Immigration news update for all regions
Americas
United States: US Department of Labor updates processing time for PERM applications
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released its monthly update reflecting the processing times for permanent Labor (PERM) applications. The report shows that by the end of June 2023, the average processing times for adjudication were 285 days, therefore, the PERM applications that were being adjudicated by DOL as of June 30, 2023, were filled in September 2022. The audit reviews for the PERM applications were filled in May 2022, making the processing time for audit review of 436 days, one week less than the month before. The DOL has also added that it was processing reconsideration requests that were filed in August 2022.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the U.S. Department of Labour
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 Rafael Pavanelli (Regional Immigration Manager, Americas) or Roberta Carnaccini (Global Operations Manager, Immigration).
Asia-Pacific
China: China resumes visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei
Effective from July 26, 2023, the Chinese embassies in Singapore and Brunei have announced that they will resume the 15-day visa free policy for Singaporean and Brunei citizens holding ordinary passport who enter China for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China (notice for Brunei) and from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China (notice for Singapore)
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).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
United Kingdom: Upcoming changes to the immigration rules
The UK Government has recently published two sets of Statement of Changes (SOC) updating its immigration rules.
The main changes include:
- Implementing High Court ruling of last year confirming that individuals with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme did not lose their residence rights if they did not apply.
- The Home Office has confirmed in a separate announcement that from September 2023 two-year extensions will automatically be granted to anyone who has not obtained settled status.
- The Home Office also announced that it intends to take steps to automatically convert as many eligible pre-settled status holders as possible to settled status once they are eligible for it, without them needing to make an application. During 2024, automated checks of pre-settled status will establish their ongoing continuous residence in the UK.
- As of August 8, 2023, the Surinder Singh and Zambrano routes under the EU Settlement Scheme will close to new applications. These routes allowed family members of qualifying British citizens on their return to the United Kingdom after exercising free movement rights in the European Economic Area or Switzerland or primary carers of British citizens to secure residence rights in the United Kingdom.
- Students on courses starting after 1 January 2024 will only be able to bring dependents if they are government-sponsored or are studying towards a PhD, another doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree. Dependents who are already in the UK will be able to extend their leave.
- Students already in the UK can now switch to work routes (and other eligible routes) only once they completed their course of study (for PhD courses, if they have completed at least 24 months of it). For skilled worker visa, students must have completed degree-level course or above at educational provider with a track record of compliance and the employment start date is no earlier than the course completion date.
- For work visas, the shortage occupation list has been amended to include jobs in construction, agriculture, and fishing trades.
- Dominica, Honduras, Namibia, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu are added to the list of countries whose nationals require a visa to travel to the UK as a visitor.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the GOV.UK, GOV.UK and GOV.UK
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 Roberta Carnaccini (Global Operations Director, Immigration) or Sabrina Crespo (Team Lead, EMEA).Â
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