APEC – Business Travel Card to be Extended to Five Years

Posted on August 28, 2015

The APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) Business mobility Group, has announced that its APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) will be valid for five years from 1 September 2015, rather than the current three years. What are the Benefits of the… Read more »


CANADA – Visa Exempt Nationals Now Eligible for Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

Posted on August 28, 2015

As of August 1, 2015, visa-exempt nationals traveling to Canada by air became eligible to acquire Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTAs). Foreign nationals who seek to obtain an eTA, must complete an online application and pay a processing fee of $7… Read more »


CANADA – Extension Applications Experiencing Major Delays

Posted on August 28, 2015

Canada’s central processing center in Vegreville, Alberta has been experiencing significant processing delays for extension applications comprising of work, study and residence permits. Applications submitted in November 2014 normally took as little as nine days to process whereas now, they… Read more »


CHINA – Guidelines for Highly-Skilled Foreign Workers in Shanghai Announced

Posted on August 28, 2015

Shanghai has published its new immigration guidelines which affect several permits including the Work (Z) visa, Expert permit, Resident permit, Talent (R) visa and Shanghai B card.  Shanghai’s objective is to attract highly-skilled foreign workers and become a center of… Read more »


NIGERIA – Suspension of NIS’ Comptroller-General Likely to Bring Delays & Scrutiny for Visa Applicants

Posted on August 28, 2015

On August 21st, 2015 David Parradang, the comptroller-general of Nigeria Immigration Service, was suspended from his position for hiring 700 inspectors and 900 assistants without approval. A deputy comptroller-general has already been appointed during the ongoing investigation. Nigeria has also… Read more »


PHILIPPINES – Nationals of 41 Countries May be Admitted with Passports Valid for Under 6 Months

Posted on August 28, 2015

Effective 15 July 2015 nationals of 41 countries may enter the Philippines with a passport or official travel document valid for less than six months from the date of arrival. The usual passport validity required for entry to the Philippines… Read more »


SAUDI ARABIA – Iqama to be Replaced by New Resident Identity Card

Posted on August 28, 2015

Beginning on October 14, 2015, a new Resident Identity Card, Muqeem, will be replacing the current card, known as Iqama. Muqeems will offer residency and work authorization and are anticipated to be valid for five years (renewed electronically each year)… Read more »