 1, 2024, visa conditions 8107, 8607 and 8608 are changing in response to the Australian Government’s Migration Strategy. The Australian Government have made improvements to support the labor market mobility of temporary migrants who have the following visas:

• Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) 
• Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) 
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494).

Holders of these visas who stop working with their sponsoring employer will have more time to find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa, or arrange to depart Australia. Learn more.

For more to consider for your mobility program, try one of the following:

Plus Relocation's 2024 Global Mobility Trends Report

The latest Mobility Minute from WERC

Mobility Mojo Newsletter (Educational Material)