Australia: Extension for employment and business visa
The Australian Government has announced two new provisional and a permanent visa category effective November 2019.
Provisional visas
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa
This type will require sponsorship in a regional area and attract priority processing. There is a quota allocation of 9,000 for the 2019/2020 program and a skills list of approximately 700 occupations that can be sponsored.
Skilled Work Regional Visa
This type will require state or territory government nomination, or sponsorship from an eligible family member. There is a quota allocation of 14,000 for the 2019/2020 program and a skills list of approximately 500 occupations that can be nominated or sponsored.
The provisional visas will be valid for five years and offer a pathway to the new permanent visa after three years – providing the holder remains living and working in a regional area of Australia.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Australian Government.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Debra Beynon, Regional Immigration Manager, APAC.
Japan: New visa categories to address labor shortage
The Immigration Services Agency in Japan has introduced two new visa categories to address acute labor shortages:
Skilled Worker 1
Foreigners with certain job skills and some Japanese language proficiency can apply for a Specified Skilled Worker 1 visa. This will grant permission to work within 14 different sectors, including construction, farming and nursing care. Residence status can be given for a period of up to five years.
Skilled Worker 2
Laborers with enhanced skills in two specific sectors, construction and shipbuilding, can earn Specified Skilled Worker Status 2. This visa offers unlimited renewals and allows the employee to sponsor family members to join them.
To qualify for the new visas, applicants must provide evidence of the necessary skills and qualifications.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Japan Times.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Debra Beynon, Regional Immigration Manager, APAC.
Philippines: Guidelines for returning workers
The Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued guidelines on processing exit clearances for returning workers. These guidelines are linked to the POEA Governing Board Resolution, governing the recruitment and employment of land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The following workers are covered under the guidelines:
- Returning documented OFWs
- Workers not registered with the POEA
- Workers without a POEA or Philippines Overseas Labor & Office (POLO) deployment record
- Workers who have changed employment on-site or transferred/entered into a new employment contract
All applicable returning workers are advised to set up an online appointment with a POEA or POLO office and should be prepared to submit the required documentation. Online processing registrants returning to the same employer and job-site can apply for an Overseas Employment Certificate exemption.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Debra Beynon, Regional Immigration Manager, APAC.
Russia: Guidelines for returning workers
The Head Migration Office in central Moscow no longer accepts Initial or renewal applications for work permits and visa invitations for highly qualified specialists (HQS) and their dependent. However, they continue to accept work permit correction applications and quarterly salary notifications for HQS.
These applications can still be submitted through regional migration offices but may require additional steps and increased timelines.
Moscow city: applicants are directed to the migration office in Sakharovo.
Moscow region: applicants are directed to the migration office in Greenwood Business center near Khimki.
Contact Laxmi Vikraman our immigration experts to find out how this change could impact your situation/application.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Peregrine Immigration Management.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Laxmi Vikraman, Regional Immigration Manager, EMEA.
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