BREXIT – Switzerland and UK Conclude Agreement on Mobility of Service Suppliers
Posted on January 29, 2021
Switzerland and the United Kingdom have secured an agreement on services. The Service Mobility Agreement (SMA), which was signed on December 14, 2020 and entered into force from January 1, 2021, will be valid initially for two years. It allows service… Read more »
Canada – 2021 starts strong for Express Entry Candidates
Posted on January 29, 2021
Due to COVID-19 travel measures restricting the numbers of candidates that could qualify for Permanent Residency through Express Entry to those currently in Canada, the Canadian labour market has suffered shortages of skilled candidates, putting a pressure on Immigration, Refugees… Read more »
Canada – Indian VACs Reopen Biometrics for Work Permit and Study Permit Applicants
Posted on January 29, 2021
Effective January 20, 2021 VAC centers in India are accepting biometric enrollment for applicants who have submitted student and work permit applications. VAC centers had reopened for biometric enrollment in November, but due to large demand were restricting appointments to… Read more »
Vietnam – New Labor Rules
Posted on January 29, 2021
New labor rules will soon go into effect beginning February 15, 2021 regarding work permit exemptions, term of work permits, contracts, and reporting requirements. Work Permit Exemption Decree 152 now allows the below cases to be exempt from requiring a… Read more »
Canada – Great News for Express Entry Candidates
Posted on January 13, 2021
2020 started off tough for Express Entry hopefuls as Coronavirus travel restrictions forced IRCC to restrict the pool of candidates to only those already present in Canada, and thereby cutting off a large number of highly qualified individuals. For a… Read more »
Canada – New COVID19 Testing Requirements
Posted on January 13, 2021
Starting January 7, 2021, anyone flying to Canada from another country, aged 5 and older, will be required to provide written or electronic documentation showing they received a negative result from a COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to… Read more »
Japan – Suspension of Visas
Posted on January 13, 2021
As of December 26, seven people who had arrived in Japan from Britain were infected with a new mutant variant of the coronavirus, and amid the record highs in Tokyo and nationwide, the government announced Saturday evening that it would stop issuing visas between… Read more »
Netherlands – New Minimum Salary Levels for 2021
Posted on January 13, 2021
The Dutch immigration authorities (IND) have announced new minimum salary levels for knowledge migrant workers (aka Highly Skilled Migrants), graduates and Blue Card applicants coming to the Netherlands. Affected Applications These amounts are applicable for new applications for local hires,… Read more »
Taiwan – Entrance Policy Update
Posted on January 13, 2021
The restrictions on entry and quarantine for non-nationals will be restricted, and quarantine measures for incoming passengers will be strengthened from January 15, 2021. Taiwan CDC states that the restrictions on entry and quarantine of non-nationals are as follows: (1)… Read more »