ICYMI: Oct 15 - 28

It's a big week for the industry! WERC is hosting WERC Global 26 Conference (Oct 27-30) which brings together thousands of global mobility and human resources leaders to address cross-border assignment management, shifting geographic boundaries, and assignee safety. 

Btw, if you are attending, our very own Dave Gorton (Director, Global Supply Chain) will be hosting a session, “Moving and Shipping: A Dating Game”. The panel will explore what corporate mobility clients truly need from their household goods (HHG) partners, and where the industry needs to evolve to meet those expectations. Discussions will focus on identifying gaps between expectations and delivery, uncovering opportunities for innovation, and examining how both mobility professionals and moving companies can work together to build more strategic, future-focused relationships. We have a great group, as Teela Gleason, Freddy Paxton, Lily Morehouse and Caelyn Rice will be joining Dave on stage for the discussion. 

On to the updates for the last two weeks!

United States

• The November 2026 Visa Bulletin reflects modest forward movement in select employment-based final action categories, including advancement in the EB-3 categories for both China and India, as well as continued progress in the EB-2 category for the Philippines and Worldwide applicants. Most Dates for Filing (Chart B) categories remain unchanged, with filing dates holding steady across China, India, the Philippines, and Worldwide categories.
• The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed removing its deference policy for certain Form I-129 extension petitions, which could lead to increased scrutiny and additional evidence requests for employers seeking to extend nonimmigrant worker status.
• The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed rule titled “Amending the Premium Processing Timeframe” has been submitted for regulatory review and is currently listed as a pending action under the federal rulemaking process on October 13, 2026.
• The Office of Management and Budget has cleared a Department of Labor (DOL) proposed rule that would revise the PERM labor market test and other aspects of the labor certification program. The specific content of the proposal will not be known until publication, but according to DOL’s description of the proposed rule, it would revise the minimum standards for PERM recruitment, strengthen rules related to U.S. worker layoffs and enhance employer non-discrimination rules. Once the proposal is published in the Federal Register, it is expected that DOL will accept public comments for 30 or 60 days. The regulation will not take effect until public comments are considered and the rule is finalized.

Canada

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that beginning Nov. 3, Express Entry candidates may receive additional points under a new Labor Market Integration factor for qualifying Canadian work experience or job offers in high-wage occupations. The new Labor Market Integration factor will award additional points to candidates with at least 12 months of Canadian work experience in a designated high-wage occupation or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation. The existing Express Entry points calculation will remain unchanged, but eligible candidates could receive up to 140 additional points if married or in a common-law partnership and up to 150 points if single. The number of additional points will be based on the candidate’s National Occupational Classification rather than the individual’s actual salary. IRCC will begin automatically recalculating existing Express Entry profiles beginning Nov. 3.
• Following its 2025 pilot, the Ontario government has launched a new round of its Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) initiative, which will run until the end of 2027. The initiative will allocate nomination spaces to six participating communities: Greater Sudbury, Kenora District, Nipissing District, Rainy River District, Renfrew County and Thunder Bay. These communities were selected based on their need for skilled foreign workers and their capacity to attract and support newcomers. The number of nomination spaces allocated to each participating community has not yet been announced.

European Union

• Click here for a full update on the Schengen Border checks situation. The following countries have internal checks at their borders in effect up to March-May 2027: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Poland and Sweden. These countries have internal checks at their borders in effect up to September-December 2026: Italy and the Netherlands. And following the Ceuta incident, Italy and Spain have implemented border controls for arrivals from each other’s country into October 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.

France:

• A third consecutive week of nationwide protests and demonstration is scheduled in France for Saturday, October 31, 2026, coinciding with All Saints' Eve (Halloween) and part of the school vacation period (Les Vacances de la Toussaint). Expats and travelers should monitor local police updates, avoid large crowds or demonstration hubs (like République, Bastille, and Concorde in Paris), and keep flexible schedules. Airports remain operational; however, ground transport between city centres and airports may be subject to delays on protest days. We advise building in additional transit time.

Netherlands

• Effective November 1, 2026, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) will adopt three new measures for addressing certain instances of non-compliance: 

  • Contacting recognized sponsor via phone, email or letter;  
  • Conducting targeted information sessions for groups of recognized sponsors; or 
  • Inviting recognized sponsors to a formal enforcement meeting at an IND office. 

  These new measures – which will function as alternatives to traditional enforcement measures, such as warnings and fines – will only apply to violations relating to the obligation to keep and retain records (duty of administration) and the information obligation (duty to inform). 

Bahrain

• The Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) announced amendments to foreign work permit regulations through Resolution No. 2 of 2026. The changes allow employers to use authorized foreign workers across affiliated establishments and, with LMRA approval, temporarily assign them to another employer for a limited period. According to the LMRA, the amendments are intended to support labor market needs, strengthen regulatory oversight and reduce unauthorized labor practices.  

Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain)

• Effective October 2026, Saudi Arabia’s General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) has begun imposing penalties for late payment of monthly social insurance contributions for Saudi nationals employed in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The penalty is 0.1% of the monthly contribution amount per day on any outstanding payment of social insurance monthly contributions not paid by the 15th day of the next month. The penalty was previously announced in 2025 and is now being implemented.  Other GCC social security authorities (in Kuwait and Bahrain) began implementing similar penalties last year. Other social security authorities in the GCC region are expected to begin imposing similar penalties in the future. 

• Multiple countries and the U.S. Embassy have issued travel warnings and restricted staff or flights following airport strikes and airspace concerns affecting Riyadh and other regional hubs. Ongoing security tensions and disruptions continue to affect long-haul and transit flights through Gulf airspace, leading to diversions, altered routes, and increased fuel/ticket costs on routes linking Europe, Australia, and Asia. 

China and East Asia

• Our partners are seeing heavy cargo volumes, weather-related interruptions, and operational congestion continue to create challenges at major Asian container ports, including Shanghai and Ningbo. Changes to vessel schedules and transshipment connections can affect shipments moving through regional shipping hubs. Potential impact: Delayed departures, missed vessel connections, extended transit times, and changes to estimated household goods delivery schedules.

Vietnam

• Vietnam officially joined the Hague Apostille Convention, an international agreement that simplifies the use of public documents across participating countries. On September 11, 2026, the Convention took effect in Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued implementation guidance instructing ministries, government agencies and provincial authorities that eligible foreign public documents bearing a valid Apostille should no longer require consular legalization. For eligible documents issued in countries where the Convention applies in relation to Vietnam, an Apostille will replace the previous authentication and Vietnamese consular legalization process. This should reduce the steps and lead times involved in preparing foreign public documents commonly required for work permit and immigration applications.

Japan

• Japan’s Immigration Services Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare updated guidance on the country’s pre-arrival tuberculosis screening program on September 25, 2026. Per Envoy Global, the program is intended to reduce the entry of individuals with active tuberculosis and applies to certain foreign nationals seeking medium- to long-term residence in Japan. 
• Additionally, Japan has revised its permanent residence guidelines effective October 1, 2026. Read more.

Malaysia

• Malaysia’s 2027 budget introduces new employer compliance measures aimed at reducing undocumented foreign worker employment and expands work authorization options for certain foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens. Key developments include a new tax deduction requirement tied to payroll compliance, efforts to curb undocumented foreign worker employment and expanded employment opportunities for eligible foreign spouses residing in Malaysia. 

Singapore

• The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has announced that, effective November 29, 2026, both Malaysian and non-Malaysian workers who need to start work before their Work Permit (WP) is issued must apply for a Temporary Permit (TP) through the Work Permit eService on myMOM Portal. An employer of a non-Malaysian worker applying from November 29, 2026, can apply for a TP on the day they need to start work. They may also apply in advance, before the worker arrives in Singapore, but the TP will only be granted from the second day after arrival.

Australia

• From October 31, 2026, the Australian government will take a firmer approach to refusing or cancelling visas on character grounds. Decision-makers will give greater weight to protecting the Australian community and less weight to a person’s ties to Australia, including the impact of refusal or cancellation on Australian businesses. They will also consider a broader range of domestic and family violence behaviors and relationships, with greater attention to the impact on victims and children. 
• Australia has also tightened Student Visa application rules for onshore applicants.

New Zealand

• As you know, New Zealand and India concluded a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) this past January. Now the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement entered into force on October 20, 2026, introducing the following new visa commitments to support New Zealand’s economic and workforce needs: 
  • Effective immediately, two new Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) visa categories allow eligible Indian nationals in highly skilled occupations and a limited number of professions considered iconic to India to work in New Zealand. The categories permit up to 5,000 TEE visa holders in the country at any one time, with most places allocated to occupations on New Zealand’s Green List. Applicants must hold a qualifying job offer from an accredited employer and meet applicable qualification, English language, health, character and identity requirements.  
  • From November 16, 2026, Indian graduates who hold New Zealand PhDs will become eligible for post-study work visas of up to four years, increased from three years. Eligible students of all nationalities can currently work up to 25 hours per week while studying; the agreement commits New Zealand to maintaining at least 20 hours of weekly in-study work rights for Indian students if policy settings change.  
  • New Zealand will also introduce a working holiday scheme for Indian nationals age 18 to 30 within two years of the agreement entering into force. The scheme will offer up to 1,000 places annually and allow stays of up to 12 months.  

Lastly, there were widely reported website outages due to the fixing of the security vulnerability issues in the internet coding language called PHP are impacting government websites and online services in several countries. Some notable outages have been reported in, but are not limited to, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France (partial), Latvia, North Macedonia and Poland (partial), including some immigration-related services.