EIG COVID-19 Update | September 2, 2020

With our mission to uncomplicate the complicated, we’ve always thought of our work in immigration as people-first. Our goal is for these updates to make sense of the changes happening across the world. Please share these updates with your colleagues who may find this information helpful, too.

International Updates

Australia | The government announced a new “Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List,” of 17 occupations which may be exempt from the travel ban into the country. As part of this, Australia has now introduced an additional Labor Market Testing requirement that nominated positions must be advertised on the Government’s Jobactive website, for overseas skilled workers on Subclass 457, 482, or 494 visas.
Case Update: 73 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/9/2 4:00 PM CEST

Colombia | After a nationwide five-month lockdown, the government has ended the restrictions.
Case Update: 7,230 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/9/2 4:00 PM CEST

Cuba | Authorities have ordered a 15-day lockdown for Havana. From Tuesday, there is a city-wide curfew from 7 PM to 5 AM.
Case Update: 33 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/9/2 4:00 PM CEST

Guatemala | From September 18, the international airport will reopen.
Case Update: 819 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/9/2 4:00 PM CEST

Israel | In mid-August, the Israeli government introduced a list of “Green Locations,” that travelers will not have to quarantine from. In addition to the original list, Austria, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Hong Kong, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Rwanda, and Slovenia, the Ministry of Health has added 9 countries: Australia, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, UAE, and Uruguay.
Case Update: 1,111 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/9/2 4:00 PM CEST

Malaysia | From September 7, long-term immigration pass holders from India, Indonesia, and the Philippines will be barred from entering.
Case Update: 14 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/9/2 4:00 PM CEST

Poland | In an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the government is banning flights from 44 countries. Beginning today, people who cross the border into Poland will have to quarantine for 10 days, instead of 14 days.
Case Update: 550 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/9/2 4:00 PM CEST

In this week’s Immigration Nerds podcast, we talk to Lieutenant Colonel Mona Johnson, the first immigrant, Arab-Muslim woman to serve in the US Armed Forces and achieve the rank of lieutenant colonel. In this conversation, Johnson recounts the story of her new memoir, Not Created Equal: An Immigrant Muslim Woman’s Pursuit of Equality in her Family, the Army and America, and her experience escaping a politically divided Egypt, living in exile in Saudi Arabia, immigrating to the US, assimilating into American culture, and the unending discrimination she and her family faced.

We will continue to send updates daily or as more COVID-19-related news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or in past updates or want to hear more about a different topic, just reply to let us know. If you have specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.