ICYMI: May 29 - June 11

This time last year we were writing about how airfare costs had been continuing to climb, spiking last April 18.6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This year, April 2025 data shows that for both travel-related items and the overall economy, inflation remained largely in check for the month. 

According to the U.S. Travel Association, airline fares fell for the third consecutive month and are almost 8% lower than at the same time last year. Hotel prices also fell for the second month in a row, down 0.2% and 2.4% lower than the previous year. Energy prices have also declined, and gas is almost 12% cheaper than it was last year. 

As companies continue to navigate trade wars and economic volatility, we will continue to monitor how everything is impacting global mobility programs. In case you missed it, here are some global updates to take a look at:

1. United States: According to BAL, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues to roll out airport modernization enhancements to support the expected increase in international travel, including Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) and Seamless Border Entry (SBE) at certain U.S. airports. 
   As noted by this Gibney Immigration newsletter, on May 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of State issued a press statement announcing that it will work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. Additionally, DHS will revise the visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong. There has been no further information with regard to this initiative since the short statement was released. Additionally, the Department of State issued a cable instructing U.S. Embassies and Consulates to pause scheduling new visa appointments for foreign nationals seeking to obtain student and exchange visitor visas (F, M, and J visa classifications).  
   Then, per HR Magazine, HR and mobility professionals should more intensely prepare staff for travel to the US in response to reports of stricter immigration enforcement and more aggressive border screening in the US. The article explains that experts feel HR professionals need to understand the new risks of business travel, especially when the purpose for a staff member being there isn’t clear. And of course, by now, you have heard of the travel ban into the United States. President Trump has issued a proclamation banning the entry of nationals from 19 countries into the United States which went into effect on June 9, citing national security concerns. Find more on this here.
    
2. Canada: BAL notes that on June 6, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced new legislation extending citizenship by descent beyond the current first-generation limit. The bill’s new framework for citizenship by descent would allow access to Canadian citizenship beyond the first generation if the parent had a substantial connection to Canada demonstrated by about three years of physical presence in the country before their child’s birth or adoption. Stay tuned as the bill needs to pass both Houses of Parliament in order to become law. 
   Also, per Envoy Global, Canada extended a temporary policy on 27 May 2025, allowing eligible foreign nationals to switch employers without waiting for their new work permit to be finalized. This initiative, initially introduced during the COVID-19 period, is designed to support foreign workers facing unexpected employment challenges. 
    
3. Nigeria: a number of countries around the world are experiencing extreme weather events, including in Nigeria, where torrential rains have triggered deadly floods and widespread devastation. Flooding in Nigeria's Niger State last week has killed 151 people and forced several thousand from their homes, an emergency official told Reuters.
    
4. India: Parts of India are also experiencing intense heavy rains. At least 34 people have died in the nation’s northeastern region after heavy floods caused landslides over the last four days, and the weather department predicts more heavy rain. Additionally, Mumbai has experienced pre-monsoon mayhem and thousands of residents once again found themselves flooded when roads turned into rivers, vehicles broke down mid-commute, and low-lying neighborhoods were waterlogged within hours. Just recently in Delhi some died and many were injured during a recent severe hailstorm. The reality is that from Delhi in the north to Bengaluru in the south, India's biggest cities flood every monsoon season. Roads collapse, drains overflow, infrastructure is overwhelmed and traffic grinds to a halt.
    
5. New Zealand: From Envoy Global, effective May 26, 2025, New Zealand is extending visa durations for sports professionals based on their level of competition, up to 36 months for those at a national or regional level. Extensions are available for contract renewals as well.
    
6. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has paused the issuance of ‘block work visa quotas’ for nationals of Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen. A block visa is a pre-approval granted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development that allows companies to recruit a specific number of foreign nationals. More on this is available from Fragomen here.
    
7. Slovakia: Starting on September 1, 2025, Slovakia will require employers to submit labor office registration for foreign national employees exclusively through slovensko.sk in electronic format. Previously, many employers continued to file hard copies. Employers should prepare to transition to the digital system to ensure compliance before the deadline. 
    
8. France: Per Fragomen, France has updated its shortage occupations list to facilitate the hiring of third-country nationals. The previous list, in place since 2021, has been considerably modified, with key changes including: new occupations in the catering, cleaning, healthcare and agricultural sectors as well as for skilled and unskilled industrial workers; the deletion of most engineer and technician jobs, except in Île-de-France and some other regions; and new regional lists tailored to the French regions’ economic needs. This is effective as of May 21, 2025. 
    
9. Estonia: Also from Fragomen, effective January 1, 2026, the Estonian government will impose new restrictions on businesses based in Estonia hiring foreign workers, including:

• A new rule for companies applying for a temporary residence permit to prove at least six consecutive months of actual business activity in Estonia;
• A new rule for temporary work agencies leasing out foreign workers to prove six months of actual business activity in either Estonia or another European Economic Area Member State; and
• New rules for employers hiring foreign workers to register with the Estonian business register.

Globally, if you're looking for great places to help keep you in the loop on the latest immigration changes, check out some of these alert hubs from trusted providers around the world:

• EIG: Immigration alerts & Immigration Nerds Podcast
• Envoy Global: Insights and Alerts & 2025 Summer Travel Tips
• Fragomen: Immigration alerts
• BAL: Immigration news and alerts & 2025 July Visa Bulletin
• Expat Academy: Talking Global Mobility Podcast

Lastly, to help organizations stay ahead of all of the dynamic immigration developments, Plus Relocation is hosting an exclusive webinar (The Immigration Landscape – Geopolitics, Compliance & the Road Ahead) on June 12. We’re thrilled to welcome two leading experts from Erickson Immigration Group (EIG), Rob Taylor and Lynn-Samantha Severe, who will unpack the latest immigration trends and explore how businesses can adapt effectively in today’s complex global mobility environment. Register now to gain expert insights and practical strategies that will help your organization stay agile in a rapidly changing talent landscape.