With our mission to uncomplicate the complicated, we’ve always thought of our work in immigration as people-first. Our goal is for these emails 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 state border between Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) will close on Midnight on Tuesday. The border closure is in response to a recent significant uptick in Victoria.
Case Update: 87 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/6 6:00 PM CEST
Belgium | Restrictions for non-essential travel are still in place. Effective July 2, the list of essential function/need travelers has been extended to “4 categories: mariners, persons attending meetings of international organizations, students and highly qualified personnel whose work cannot be carried out at a distance (taking into account the visa procedures currently in force). Furthermore, EU+ citizens and third-country nationals legally residing in the European Union, as well as their family members, can travel wherever they wish in the EU+, including Belgium, and no longer only in their country of residence.”
Belgian press reported early this afternoon that the federal government decided not to reopen borders for the listed 15 “safe” countries because the health situation in 9 of the countries would not allow this. The lack of reciprocity of the six other countries motivated the government’s decision (i.e., these six countries do not yet allow Belgian citizens to enter). If Belgium’s neighboring countries (France, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) allow entry to travelers from the 15 “safe” countries, Belgium will implement unannounced border checks to prevent these travelers from entering Belgium.
As of today, July 6, 2020, the Belgian embassy/consulate general resumes accepting some visa applications in the US by mail only including third-country nationals traveling to study; highly qualified third-country workers if their employment is necessary from an economic perspective and the work cannot be postponed or performed abroad (Single Permit holders); family members of EU citizens, citizens of Schengen associated countries and third-country nationals, receipt and processing of D-type visas (but without the issuance of visas until further notice), and C-type visas for short stay visits (unless the traveler has not applied for a Schengen visa during the last five years).
Case Update: 107 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/6 6:00 PM CEST
El Salvador | The second phase of the reopening plan is delayed by two weeks to July 21.
Case Update: 270 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/6 6:00 PM CEST
Greece | The country will fully resume flights on July 15 with Britain. At the same time, Greece will ban Serbian nationals from entering until July 15.
Case Update: 8 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/6 6:00 PM CEST
Ireland | From July 20, the government will ease restrictions for travelers coming from a “green list” of countries with low COVID-19 rates. All other travelers will still need to isolate for 14 days. The “green list” will be published on July 20.
Case Update: 18 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/6 6:00 PM CEST
Israel/Palestine | As coronavirus cases surged throughout the country, the Israeli government has reissued a quarantine order for approximately 30,000 people. The Palestinian government is enforcing a five-day lockdown, and President Mahmoud Abbas has declared a state of emergency in all territories for 30 days.
Israel Case Update: 803 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/6 6:00 PM CEST
Palestine Case Update: 472 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/6 6:00 PM CEST
Kazakhstan | The government has introduced new restrictions after a surge in coronavirus cases.
Case Update: 1,403 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/6 6:00 PM CEST
Serbia | On Friday, the government declared a state of emergency in the capital after case volume was the highest since April.
Case Update: 302 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/6 6:00 PM CEST
Switzerland | The government is requiring face masks beginning Monday on all public transportation services.
Case Update: 70 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/6 6:00 PM CEST
In the most recent Immigration Nerds podcast, host Ian Gaines talks to Ranzo D, the creator of “The Black Experience in Japan.” Ranzo travels throughout Asia and interviews Black immigrants on their experience. These stories, while not globally covered, are rich in insight. In this conversation, Ranzo shares his personal journey, why he decided to create his platform, and what he has learned from his unique interactions with Black immigrants throughout the Eastern world. Listen in and share it with a friend!
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.