ICYMI: Dec 26 - Jan 8

We're committed to keeping you in the know. As we kick off 2025, let's take a look at what's happened over the holidays that could affect your global mobility program. That means the latest travel challenges, immigration changes, geopolitical happenings, supply chain strikes, natural disasters, and anything else that might have an impact on moving your talent or monitoring their safety. 

To review other recent updates, just type in “ICYMI” into the search bar on this page and you can access all of the updates.

Today, we have seven countries to focus on. In case you missed it:

1. United States: Winter Storm Blair has hit the middle of the U.S., causing over 10,000 flight cancellations and treacherous travel conditions. Mid-Atlantic states are currently under a severe winter weather warning. Moving services are being impacted in many areas, and our team has updated clients and partners with any schedule changes. 
   Second, there is yet another looming potential strike in U.S. ports over the issue of automation. In the event of a strike, companies should expect delays in cargo and higher freight rates, some of which could be passed on to American consumers through increased prices. On Dec. 24, Hapag-Lloyd alerted its customers to expect surcharges of $850 for 20-foot containers and $1,700 for 40-foot units affected by a strike. 
   Additionally, the IRS has boosted the mileage reimbursement rate for 2025 to 70 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3 cents from 2024. 
   Finally, EIG has called attention to a revised version of USCIS Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. As of January 17, 2025, the new form aligns with the new H-1B final rule and will replace the current form, dated April 1, 2024. There will be no grace period, and starting on January 17, USCIS will reject any petitions that use the previous forms. USCIS has provided a preview version of the updated form and instructions with the reminder that the new Form I-129 cannot be submitted prior to January 17. 
    
2. United Kingdom: Starting on January 8, 2025, citizens from multiple countries, including the United States, will require a new electronic travel authorization (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom as visitors without a visa. Affected travelers, employees and employers should account for this additional procedural step and cost when making plans for travel or transit through the United Kingdom, although the ETA application is generally processed within a few days. You can read more on the topic here, from Gibney.
    
3. South Africa: Per BAL, South Africa’s Ministry of Home Affairs extended the temporary concession for certain visa and waiver applications to March 31, 2025. As BAL has reported, under the previous extension, individuals with pending visa or waiver applications were permitted to stay in South Africa through Dec. 31, 2024. Now, the Department of Home Affairs has issued a directive stating that long-term visa applications, as well as appeal and waiver applications still pending as of Nov. 30, 2024, are automatically extended until March 31, 2025.
    
4. Canada: The Government of Canada has taken action to reduce fraud in the Express Entry system. Express Entry candidates will no longer receive additional points for having a job offer. This temporary measure will reduce fraud by removing the incentive to illegally buy or sell labour market impact assessments to improve a candidate’s chances of being selected to come to Canada as a permanent resident. This change will come into effect in spring 2025. 
   In another piece of news shared by CTV News, Canada will admit fewer new immigrants this year to stabilize population growth. "Canada's federal government is changing course on immigration with a wave of tighter caps on newcomers and new rules for permanent and non-permanent residents." 
   Lastly, the most recent video in Plus's “Living in…” location series focuses on Life in Toronto. Check out what Mike Deane and Sarah Candler from All Points Relocation have to share! Get the latest on the neighborhoods, housing availability and costs, immigration, cost of living. and more. It's fantastic information for companies with Toronto as a talent hub!
    
5. Denmark: According to EIG, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has updated the Positive Lists for people with a higher education and for skilled work. The new lists started applying on January 1, 2025. The Positive List is a list of professions experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals in Denmark. If you have been offered a job included in the Positive List, you can apply for a residence and work permit in Denmark based on the scheme. There's more information here for companies who may be affected.
    
6. Malaysia: Fragomen reports that the Malaysian Immigration Department is requiring employers whose foreign nationals are changing Employment Pass categories to submit a “change of category letter” at the approval stage of the application. A sample letter can be found on the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation website. This new policy is part of the recently implemented process requiring employers to cancel their foreign national employee’s Employment Pass when they are applying for a change of category (Categories 1, 2, or 3).  
    
7. Philippines: The Bureau of Immigration is set to kick off the 2025 Annual Report for all registered foreign nationals starting on January. The Bureau has issued a notice reminding all registered foreign nationals in the Philippines to report in person to between January 1 and March 1, 2025. 

Check back in two weeks and we'll have even more updates for you! Buckle up, here comes 2025!