EIG Dispatch | October 7, 2016

HIGHLIGHTS

  • USCIS Announces Closures in Anticipation of Hurricane Matthews
  • Evidence of Local Operations Required at Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Hyderabad, India
  • Changes to the U.K. Police Registration Requirement

USCIS Announces Closures in Anticipation of Hurricane Matthews

Due to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Matthew, several USCIS field offices and application support centers will be closed from October 6, 2016 to October 10, 2016. For detailed information on closures please visit the USCIS Office Closing link before attending any scheduled appointments. For contact information on a specific field office, please visit the USCIS Field Office Locator. As an additional resource, applicants can contact the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 to verify office closures.


Evidence of Local Operations Required at Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Hyderabad, India

Effectively immediately, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Hyderabad, India will require proof of a visa sponsor’s local business in Hyderabad when sponsoring a foreign national for an employment visa. As proof, a company may present a registration certificate issued by the Registrar of Companies, specifying the company’s local address in Hyderabad. If the company does not have an address in Hyderabad, the company may submit evidence of registration with Shops and Entrustment Act of Telangana State or another appropriate Telangana State Government agency. Failure to provide the requisite information may result in a delayed or declined residence permit and employment visa.


Changes to the U.K. Police Registration Requirement

The U.K. Government will no longer annotate the police registration requirement on biometric residence permits. Instead, police registration, when required, will be noted either on a 30-day entry clearance vignette that is issued upon entry into the U.K or on a letter from the Home Office approving the application for leave. Police registration is generally required for migrants entering the U.K. for more than six months, extending a current leave, or switching to a different visa type. Migrants must register within 7 days of arriving in the U.K. or if the migrant’s leave has been extended, within 7 days of getting the Biometric Residence Permit. If the migrant lives in London or an area covered by metropolitan police they must register at the Overseas Visitors Records Office. If the migrant lives outside of London, they may contact the local police station to find where to register. Registration will cost £34 and may be done at the police station.

For more detail on police registration requirements and exemptions, please visit the U.K. Government website.


Photos of Jerry Erickson’s panel discussion on business travelers and participants enjoying our interactive booth.

Photo Credit:  Stephanie Tan