Thailand Announces Visa-Free Travel for Chinese and Kazakh Travelers
On September 18, 2023, Thailand’s Ministry of Interior announced that travelers from China and Kazakhstan would be eligible for visa-free travel to Thailand. This is in
Read More »Vietnam Updates Regulations for Foreign Workers
On September 18, the Vietnamese government issued the new decree 70/2023/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP regulating foreign
Read More »SEVP Updates Form I-983 to be Available Digitally
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) updated the Form I-983, “Training Plan for STEM OPT Students,” to remove language requiring wet signatures. Students and
Read More »Latvia Closes a Border with Belarus
Latvia will close one of its two border crossing points with Belarus in response to what Latvia’s prime minister called a “hybrid threat” due to an influx
Read More »Singapore Major Airport to Rely on Biometric Data Instead of Passports in 2024
Singapore’s Changi Airport will intoduce automated immigration clearance, relying on biometric data instead of passports starting in 2024. The change was announced in a
Read More »Poland Terminates Cooperation with Visa Outsourcing Providers
The Polish Foreign Ministry reports that it will terminate cooperation with all visa outsourcing providers. Submitting a Polish visa application using services of external
Read More »Developments We’re Following: Malaysia iKad Reinstatement
Reportedly, the Malaysian government will reinstate issuance of iKad for Employment Pass (EP) holders. The iKad for EP holders was suspended effective July 17, 2023.
Read More »Sweden Blue Card Threshold Update
From August 28, 2023, the salary threshold for the Sweden Blue Card is 57,450 SEK/month. The EU Blue Card gives citizens of a non-EU country the right to live and work in
Read More »Sweden Announces New Salary Threshold for Work Permits
The new threshold for a work permit in Sweden will be 27 360 SEK/month. The changes are proposed to enter into force on November 1, 2023. Full time or part time will not be
Read More »DHS Announces Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding H-2A and H-2B Programs
On September 18, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would modernize and improve the H-2A temporary agricultural
Read More »China to Add New Functions for Foreign Nationals to Online Immigration Platform
According to China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA), starting from October 9, 2023, the government service platform of NIA will add more functions for
Read More »China Announces New Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card
The National Immigration Administration of China (NIA) held a news conference on September 15 to announce a new version of the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the
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