ICYMI: Sept 18-Oct 2

Welcome to our latest update post for the world of mobility! As a reminder, we publish these In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) features every two weeks to keep you aware what's happening around the world that might impact mobility programs.

As we head into the last quarter of the year, let's look at some recent changes:

1. Japan: According to a Convinus alert, Japan is introducing a new travel authorization system. Officially, the aim of the new system is to reduce the number of illegal immigrants who enter Japan from visa waiver countries and regions. These individuals stay beyond the valid period of entry, which is currently between 14 and 90 days depending on the passport. The new system works very similarly to the U.S. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) and has been similarly labelled as JESTA.
    
2. Netherlands: For companies that hire highly skilled foreign employees or that post workers with specific skills abroad, the tax advantage notoriously referred to as the “30% facility for expats” will be altered as of January 1, 2025. This facility allows employers to provide a portion of the employee's salary tax-free as compensation for the additional expenses incurred by the employee for working outside their country of origin. This change reverses the curtailment of it, but reduces the 30% to 27% for a full five-year period starting in 2027. For 2025 and 2026, the tax-free allowance is set at 30%. This still has to be passed, but is what is being proposed.
    
3. United States: There are 5 major considerations for the U.S.
   1.) Due to a strike, there are huge fears of major port congestion. Per CNBC, due to the impending ILA (International Longshoreman Association) strike that started October 1, U.S. ports and shipping lines are already preparing for disruption. In the event that the labor strike is not resolved quickly, companies are anticipating lengthy delays to their services because of port congestion & rerouting of cargos. This will heavily impact U.S. companies and suppliers, as well as effecting supply chains across Europe, Oceania, Latin America, and Asia. 
   2.) As of September 10, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the validity of green cards to 36 months for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who file Form I-90. This extension applies to green cards that are expiring or have already expired. 
   3.) Congress has passed a short-term spending bill that will fund federal agencies – including immigration operations – through December 20, 2024. 
   4.) The State Department announced recently that its passport online renewal system is now fully operational after a pilot program test. This system is available to adult passport holders whose passport has expired within the past five years or will expire in the coming year. 
   5.) Individuals registering for the State Department's Diversity Lottery have from Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at noon EDT until Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at noon EST to register online at the State Department’s official Diversity Visa lottery website.
    
4. Canada: Per Fragomen, on September 18, 2024, the Canadian government announced several changes to the Canadian immigration system. This includes changes to the international student stream, the postgraduate work permit program, the ability of spouses to obtain work permits, as well as the potential for further scrutiny of business visitor visa applications. 
   Additionally, WERC reports that Canada and the U.S. have tightened air cargo shipment requirements and implemented new information disclosures. According to the supply chain industry trade publication The Loadstar, the heightened security and new measures are connected to warnings received by European logistics companies of “unconventional incendiary devices” being sent via freight services. There were two reported incidents involving DHL earlier this summer. This could cause temporary slowdowns on air shipment timelines.
    
5. UK, EU and U.S.: Also from WERC, the United States, European Union, and the United Kingdom have issued updates on pending new travel requirements that had been continually delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the U.S., the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) is proposing to provide federal agencies flexibility in enforcing the use of REAL ID for security screening for domestic flights. The EU has indicated that travelers to Schengen zone countries will need to register using the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) starting in May of next year. The U.K. government has announced the date of 8 January 2025 as to when its registration system known as travel authorization will take effect. Get more details here.
    
6. United Kingdom: EIG notes that on September 24, 2024, the UK Government announced new plans to cut historically high levels of net migration. The announcement bolsters the Home Secretary’s approach to tackle the root causes behind the UK’s long-term reliance on international recruitment. Sectors in the UK which are habitually reliant on overseas hires can anticipate scrutiny and may be investigated for compliance in training and upskilling UK workers. 
   Expat Focus also shares that the UK government has announced significant changes to its tax regime that will impact non-UK domiciled individuals from April 2025, particularly concerning Inheritance Tax (IHT) and domicile status. Get more info here.
    
7. Qatar: Again from EIG, the U.S. Department of State and Homeland Security announced that Qatar will be part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Starting no later than December 1, 2024, Nationals of Qatar will be able to apply for travel to the U.S. through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for tourism or business for up to 90 days without first obtaining a U.S. visa. 
    
8. Sri Lanka: According to BAL, the government of Sri Lanka has expanded its visa-free entry policy. The program already includes visa-free travel policy for nationals of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand. However, effective Oct. 1, foreign nationals from 35 countries will qualify for visa-free entry and be granted a single-entry tourist visa for a maximum period of 30 days. You can get a full list of those countries here. (Sneak peek, the U.S., U.K., and Canada  are included.)
    
9. Australia: The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) shared that they have launched a new mobile phone app called Australian Immi App (the app)​​​​. It provides facial biometric capture and verification capability. Visa applicants can now self-serve this part of the visa application process by using the app. The app is free to download and use. It will help clients save time and money as they won’t need to travel to a collection center every time they apply for a new visa.