ICYMI: Aug 6 - 19

Over the last two weeks since our last ICYMI post, much has happened. We are here to keep you updated on some of the latest impactors on talent mobility programs. Let's review the latest:

Household Goods updates:

• As most of you know, not much has changed with the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and to compound things, recent Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea are pausing the comeback to this other key shipping lane. An immediate return to large-scale conflict is considered unlikely, but maritime restrictions and the potential for rapid escalation remain.
• We are seeing extremely low water levels in the Rhine River, which have limited most ships and barges to sailing at 20% capacity, and, as a result, many are simply not sailing. This is causing shipping delays between the key port of Rotterdam and inland destinations. As this continues, the port of Rotterdam will experience increased congestion, and further delays will occur as containers stack up, unable to move.
• Drought in Panama has prompted the canal authority to limit the loads on the larger container ships. This will cause some Trans-Pacific cargo to be diverted to the North American West Coast ports. Of course, both of these situations are causing not only delays but also additional costs. As an example, MSC has added a €1,350 surcharge per 20-foot container due to the issue on the Rhine. Eastbound trans-Pacific rates were thought to have peaked in July but have now reached a record high and are expected to increase into September unless the situation in Panama changes.

United States

• Executive Order 14406 (Restoring Integrity to America's Financial Systems) is prompting new federal guidance from the CFPB, Treasury/FinCEN, and banking regulators. This guidance could complicate financial services access for international assignees on work visas, particularly those using ITINs instead of Social Security Numbers. While no law currently restricts immigrants from opening accounts or securing credit, lenders are now being encouraged to weigh visa-related employment interruptions when evaluating loan applications, which could affect assignees seeking mortgages, auto loans, or new banking relationships during a transfer. Mobility programs should watch for host-location banks requesting additional documentation or applying more caution to ITIN-based accounts, and consider flagging this to assignees proactively so it doesn't blindside them mid-relocation.
• Foreign nationals traveling to U.S.: Recent reports and practitioner observations indicate that some foreign nationals have been questioned, delayed, or detained at airports even when they may have valid immigration status or are in a period of authorized stay. Of particular concern are foreign nationals who are maintaining eligibility to remain in the United States through the timely filing of an extension or change of status petition or application. Travelers should review their Form I-94 before and after all travel to confirm that it accurately reflects their most recent admission, class of admission, and authorized period of stay. If a traveler's I-94 has expired and an extension, change of status, or immigration benefit request remains pending, it is recommended to speak with immigration counsel before traveling domestically.
• 60-day grace period to be eliminated? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will soon propose a rule to eliminate the 60-day grace period that H-1B and similar nonimmigrant visa holders receive if their employment ends before the expiration date of their visas. If the current 60-day grace period is eliminated, H-1B visa holders who lose their jobs may be required to leave the country immediately "and would likely be unable to change status or change employers unless [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] authorizes the change through an exercise of favorable discretion."

Canada

• Following the recent redesign of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), Ontario immigration authorities have confirmed that fully remote work arrangements are not accepted for employer-supported applications, providing additional clarity on a requirement that is not clearly stated in the written guidance. Employers should review remote and hybrid work arrangements before pursuing an OINP application to ensure the position is connected to an eligible Ontario business location.

Peru

• The National Superintendence of Immigration is experiencing operational challenges amid staffing constraints, recent personnel restructuring and government transitions. As a result, the notification mailboxes used by immigration authorities to communicate official case updates, including requests for additional information, observations and adjudication decisions, have been unavailable for approximately six days.

Colombia

• Update on earthquake impact: Migración Colombia has resumed in-person services in Armenia, Medellín and Popayán; offices in Cali, Manizales, Pereira and Quibdó remain temporarily closed. Commercial flights have resumed in Armenia, Buenaventura and Manizales, with some operational restrictions. Cartago and Pereira remain restricted, while Popayán is temporarily closed due to volcanic ash. Travelers should continue to confirm their flight status directly with their airline.

China

• The Chinese government has issued new exit and entry policies, which will take effect on September 15, 2026. The regulations introduce new requirements affecting foreign nationals, Chinese citizens, employers and organizations involved in immigration applications, as well as providers of exit and entry intermediary services.

India

• Severe monsoon flooding continues across parts of India, including Mumbai, Assam, Odisha and Kerala, (western, northern, and northeastern India) affecting communities and transportation networks. This is causing restricted road access in places, pack/pickup/delivery delays, and destination services disruptions.

Singapore

• Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has released updated COMPASS C1 salary benchmarks by sector, which will be used to assess Employment Pass (EP) applications under the COMPASS framework. The new benchmarks will apply to future EP filings and renewals and reflect changes in local PMET wage levels across various industries. Get details here.

Indonesia

• Severe wildfires and transboundary haze in Indonesia significantly disrupt regional transportation networks, reducing visibility and forcing flight delays, maritime shipping warnings, and localized ground transit disruptions across Sumatra, Kalimantan, and neighboring parts of Malaysia.

Japan

• Not long ago, Japan unveiled a price increase for its single-entry visa, the first price hike in nearly 50 years, and one that will see entry fees go up fivefold. Single-entry visas to Japan went from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen, about $18.50 to $92.00 in USD at recent exchange rates. The increase was put in place because of exchange rate fluctuations and inflation, and to bring the cost to stay in Japan closer to that of other countries, including the U.K. and U.S., both of which charge much higher visa costs for short-term visitors.

New Zealand

• Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that, effective September 24, 2026, new applications for most visitor visas will be available exclusively through INZ's enhanced Immigration Online system. Users will no longer be able to create new applications for these visas in the old system. New applications for these visa types must be submitted through enhanced Immigration Online.

United Kingdom (UK)

• On August 6, 2026, the government announced an expansion of the Global Talent visa, granting access to the program to over 100 companies, alongside the already approved universities and research institutes. The full list of approved host research organizations, including the new businesses, is available here: UKRI list of approved research organizations – GOV.UK

Sweden

• Following recent legislative changes in Sweden, our friends at Nimmersion are seeing landlords and rental agencies preferring or requiring corporate lease agreements, particularly when the property is intended for corporate relocation purposes. This has made the pool of properties available for private leases more limited. Landlords and agencies may have different requirements regarding who can sign the lease, and not all properties advertised on the market will be available to an employee signing the lease personally.

Germany

• Oktoberfest 2026 takes place Sept 19–Oct 4 in Munich. This is the world's largest public festival featuring 40 beer tents, traditional events, food, rides and entertainment. It is expected to have 7 million visitors over the 16 days and will create high pressure on hotels and housing, escalating costs and reducing availability. Expect traffic and price surges.

Spain

• The strike by the union representing ground crew, including baggage handlers, at Barcelona's main airport remains ongoing, nearly two weeks after workers officially walked off the job. According to Spanish media reports, more than 3,000 pieces of luggage remain unretrieved, and more than 150 flights have been canceled since the strike started earlier this month.

Netherlands

• New rules have applied since July 1, 2026, for British people employed in liberal professions and service providers who work on a contract basis. This scheme, under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, replaces the temporary workaround, under which both groups used the existing single permit application for paid employment.

European Union (Schengen Area)

• The following countries have internal checks at their borders in effect up to September–December 2026: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden. Additionally, following the Ceuta incident, Spain and Italy have implemented border controls for arrivals from each other's country until September 2026. Border guards may request identification documents and perform detailed checks of travelers crossing borders in affected Schengen countries. Travelers should carry their identification documents, and visa-exempt nationals should be mindful of their Schengen allowance days, as the limit for visa-exempt nationals to remain in Schengen countries is 90 days in a six-month period.