ICYMI: Oct 31 - Nov 13

A lot has happened in the last two weeks! Let's catch up on some recent changes that might have an impact on your mobility program. 

1. Finland: New income thresholds for residence permit applicants will affect applications that are submitted on or after November 1, 2024. You are considered to have sufficient financial resources if your net earnings meet the required level, which is the income threshold in euros determined by the Finnish Immigration Service. Click here to see those new income thresholds.
    
2. Italy: From Corporate Immigration Partners, there are new confirmation requirements for work permits in 2025. Italy now requires employers to confirm interest in an approved work permit for EU Blue Card and quota-subject applicants. Employers have seven days to respond after receiving an official email, and failure to do so results in permit revocation. This policy change begins on January 11, 2025, adding a new step to Italy’s work permit process.
    
3. Canada: Per Fragomen, Canada has new discretionary guidelines for temporary resident visas. According to updated guidelines, immigration officers are now encouraged to use their discretion to decide whether to issue a single- or a multiple-entry visa based on the applicant’s individual circumstances, including the purpose of travel, financial stability, medical considerations, and ties to their home country. 
    
4. United Kingdom: According to Dentons, the scope of the U.K.'s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme and its applicability to non-visa nationals will shortly be extended. Starting Nov 27, 2024, eligible non-Europeans, including nationals of the U.S., Canada, and Australia, can make an application for an ETA. This will be mandatory to travel to the UK as of January 8, 2025.  The scheme will then be extended to eligible Europeans, including nationals of all EU member states, starting March 5, 2025. Eligible Europeans will require a mandatory ETA to travel from April 2, 2025. 
   
   Additionally, an urgent travel warning has been issued over 18 popular winter holiday destinations.
    
5. United States: Foreign workers face long wait times for employment-based green cards and are pursuing long-term permanent residency in the U.S. without a company sponsoring them. As reported by Bloomberg, recent guidance from the Department of Homeland Security has highlighted pathways to green cards for workers with “extraordinary ability” or those making contributions in the national interest. However, delays in clearing labor certification hurdles and anxieties over a change in administration are also fueling attempts by many workers to self-petition for tougher green card categories. The professions of EB-1 recipients can span the gamut from scientists and musicians to athletes and fashion designers. Securing permanent residency offers foreign-born workers the ability to change jobs without restriction, leading to higher incomes and productivity. Some employers themselves are supporting workers pursuing self-petition options because they offer more certainty on the long-term status of key workers. 
   
   Additionally, beware of holiday travel scams, as travelers with TSA precheck are being targeted.
    
6. UAE: Per BAL, the UAE announced that the grace period for foreign nationals with expired residence permits to resolve their immigration status has been extended until Dec. 31. This will allow individuals extra time to regularize their status or depart the country without penalty. The adjustment includes waiving fines and legal consequences.
    
7. Australia: Fragomen reports that Australia has released a new Migration Strategy, which details a number of changes. There will be a new Skills in Demand visa with three pathways based on the foreign worker’s proposed earnings in Australia. Additionally, the government has streamlined labor market testing requirements, simplified the immigration process system-wide, added a new agency to identify skills needs, and created a new points system for permanent skilled migration.
    
8. Panama: The government of Panama has published a decree that expands visa-exempt status granted to foreign nationals from visa-required countries. This includes individuals who hold a multiple-entry visa or residence permit issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, or a European Union member state. These foreign nationals no longer need to show that their visa or permit has been used at least once to enter the issuing country or that it is valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry into Panama. Instead, they only need to show that their eligible visa or permit is valid at the time of entry to Panama. You can get more details on this from Fragomen.
    
9. Thailand: Envoy Global notes that Thailand has rolled out an automated biometric identification system as of Nov 1, 2024. The system uses facial recognition at six major international airports. This system, led by Airports of Thailand (AOT), aims to streamline passenger identification and reduce wait times.  Also, per this article, keep a watch as the Thai revenue departments will be looking to create new legislation to link visas and tax returns. Expats staying over 180 days must file by March 2025, impacting residency decisions. It also raises concerns about tax treaty interpretations and compliance.

Lastly, here are a few other resources that might be helpful for your talent mobility planning: 

BAL Immigration Report: BAL’s David Wagner and Nathan McKinlay-Roy continue their discussion on treaty visas from Episode 97 focusing on the E-3 classification for Australian nationals. Plus, the latest immigration news.

Fragomen webinar: Wednesday, Nov 13 - The Impact of the Incoming Trump Administration on You and Your Employees.

Erickson Immigration (EIG) webinar: Wednesday, Nov 13 - Immigration After the Election. 

Envoy Global News November 2024: Great resource for a host of immigration updates all over the world.