ICYMI: Aug 21 - Sept 3

Travel and relocation today face significant challenges from multiple sources: geopolitical tensions, economic factors like high fuel costs and currency fluctuations, weather events and natural disasters, and labor shortages affecting infrastructure. Relocating employees and business travelers must contend with restricted airspace, visa barriers, and economic sanctions, while also navigating economic uncertainty, climate-related disruptions, and overall housing availability and affordability challenges. These factors require mobile employees, and their mobility team members, to be more intentional and informed in their planning. Mobility teams must monitor the issues impacting numerous key locations across their business to effectively navigate and manage mobility today! 

Much has happened since our last update so we are here to catch you up on the latest happenings that could have an impact on your global mobility programs and relocating employees.

European Union

• The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit that grants highly-qualified workers from outside the European Union the legal right to live and work in one of the 25 participating EU member states. The EU considers it a “merit-based” system as opposed to a “points-based” one: “either you have the skills or you don’t.” Learn more about who qualifies, what the benefits are and the details on how to apply - for businesses and jobseekers alike.

Croatia:

• As of January 1, 2021, foreign nationals can apply for a “Digital Nomad Visa”, a temporary stay permit without local company sponsorship, to stay for up to one year in Croatia. Update August 26, 2025: This visa allows an initial stay of 18 months with a further renewal period of 18 months, for a potential stay of 36 months. The visa offers foreign nationals the option to reside and work remotely from Croatia, whereas all work permits in Croatia previously required local employer sponsorship.

France:

• France’s largest air traffic control union plans 24-hour strike in September. Travel plans for thousands of passengers this September are set to be disrupted after France’s largest air traffic control union filed a strike motion. The SNCTA union confirmed it will go on strike for 24 hours, from the morning of  September 18 to the end of September 19. Representing about 60% of France’s air traffic controllers, the union is the largest in the country. 

United States

• DHS Announces Implementation of New Fees for ESTA, EVUS, and Land Border I-94 Forms, Starting September 30, DHS will implement new CBP fees authorized by H.R. 1 budget reconciliation legislation. The ESTA application fee for B-1/B-2 travel under the Visa Waiver program will increase to $40, from $21. A new fee of $30 will be imposed on EVUS applicants, the online travel authorization system for Chinese B-1/B-2 visa holders. A fee of $24 will be added to the existing $6 fee for land border Forms I-94, resulting in a total fee of $30.
• USCIS reinstated neighborhood investigations for naturalization applicants under INA § 335(a), effective August 22, 2025. They will now conduct discretionary, case-by-case reviews under INA 335(a) to assess eligibility. These investigations may include a review of the applicant’s residence, employment history and community reputation, covering at least the five-year period prior to filing. 
• New Interview Requirement: Immigrant Visa Applicants Must Interview in Country of Residence: Effective November 1, 2025, the US Department of State (DoS) will require immigrant visa applicants to attend their visa interviews in the consular district of their country of residence. Alternatively, applicants may request to interview in their country of nationality, subject to approval. 
• TSA launches pilot security program for international travel: The Transportation Security Administration announced the implementation of the One Stop Security pilot program, allowing eligible international travelers to bypass TSA rescreening upon arrival in the U.S.
• Real estate: After being decidedly a seller’s market for years, the housing market is shifting. But it is too early to call the market a buyer’s market. Instead, we are in a ‘stuck’ market, which is likely where we will stay as we head into fall.
• The end of the “de minimis” exemption, which applies to packages valued under $800, has sparked concern and confusion among international exporters and mail carriers. It also has us watching whether there will be much of an impact on certain personal household goods shipments as there's the potential for reduced shipment options and higher costs. Brian Fournier, VP/General Manager at Expat Relocation Solutions explains, “Air shipments are where this may be most felt. If outbound cargo decreases in any given location and there is not enough cargo to merit sending cargo aircraft to a location on their normal routing, the airlines could suspend or reduce traffic or reposition aircraft to different lanes. This could have an impact on HHGs air cargo in that there would be fewer flights and less space to book cargo, creating longer transit times and increased costs.”

Australia

• Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) will begin consultations to review the occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) for 2025 shortly. JSA will publish information on the consultation process on the Jobs and Skills Australia website shortly. This will include opportunities for stakeholder feedback. Obviously more to come on this later.

UAE:

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the Dubai AI Immigration Corridor, a document-free passenger clearance system at Dubai International Airport (DXB). As part of the “Travel Without Borders” initiative, the system utilizes artificial intelligence and pre-registered biometric data to verify identities in under 14 seconds, thereby streamlining the immigration process for travelers.

Japan

• The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) has published proposed amendments which would significantly tighten the qualifying criteria for the Business Manager Visa. Holders of the visa can remain in Japan for a period of up to five years. They can bring family members, and the visa is renewable. The ISA proposes to require an investment of JPY 30 million (approximately USD 200,000) and the hiring of at least one full-time employee.

Indonesia

• Mass protests continue across Indonesia, triggered by public outrage over controversial parliamentary perks and further intensified by the death of a 21-year-old delivery rider during a demonstration in Jakarta. Since August 25 2025, at least 6 people have died, with reports of arson, looting, and violence across multiple cities. The unrest has now spread from Jakarta to Yogyakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Semarang, Medan, and several suburban areas outside the capital. Our partners there strongly advise all assignees to work from home until further notice. Office access may be restricted or discouraged in affected areas, especially within SCBD (Singapore Central Business District). 

Singapore

• Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has released the new Salary Benchmarks table for the COMPASS. The new salary benchmarks have been updated, which is done once per year, to reflect the latest market conditions. The current benchmarking table, released in August 2024, will remain effective for new EP applications from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, and for EP renewal applications of passes expiring from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

Hong Kong

• Hong Kong will raise immigration service fees beginning September 8, 2025. Fee increases range from 3% to 51%, based on cost recovery principles. Affected services include visas, passports, and travel documents. Updated fees align with service delivery costs and efficiency goals. 
• Hong Kong expanded e-Channel access on June 26, 2025, allowing eligible PRC passport holders in transit to clear immigration faster.

Philippines

• The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued supplemental guidelines providing additional information, clarifications, and procedural updates on the issuance of work permits for foreign nationals in the Philippines. The guidelines remove the mandatory posting of job vacancies in PhilJobNet and the Public Employment Service Office, making publication in a newspaper of general circulation the sole requirement for labor market testing.

Some additional resources to consider as you manage mobility:

1. Upcoming immigration webinar from HR Morning: Beyond the Backlog: A Modern Strategy for U.S. Immigration and Workforce Growth - U.S. immigration processes have become increasingly complex, with backlogs reaching unprecedented levels in 2025. Between processing delays leaving candidates in limbo, H-1B limitations restricting your hiring options, and PERM-based Green Card obstacles create retention risks, it can feel impossible to catch up. Attend to better understand how to navigate the current landscape, implement strategic control, and address bottlenecks to enhance the employee experience. 
2. Podcast: How New H-1B Rules Could Reshape Foreign Worker Entry to the US: Host Lauren Clarke dives into major H-1B developments with immigration reporter Andrew Kreighbaum from Bloomberg Law. They discuss the Trump administration’s proposed weighted selection rule that cleared White House review, which could fundamentally change the H-1B lottery system from random selection to wage-based allocation. 
3. Webinar: Immigration Challenges & Opportunities: Navigating Change in a Complex Landscape: As the world adapts to shifting political and economic landscapes in the United States, global immigration policies and practices are evolving at a rapid pace. In this insightful webinar, we will explore the latest immigration trends, key challenges, and opportunities across the United States and how those affect Canada, Mexico, and the UK. 
4. Webinar: The Immigration Playbook - Visa prep for the world’s biggest sporting stages: This one from BAL features leading sports immigration attorneys who explore how FIFA and other mega-event organizers help teams navigate the complex visa landscape. Whether you're part of a national team, media network, commercial partner or entertainment, this session will help you stay in bounds when it comes to immigration planning. 
5. FlightRadar24: Tap in and see where the latest travel disruptions are occurring. Those with a red rating between 3.5 - 5.0 are having major problems with long delays and several canceled flights. 
6. Global shipping update: Bournes highlights what's happening around the world. Get their updates and recommendations for key actions to minimize risk!