EIG COVID-19 Update | June 3, 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 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

Austria | From Thursday, June 4, the coronavirus-related border restrictions and quarantine requirements will be lifted for neighboring countries, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The current restrictions would still apply to travelers from Italy.
Case Update: 11 new cases, -10 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

France | Resident permit applications will resume by appointment or mail. Permits expiring after June 15 will have priority.
Case Update: -840 new cases, -1,091 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

Germany | The government will lift the travel ban on EU members, as well as the UK, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland from June 15, pending no new entry bans or large-scale lockdowns in those countries.
Case Update: 342 new cases, 129 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

India | The international air travel suspension is extended until June 30.
Case Update: 8,909 new cases, 738 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

Latvia | Beginning Wednesday, the government will open its borders to most European countries without any self-isolation requirements. Travelers who have been in Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Spain, or the UK within the past two weeks will have to self-isolate.
Case Update: 8 new cases, 3 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

Mexico | Visa services are beginning to resume. The Migration Institute (INM) is operating, but with fewer tickets allocated for each day. Foreign nationals can attend in-person fingerprinting appointments. Additionally, requests for visa authorizations for job offers and to obtain or update Employer Enrolment Proof are being accepted.

Until further notice, expiration dates for temporary and permanent residence cards, and deadlines for certain immigration procedures, are suspended.
Case Update: 2,771 new cases, -381 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

Panama | The National Immigration Authority and the Department of Labor Migration of the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development services suspension is extended until June 7.
Case Update: 374 new cases, -71 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

Peru | Beginning June 3, Migraciones will make 15 procedures available online. Fingerprinting will not be required for these services until the COVID-19 restrictions allow for it. This change will enable the agency to initiate the previously suspended schedule procedures.
Case Update: 5,563 new cases, -3,242 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

The Philippines | Beginning June 1, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) accepts application submission with an appointment booked online.
Case Update: 359 new cases, -193 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

Spain | Lawmakers voted to extend the state of emergency a final time until June 21. The government will gradually reopen the country’s borders for tourism from June 22.
Case Update: 294 new cases, 85 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

Tunisia | The government plans to reopen the country’s air, land, and sea borders will reopen from June 27.
Case Update: 2 new cases, -5 daily change, Last updated: 2020/6/3, 2:00 PM CEST

 

In this week’s Immigration Nerds podcast, Alejandra Zapatero, Erickson Immigration Group’s Director of Client Relations and Managing Attorney, joins to talk about the recent H-1B cap lottery, the steps individuals can take if they were not selected in this year’s lottery, and the paths forward applicants can take to maximize their opportunities in America.

The Immigration Nerds podcast shares stories at the cross-section of immigration news and policy updates, business, culture, travel, developing trends, and, for now, the coronavirus. If you have stories to share, we want to hear from you.

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.