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
Dubai | Expo 2020, the six-month innovation fair planned to be hosted in Dubai, has been postponed to October 2021 – March 2022. The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which plans the Expo, said: “Expo 2020 Dubai is gearing up to help shape a post-pandemic world and create a better future for all.”
France | In an adjustment of policy, over the weekend, the government announced that the 14-day quarantine requirement would NOT apply to “anyone, regardless of nationality, from the EU, the Schengen area or the United Kingdom.” The details for who would be required to quarantine and for how long are to be released in the coming days.
France has extended its state of emergency to July 24, though some restrictions will begin to ease May 11.
Case Update: 250 new cases, -486 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Germany | German schools begin to open on Monday, May 4.
Case Update: 679 new cases, -114 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Hong Kong | Travelers arriving into Hong Kong will be given a bracelet with embedded technology to ensure they follow the 14-day quarantine requirements. Individuals who are found to break the orders could be fined $645 or punished with six months in jail.
India | The government has extended the nationwide lockdown for another two weeks beyond the original deadline of May 4, while segmenting the country into red, green, and orange zones. In all zones, though, travel by air, rail, and public transportation, schools, restaurants and shopping centers, and houses of worship will remain closed.
Major cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chenna, and Ahmedabad are classified as red zones and remain under strict lockdowns. Green zones will need to report no new cases for three weeks.
Case Update: 2,553 new cases, -91 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Iran | The government will reopen mosques in areas with no coronavirus cases — approximately 132 counties.
Case Update: 1,223 new cases, 247 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Israel | Israeli schools began to open on Sunday, May 3.
Case Update: 0 new cases, 0 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Italy | Beginning Monday, Italy is easing restrictions that have been in place since March 9. Restaurants will be able to provide takeout service, parks are opening for walkers and runners, and Italians are allowed to visit family members in the same region. As the country reopens, the public is required to wear a mask on public transportation and in closed public spaces.
Case Update: 1,389 new cases, -511 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Japan | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the government was extending the state of emergency until May 31.
Case Update: 218 new cases, -76 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Jordan | The government has lifted all restrictions to allow economic activity to return to normal, but with new guidelines about maximum staffing, social distancing, and hygiene guidelines.
Case Update: 4 new cases, 2 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Poland | Beginning Monday, May 4, individuals who work or study near the Polish border in Poland, and also Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic will be able to cross back and forth without a two-week quarantine. For all other foreign nationals entering Poland, a two-week quarantine period is still required.
Case Update: 318 new cases, 48 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Portugal | Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced a sector-by-sector approach to end the nationwide lockdown, which has been in place for six weeks. The plan will begin on Monday, May 4.
Case Update: 92 new cases, 253 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
South Africa | President Cyril Ramaphosa has introduced new regulations to reopen the economy after five weeks of a strict lockdown.
Case Update: 447 new cases, 62 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
South Korea | Prime Minister Chung Sye-Kyun announced social distancing restrictions would ease on May 6, which will allow businesses and offices to resume more normal operations.
Case Update: 8 new cases, -5 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
UAE | Over the weekend, shopping malls, restaurants, and salons began to reopen in the UAE. Businesses and commercial centers will have restrictions for customer capacity and new safety measures, including thermal inspection devices, shorter hours, and all customers are required to wear a face mask.
Case Update: 1,125 new cases, 1,125 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Ukraine | The government has extended the nationwide lockdown to May 22, though some restrictions will begin to ease on May 11. Ukraine has been under lockdown since March 12.
Case Update: 418 new cases, -84 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
The UK | In a press conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain had passed the coronavirus peak and that the government would introduce its plan to end the nationwide lockdown next week.
Case Update: 4,339 new cases, -467 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
The US | The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a temporary policy for expired identity documents used to complete Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Beginning on May 1, identity documents found in List B set to expire on or after March 1, 2020, and not otherwise extended by the issuing authority, may be treated the same as if the employee presented a valid receipt for an acceptable document for Form I-9 purposes.
Employers who receive an acceptable expired List B document not extended by the issuing authority, should record the document information in Sec. 2, under List B, and enter COVID-19 in the additional information field.
Within 90 days after DHS terminates this temporary policy, the employee will be required to present a valid, unexpired document to replace the expired document presented when they were initially hired.
Case Update: 31,839 new cases, 5,086 daily change, Last updated: 2020/5/4,10:00 PM CEST
Listen to the latest Erickson Immigration Group Immigration Nerds podcast on President Trump’s executive order proclamation, who will be impacted, and for how long. We’re continuing to share stories at the cross-section of immigration, culture, travel, 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.