News & Updates — Moving Abroad

Policy update 5 Sept 2026

US ends birthright citizenship for children of foreign government employees and offers a green card instead

A DHS interim final rule effective 4 September 2026 says a child born in the United States to a foreign government employee is not a US citizen unless one parent is, and extends the old diplomatic green-card registration route to those children.

Policy update 5 Sept 2026

The Philippines now takes foreign work permit applications online only

From 3 September 2026 the Department of Labor and Employment accepts Alien Employment Permit applications only through its centralised online portals, ending email, hard-copy and walk-in filing for new permits, renewals, exemptions and exclusions.

Policy update 5 Sept 2026

Malaysia cuts its Multiple Entry Visa to 31 nationalities and drops tourism and family visits

From 1 September 2026 Malaysia issues the Multiple Entry Visa only to 31 nationalities and only for business, medical treatment, fly-and-cruise and wedding travel, so visa-required travellers can no longer hold one authorisation for repeat tourist or family visits.

Policy update 4 Sept 2026

USCIS is opening an office in Addis Ababa to check documents and collect DNA

A new US Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in the Ethiopian capital begins operations on 9 September 2026, taking document verification, fraud investigation and DNA collection in-house from the State Department. It will be appointment-only.

Policy update 4 Sept 2026

UK changes its Immigration Rules again: exploited Skilled Workers can switch employer, Erasmus+ returns, BN(O) children settle with their parents

Statement of Changes HC 584, laid on 3 September 2026, lets Skilled Workers recognised as victims of modern slavery work for any employer, opens the Visitor and Student routes to Erasmus+ from 2027, drops the five-year residence rule for BN(O) dependent children, and raises Student maintenance to £1,570 a month in London.

Policy update 3 Sept 2026

Hiring a non-EU worker in Flanders now costs €180 more, on renewals as well as first applications

From 1 September 2026 the Flemish Region charges a €180 retribution on every single permit application for work in Flanders, on top of the existing federal fees, and an application that is not paid within 15 days is closed without being processed.

Policy update 3 Sept 2026

Cyprus adds blood tests and a chest X-ray to its permanent residence application

Immigration Permit applications under Categories A–F filed from 1 September 2026 must include legalised blood tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis, plus a chest X-ray for tuberculosis, obtained in the applicant's country of origin or last country of lawful residence.

Policy update 3 Sept 2026

Brazil now issues temporary visas by email, and applicants keep their passports

From 1 September 2026 Brazil issues temporary visas electronically to nationals who are exempt from its visitor visa, so people applying to study, work, join family or live there as digital nomads no longer hand over their passport for a sticker.

Policy update 2 Sept 2026

ACT would end New Zealand’s Permanent Resident Visa and require 730 days in the country

The coalition party’s immigration policy, released on 1 September 2026, would replace the condition-free Permanent Resident Visa with a five-year travel facility that you keep only by spending 730 days in New Zealand per rolling five-year period. It binds no one unless ACT can implement it after the 7 November election.

Destination spotlight 1 Sept 2026

Destination spotlight: Germany — work permits eased in July 2026, the citizenship clock went back to five years

Germany moved in two directions at once. A law in force since 29 July 2026 gives fixed-term skilled-worker permits a six-month buffer beyond the employment contract, and losing your job now leaves you at least six months of valid status. Meanwhile the three-year route to citizenship was struck out of the statute, and the agency meant to make the whole process faster has only just started being built. Here is the current picture for anyone weighing a move.

Policy update 1 Sept 2026

Italy and Spain extend reciprocal border checks by 15 days

Italy's checks on travellers arriving from Spain were due to lapse on 31 August. Rome extended them by 15 days instead, and Madrid matched the move, so documents are being checked on air and sea crossings between the two countries into September.

Policy update 1 Sept 2026

Thailand's 30-day visa rules are now law: 60-day visa-free entry ends on 15 September

Thailand published four Ministry of Interior notifications in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026. From 15 September, 60 nationalities get 30 days visa-free for tourism only, the 60-day scheme is repealed, and land-border entries are capped at two a year.

Policy update 31 Aug 2026

Bahrain automates work permit renewals for Golden Residency holders

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority says renewals that took up to 10 working days are now processed automatically, with half the paperwork and a new six-month renewal option.

Policy update 31 Aug 2026

Canada closes its Hong Kong permanent residence pathways to new applications

Stream A and Stream B stop accepting applications after 31 August 2026. The roughly 30,315 applications already filed will still be processed.

Policy update 31 Aug 2026

Uzbekistan announces 30-day visa-free entry for Indian citizens

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced a 30-day visa-free regime for Indian nationals on 30 August 2026, which would remove the e-visa step for short trips. No start date has been published.

Policy update 30 Aug 2026

US judge rules the two laws behind speech-based visa revocations unconstitutional

A federal court in California held that the provisions used to revoke visas and start deportations over political speech violate the First and Fifth Amendments. The ruling is a declaratory judgment, the case is closed, and the government can appeal.

Policy update 30 Aug 2026

Portugal's Constitutional Court clears the new foreigners and asylum law

The court declined to strike down any of the eleven contested provisions on removal, detention and asylum appeals. President António José Seguro now has 20 days to sign the decree or veto it.

Policy update 30 Aug 2026

Canada raises the study-permit money threshold to C$23,448 from 1 September

A single applicant must now show C$23,448 in living-expense funds instead of C$22,895, and the new amounts apply to every study permit application submitted on or after 1 September 2026 outside Quebec.

Policy update 29 Aug 2026

Federal judge certifies a nationwide class over USCIS's 39-country hold; USCIS says it will follow the order

A San Francisco court has certified a class covering everyone from the 39 travel-ban countries whose USCIS application was frozen under the December and January hold memos, and ordered the agency to decide those cases in the normal course. USCIS says it disagrees but will comply.

Policy update 29 Aug 2026

Canada extends its Ebola entry ban and visa freeze for DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan to 28 September

Ottawa has renewed its Ebola border measures for a further 30 days: residents of the three countries still cannot use approved visas or permanent-resident visas, anyone recently in the DRC is barred from entering, and arrivals from the region face 21 days of quarantine.

Policy update 29 Aug 2026

Rule ending the 60-day grace period clears White House review; Federal Register publication is next

OIRA finished reviewing the DHS proposal to eliminate the 60-day post-layoff grace period for H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and E-visa workers on 27 August. The text is still unpublished. The H-1B fee rule went from the same milestone to publication in six days.

Policy update 28 Aug 2026

US pauses immigrant visa interviews worldwide while consular officers are retrained on "public charge"

The State Department has cancelled scheduled immigrant visa interviews at every US embassy and consulate, with no new dates, while officers undergo training on public-charge screening. Nonimmigrant visas are not affected.

Policy update 28 Aug 2026

Japan fixes new residence fees: permanent residence ¥200,000, renewals up to ¥75,000 from 1 October

Japan's cabinet adopted the ordinance on 25 August. From 1 October 2026, changing or extending a status of residence costs ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 depending on the period granted, instead of a flat ¥6,000, and a permanent-residence application costs ¥200,000 instead of ¥10,000.

Policy update 28 Aug 2026

DHS proposes a $103,265 fee on every new cap-subject H-1B petition

A proposed rule published on 25 August would charge employers $103,265 at filing for each H-1B petition selected in the annual lottery, on top of all existing fees and, if courts ever allow it, the separate $100,000 proclamation payment. Comments close 24 September.

Destination spotlight 25 Aug 2026

Destination spotlight: Finland — work permits are fast, settling takes longer than it did

Finland pairs a quick work-permit lane for specialists with some of the sharpest recent tightening in Europe on long-term settlement: permanent residence now takes six years by default, citizenship eight, and losing a job starts a three-month clock. Here is the current picture for anyone weighing a move.

Policy update 24 Aug 2026

US family green card dates jump more than two years in the September bulletin

The State Department advanced the F3 final action date by about 29 months and F4 by about 26 months for September 2026, and said in the same bulletin why: fewer visas are going to nationals of countries hit by recent entry proclamations.

Policy update 24 Aug 2026

New Zealand opens two skilled residence routes that need no degree and no points

From 24 August 2026 the Skilled Migrant Category has three pathways instead of one. Two of them qualify people on work experience and trade qualifications rather than on points.

Policy update 23 Aug 2026

Poland closes the visa-free work route for Colombians, Georgians and Venezuelans

From 22 August 2026 a Polish work permit no longer allows citizens of Colombia, Georgia or Venezuela to work while staying in Poland visa-free; they now need a national visa or a residence permit first.

Policy update 23 Aug 2026

India stops stamping boarding passes at immigration from 1 September

From 1 September 2026 immigration counters at every Indian international airport will stop stamping boarding passes, and a pass shown on a phone will be accepted.

Policy update 23 Aug 2026

Court strikes down the 75-country US immigrant visa suspension

A federal judge has vacated the policy that blocked immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries since January, and ordered every refusal issued under it to be reconsidered.

Policy update 22 Aug 2026

Colombia and Israel restore mutual visa-free travel from 1 September

Israel’s foreign ministry announced on 20 August that Colombians and Israelis will again be able to travel to each other’s countries without applying for a visa in advance, reversing the reciprocal visa requirements imposed during 2025.

Policy update 22 Aug 2026

US immigration-court filing fees rise again on 1 October 2026

A Justice Department final rule published on 21 August raises every Executive Office for Immigration Review filing fee by 3.4 percent from 1 October. An appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals will cost $1,060 and a non-permanent-resident cancellation of removal application $1,690.

Policy update 21 Aug 2026

Switzerland extends protection status S to 2028, and ties new grants to Ukrainian military obligations

The Federal Council extended status S for Ukrainians to 4 March 2028 and, from 20 August 2026, will grant it only to applicants who are in compliance with any military obligations they have in Ukraine. People who already hold the status are unaffected.

Policy update 21 Aug 2026

Kuwait ends automatic visit-visa and absence-permit extensions from 1 September

Kuwait's Ministry of Interior will reinstate the normal legal periods for visit visas and absence permits on 1 September 2026, ending the automatic extensions granted since March. Residents who left on or before 31 August keep the extra time.

Policy update 21 Aug 2026

China opens 240-hour visa-free transit to Kyrgyz and Vietnamese travellers

From 20 August 2026, citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam can transit China visa-free for up to 10 days through 65 ports, and enter Hainan visa-free for 30 days. The transit policy now covers 57 countries.

Policy update 20 Aug 2026

Updated UAE visa-on-arrival rules for Filipinos: what counts is a residence permit, not just a visa

The Philippine foreign ministry published revised guidelines on 18 August spelling out which foreign documents let a Filipino passport holder get a UAE visa at the airport. For six of the nine countries, a visitor visa no longer does.

Policy update 20 Aug 2026

Canada's French-language Express Entry cut-off falls to 382, its lowest of 2026

Canada invited 5,000 French-speaking candidates on 19 August with a minimum score of 382, the third consecutive drop in the French category and 38 points below where it stood on 9 July.

Policy update 19 Aug 2026

SADC leaders approve a single tourist visa for southern Africa

Heads of state approved the agreement establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA at the Durban summit on 17 August. No launch date, fee, validity period or eligible-nationality list has been published, and member states still have to sign and ratify it.

Policy update 19 Aug 2026

South Africa's electronic travel authorisation now costs R500

A R500 processing fee for the ETA took effect on 17 August 2026, five days after South Africa launched the platform. The portal has also opened to visa-exempt travellers, who pay the same fee if they choose to use it.

Policy update 19 Aug 2026

USCIS issues new public charge guidance for green card applicants, effective 18 September

From 18 September 2026, USCIS officers deciding adjustment-of-status applications may weigh any means-tested public benefit an applicant has received, not just cash assistance and long-term institutional care. The filing date decides which standard applies.

Destination spotlight 18 Aug 2026

Destination spotlight: New Zealand — the skilled residence rules reset on 24 August 2026

New Zealand has rewritten most of its immigration settings in eighteen months: the work-visa median wage requirement is gone, the investor visa was rebuilt around NZD $5 million and NZD $10 million tiers, and two new skilled residence pathways open on 24 August 2026. Here is the current picture for anyone weighing a move.

Policy update 18 Aug 2026

Appeals Court Lets USCIS Resume Re-Reviewing Already-Approved Immigration Benefits

The First Circuit granted the government a stay limited to one policy on 14 August, allowing USCIS to restart re-examination of benefits already approved for people from travel-ban countries who entered the US on or after 20 January 2021. The rest of the government's stay request was denied.

Policy update 18 Aug 2026

Belgium Replaces Its Cross-Border Worker Permit, and UK Residents Lose Their Entry Route

Belgium has replaced rules dating from 1981 for people who live abroad and commute in to work: non-EU residents of France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg move from Annex 15 to Annex 64, while non-EU residents of the UK must now apply for a long-stay D visa.

Policy update 18 Aug 2026

Australia Has Paused Working Holiday Applications From 24 Countries and Slowed the Rest

Applications for the capped Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa are paused for 24 of Australia's 29 partner countries, and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed on 16 August that working holiday visas generally are being processed more slowly than before.

Policy update 16 Aug 2026

South Korea Opens Its Employment Permit System to Kazakhstan, With Workers Expected From 2028

A government committee designated Kazakhstan as the 18th sending country under Korea's Employment Permit System on 14 August, creating a legal route into E-9 jobs for Kazakh nationals once an intergovernmental agreement and local testing centres are in place.

Policy update 16 Aug 2026

USCIS Extends Ukraine and Sudan TPS Work Permits to 19 October for Those Still Waiting on a Card

Ukrainian and Sudanese TPS holders whose work permit renewal is still pending are being sent notices extending their expired cards to 19 October 2026, restoring work authorisation that lapsed on 22 July.

Policy update 16 Aug 2026

Sweden Passes a Two-Year Wait Before Family Can Join Temporary Permit Holders

The Riksdag adopted the government's family-immigration bill on 13 August. From 1 October, a sponsor holding a time-limited residence permit must generally have lived in Sweden for two years before relatives can be granted a permit, and the maintenance requirement will apply to renewal applications too.

Policy update 15 Aug 2026

New US Forms From 15 September: Old Editions of I-539 and I-765 Will Be Rejected

USCIS will publish revised editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 on 15 September 2026 with no grace period, on the same day students and exchange visitors stop being admitted for "duration of status".

Policy update 15 Aug 2026

Somalia's US Temporary Protected Status Ended on 14 August

USCIS confirms the Somalia TPS designation terminated on 14 August 2026, ending the status and voiding the work permits that a federal court had kept alive since March.

Policy update 15 Aug 2026

Morocco Drops the Visa Requirement for Albanian Citizens From 15 August

Albania's foreign ministry says Morocco has abolished the short-stay visa requirement for Albanian passport holders, with the change taking effect on 15 August 2026.

Policy update 14 Aug 2026

Singapore Raises the Salary Benchmarks That Decide Employment Pass Points From 2027

The Ministry of Manpower has published new COMPASS C1 salary benchmarks that apply to every new Employment Pass application from 1 January 2027, lifting the pay level needed to score points in most of the 21 sectors covered.

Policy update 14 Aug 2026

US: Travel on Advance Parole Can Now Trigger the 3- and 10-Year Re-Entry Bars

A Board of Immigration Appeals precedent decision issued on August 13, 2026 overturns thirteen years of settled practice: people with more than 180 days of unlawful presence who leave the US on advance parole can now be barred from returning for three or ten years.

Policy update 13 Aug 2026

Switzerland Suspends Visa Facilitations for Somali and Guinean Nationals

Switzerland's Federal Council has suspended simplified documentation, faster processing, fee waivers and multiple-entry visas for Somali and Guinean applicants, mirroring EU measures tied to a readmission dispute.

Policy update 13 Aug 2026

Indonesia Plans to More Than Double Its Visa-on-Arrival Fee — and Charge Extra for Skipping the Online Form

Indonesia's immigration authority says it will raise the visa-on-arrival fee from Rp500,000 to Rp750,000 for travelers who apply online in advance, or Rp1 million for those who apply at the airport.

Policy update 12 Aug 2026

New Zealand moves most visitor visa applications to its new online system from 24 September

Immigration New Zealand will accept new applications for 20 visitor visa categories only through enhanced Immigration Online from 24 September 2026, and unsubmitted drafts in the old system will be deleted on 8 October.

Policy update 12 Aug 2026

Colombia earthquake: immigration offices in Medellín, Cali and five other cities suspend in-person services

After the magnitude-7.4 earthquake of 10 August, Migración Colombia has temporarily closed seven of its service centres — including Medellín and Cali — while buildings undergo safety checks.

Policy update 11 Aug 2026

US begins phasing out paper immigration filings: new DHS rule lets USCIS mandate online-only forms

A DHS interim final rule effective August 11 allows USCIS to require online filing for any form that has been e-fileable for 180 days, with 60 days’ public notice per form.

Policy update 11 Aug 2026

Philippines opens online e-Visa applications for residents of the US and 19 Caribbean jurisdictions

From August 10, visa-required travelers residing in the United States and much of the Caribbean can apply for Philippine temporary-visit visas online instead of at a consulate.

Policy update 11 Aug 2026

India adds 11 entry points for e-Visa holders, including Attari land border and two new airports

India’s Home Ministry has notified nine land crossings and two airports as e-Visa entry points, bringing the total network to 88 ports for travelers from 172 countries.

Policy update 9 Aug 2026

US Moves to End the 60-Day Grace Period for Laid-Off Work-Visa Holders

DHS has sent a proposed rule to the White House that would eliminate the 60-day grace period H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and E-visa workers rely on after losing a job.

Policy update 9 Aug 2026

Malaysia Raises the Labour-Market-Test Exemption to RM20,000, Catching Mid-Level Expat Roles

Jobs paying under RM20,000 a month must now be advertised to Malaysians on MyFutureJobs before an Employment Pass application — up from the previous RM15,000 cutoff.

Policy update 9 Aug 2026

New Zealand Ends the Parent Visa Lottery: 90% of Places Will Go to the Longest-Waiting Families

From 5 October 2026, New Zealand replaces the Parent Resident Visa ballot with a hybrid model that selects most applications in date order; the final all-ballot draw runs 11 August.

Policy update 8 Aug 2026

US Finalizes Rule Adding $4,000–$4,500 Fee to H-1B and L-1 Extensions at Visa-Heavy Employers

A DHS final rule published in the Federal Register on August 10 extends the 9-11 Response Fee to every H-1B and L-1 extension filed by employers whose US workforce is majority H-1B/L-1, effective September 9, 2026.

Policy update 8 Aug 2026

South Africa Launches Its ETA on August 12, With the R500 Fee Decision Days Away

President Ramaphosa will officially launch South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation at OR Tambo on August 12, with a proposed R500 fee out for comment until August 11 and an all-nationality rollout signposted for September.

Policy update 8 Aug 2026

Kenya Confirms Mandatory $50,000 Travel Health Insurance, Verified Through the eTA

Kenya’s Health Ministry has clarified that all foreign visitors staying under 12 months must hold travel health insurance with at least $50,000 in cover, with proof uploaded during the eTA application or bought on arrival.

Policy update 7 Aug 2026

US Signs New Executive Orders Limiting Birthright Citizenship and Targeting Birth Tourism

Two orders signed on 6 August direct US agencies to withhold citizenship documents from children in four defined categories and to tighten visas for travellers who come to the US to give birth.

Policy update 7 Aug 2026

Turkey Cancels Citizenship of 6,134 People Over Investment-Program Fraud

Turkey's Interior Ministry has cancelled or withdrawn citizenship acquired through the investment program for 1,413 investors and their families, citing fraudulent property valuations and security grounds.

Policy update 7 Aug 2026

Canada Withdraws Week-Old Rule Requiring Reciprocal Work-Permit Applicants to Already Work for Their Employer Abroad

IRCC says the 29 July instruction cutting off C20 reciprocal employment permits for new hires was published in error and has restored the previous rules.

Policy update 6 Aug 2026

USCIS Can Now Deny Applications Without First Asking for More Evidence

A policy change effective August 5 lets US immigration officers deny incomplete applications outright, ends the automatic 12-week response window for evidence requests, and applies to cases already pending.

Policy update 6 Aug 2026

US Consulates Can Now Require a Financial Bond Before Issuing a Green Card Visa

A State Department pilot announced August 5 lets consular officers require certain immigrant visa applicants to post a public-charge bond with USCIS. Reporting indicates the pilot starts with applicants from the Dominican Republic.

Policy update 6 Aug 2026

UK Opens Global Talent Visa Route to More Than 100 Research Companies

Researchers can now be supported for a UK Global Talent visa by over 100 commercial research businesses, including AstraZeneca and Jaguar Land Rover, a route previously limited to universities and research institutes.

Policy update 5 Aug 2026

Ontario reopens its nominee program with a single Workforce Priority stream

Ontario opened the Expression of Interest portal for its rebuilt provincial nominee program on 4 August; the new Workforce Priority stream replaces all eight previous pathways, and old submissions were withdrawn.

Policy update 5 Aug 2026

EU ministers back Spain over Ceuta and say Schengen was never at risk

At an emergency videoconference on 4 August, EU home affairs ministers rejected calls to suspend Spain from Schengen and confirmed most of the roughly 72,000 people who crossed into Ceuta have been returned.

Policy update 4 Aug 2026

Kuwait sets a KD150 fee for converting a visit visa into a residence permit

Interior Ministry Decision No. 1091/2026, in force since 2 August, charges 150 Kuwaiti dinars for the limited cases in which a visit visa can be turned into residency without leaving Kuwait; domestic workers are exempt.

Policy update 4 Aug 2026

Oman introduces a free 14-day tourist visa that can be switched to a longer stay

Royal Oman Police Decision No. 109/2026, in force since 3 August, creates a fee-free 14-day tourist visa that holders can convert into another tourist visa category before it expires, without leaving the country.

Policy update 4 Aug 2026

Mozambique Reinstates Its Pre-Travel Authorisation for 29 Visa-Exempt Nationalities

After a 14-month suspension, Mozambique’s electronic travel authorisation is mandatory again from 31 July 2026 for visa-exempt visitors, who must now apply online at least 48 hours before departure.

Policy update 2 Aug 2026

Italy reimposes border checks on arrivals from Spain; France steps up patrols at the Pyrenees

From 1 August, Italy is checking non-EU travellers arriving from Spain by air and sea for one month, and France has intensified police checks at its Spanish border. Free movement is not suspended for EU citizens, but everyone should travel with a valid document.

Policy update 2 Aug 2026

Egypt starts replacing the paper visa sticker with a QR code at Cairo airport

From 1 August, travellers eligible for a visa on arrival at Cairo International Airport can use a QR code instead of buying a paper sticker at a bank counter. The code costs USD 36 in total and expires 48 hours after it is issued.

Policy update 1 Aug 2026

UK Immigration Rules Overhaul Takes Effect: What Changes on 3 August 2026

The UK's HC 259 statement of changes has begun taking effect. EU Settlement Scheme amendments applied from 30 July and the rest of the package, including a lower deportation threshold, applies from 3 August 2026.

Policy update 1 Aug 2026

US Makes Visa Bonds Permanent: Up to $20,000 for Visitor Visas from About 50 Countries

The State Department has finalised a rule making its B-1/B-2 visa bond program permanent from 3 August 2026, raising the maximum bond to $20,000 for applicants from roughly 50 countries, most of them in Africa.

Policy update 31 Jul 2026

State Department proposes tighter termination rules for J-1 exchange visitors, including au pairs

A new State Department proposal expands the grounds for ending a J-1 exchange visitor program and requires au pairs to request extensions 90 days ahead instead of 30.

Policy update 31 Jul 2026

DOJ proposes letting immigration judges fine attorneys, migrants and witnesses for contempt

A new Justice Department proposal would let immigration judges impose $1,000-$3,500 civil penalties on attorneys, respondents and witnesses for contempt — the first time this 1996 authority would actually be used.

Policy update 29 Jul 2026

New Zealand overhauls its seasonal worker visa scheme

New Zealand is simplifying the Recognised Seasonal Employer visa scheme, with graduated employer accreditation, more worker mobility, and clearer cost rules phased in from 2027.

Policy update 29 Jul 2026

Montenegro will require visas for Russian, Chinese, Saudi, Belarusian and Turkish citizens from November

Montenegro is ending visa-free travel for citizens of Russia, China, Belarus, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye from November 1, 2026, as it aligns its visa rules with the EU ahead of accession.

Policy update 28 Jul 2026

DHS lets USCIS skip the interview for some asylum referrals

A new interim rule lets asylum officers send certain cases straight to immigration court based on the written file alone, no interview first — aimed mainly at applications filed more than a year after arrival.

Policy update 28 Jul 2026

Japan drafts tighter permanent-residency rules on income, pension, and marriage

Japan's Immigration Services Agency has drafted guideline revisions that would raise the income and pension bar for permanent residency and lengthen the marriage and residence requirements for foreign spouses. The changes are not yet finalized.

Policy update 28 Jul 2026

Haiti TPS work permits and deportation protection lapse as ICE enforcement is reported

Temporary Protected Status ended for an estimated 352,959 Haitians on July 27, 2026, when the last court stay expired — and unnamed officials describe new ICE operations targeting former TPS holders in Ohio, Indiana and South Florida.

Policy update 27 Jul 2026

Appeals court keeps Trump's $100,000 H-1B fee blocked, for now

The First Circuit refused to let the government keep collecting a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions while its appeal continues, so the standard, much lower visa fees apply again for now.

Policy update 21 Jul 2026

DHS restores a stricter public-charge test for green card applicants, effective September 18

A new federal rule lets USCIS officers weigh a wider range of public benefits — including Medicaid, SNAP and housing assistance — when deciding green card and visa applications starting September 18, 2026.

Relocation tip 17 Jul 2026

Extended tourist stays: where you can legally stay 6 to 12 months without a residence permit

Most countries cap a tourist visit at 90 days or less, and in 2026 those caps are increasingly enforced by automated border systems. But a short list of countries grants 180 to 365 days on an ordinary tourist entry. Here is that list, what changed this year, and the fine print that catches people.

Policy update 17 Jul 2026

US ends open-ended stays for foreign students, exchange visitors and journalists

A DHS final rule replaces the 48-year-old "duration of status" system with fixed admission periods: F and J visa holders get their program length up to four years, and extensions now go through USCIS.

Policy update 17 Jul 2026

US extends Ebola entry ban for DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan travelers to 12 August

The CDC has continued its Title 42 order for another 30 days: non-citizens who were in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days — including green-card holders — remain barred from entering the US.

Policy update 17 Jul 2026

UK opens final 2026 India Young Professionals ballot on 21 July

Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 have from 1:30pm IST on 21 July until 1:30pm IST on 23 July to enter the free ballot for a two-year UK live-and-work visa. It is the last ballot of 2026.

Policy update 15 Jul 2026

UK Commits £20 Million to Dover Border Capacity as France Agrees to Staff Up for EES Summer Crunch

The UK announced £20 million on July 14, 2026 for more passport-check booths at Dover, alongside a Franco-British agreement to increase border staffing at Dover, Folkestone and St Pancras during the peak EES summer season.

Policy update 15 Jul 2026

Thailand Finalizes Its Visa Rollback: 30 Days Visa-Free for 59 Countries, 60-Day Scheme Withdrawn

Thailand's cabinet approved the revised visa-exemption framework on July 14, 2026: 59 countries get 30-day visa-free entry, the 60-day scheme for 93 countries is withdrawn, and visa on arrival shrinks to three countries. The rules start 15 days after Royal Gazette publication.

Policy update 15 Jul 2026

Ireland Lets Residents Work and Travel on Expired IRP Cards Until August 31 Amid Renewal Backlog

Ireland announced interim measures on July 13, 2026: foreign residents whose Irish Residence Permit expired while a renewal is pending can keep working until August 31 and travel on the expired card, provided they applied before it expired. Renewals are taking up to 17 weeks in some categories.

Destination spotlight 14 Jul 2026

Destination spotlight: Taiwan — a two-year nomad visa, a Gold Card track, and a visa-free trial about to lapse

World-class healthcare, low crime and a reasonable cost of living have quietly made Taiwan one of Asia's most liveable relocation destinations. Since 2025 it also has a digital nomad visa — extended in January 2026 to allow stays of up to two years — and its Gold Card carries a three-year path to permanent residence. Here is the current picture, including the visa-free trial for Thai, Bruneian and Filipino nationals that runs only until 31 July 2026.

Policy update 14 Jul 2026

Australia will replace the paper arrival card with a digital declaration at every airport and seaport

Canberra has committed A$56.1 million to roll out the digital Australia Travel Declaration nationally within 12 to 18 months, phasing out the paper incoming passenger card for all arriving travellers.

Policy update 12 Jul 2026

Sweden Stops Granting Automatic Permanent Residence to New Long-Term Residents Today

As of July 12, 2026, people newly granted long-term resident status in Sweden receive a renewable five-year permit instead of automatic permanent residence. Swedish citizenship remains available on its own separate timeline, unaffected by this change.

Policy update 12 Jul 2026

Caribbean "Golden Passport" States Push Back on EU's 2028 Phase-Out Demand

Five Eastern Caribbean nations rejected the terms of an EU demand to shut down their citizenship-by-investment programs by June 2028, setting up a standoff over visa-free Schengen access that will directly affect anyone holding or applying for a Caribbean investor passport.

Policy update 11 Jul 2026

USCIS Pushes Back Haiti TPS Work-Permit Deadline to July 24, Pending Court Fight

USCIS extended the placeholder work-authorization date for Haitian Temporary Protected Status holders to July 24, 2026, a short-term reprieve while a federal court order keeps their status alive despite a Supreme Court ruling clearing the way for termination.

Policy update 10 Jul 2026

USCIS Can Now Deny, Not Just Reject, Filings Over a Bad Signature — Effective July 10

A new DHS rule taking effect July 10, 2026 lets USCIS deny — not just reject — an immigration filing found to have an invalid signature after it was already accepted, with no chance to fix the signature and no fee refund.

Policy update 10 Jul 2026

Nigeria Ends Third-Party Visa Processing in the US — Apply Directly at the Embassy or Consulate Now

Nigeria's Immigration Service has suspended its US-based third-party visa processor, OIS Services, meaning applicants for a Nigerian visa in the US must now apply directly at the embassy in Washington, DC, or the consulates in New York and Atlanta.

Policy update 10 Jul 2026

ETIAS Launch Reportedly Slips to 2027 as Brussels Works Through EES Border Backlogs

The EU's new ETIAS travel-authorisation system, long expected by the end of 2026, may not launch until 2027 while the bloc first works through the queues and technical problems under the newer Entry/Exit System, according to Financial Times reporting.

Policy update 8 Jul 2026

EU Tells Airlines a Full EES Suspension Is "Impossible" — Biometric Pause Still Ends in September

The European Commission met with Europe's airport and airline associations on July 7 and rejected their request to suspend Entry/Exit System border checks for the summer, keeping the existing partial-pause option in place only through early September.

Policy update 8 Jul 2026

South Korea Makes Its Digital Nomad Visa Permanent, Lowers the Income Bar for Younger Applicants

South Korea has converted its F-1-D digital nomad visa from a two-year pilot into a permanent program, cutting the income requirement in half for applicants aged 18-34 who settle outside Seoul, and extending the maximum stay to three years.

Policy update 7 Jul 2026

Ohio Judge Orders USCIS to Resume Green Card Processing for Applicants From Seven Countries

A federal judge in Columbus ruled that USCIS unlawfully froze green card, work-permit and travel-document applications from people in Burma, Canada, Iran, Nigeria, Syria, Tanzania and Venezuela based on their nationality, and ordered adjudication to resume.

Policy update 5 Jul 2026

Von der Leyen Admits EES "Technical Problems" as EU Borders Enter Peak Summer

The European Commission President conceded that the Entry/Exit System still has unresolved technical problems, days after airlines and airports asked Brussels to allow checks to be suspended during the July–August peak.

Policy update 5 Jul 2026

US Appeals Court Rules ICE Must Grant Bond Hearings Within 90 Days of Detention

The Fifth Circuit ruled 2–1 that long-term US residents cannot be held in immigration detention beyond 90 days without a bond hearing, striking at the administration's mandatory-detention policy in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Policy update 4 Jul 2026

South Africa Now Requires an Online Traveller Declaration for All Arrivals and Departures

Since 1 July 2026, everyone entering or leaving South Africa must submit an online customs declaration before travelling, covering goods and any currency they carry.

Policy update 4 Jul 2026

Bangladesh Starts Replacing Its 2006 Visa Policy With a 34-Category System

Bangladesh's cabinet reviewed a draft "Visa Policy 2026" on 2 July and formed a ministerial committee to finalise it, with 34 visa categories, an e-Visa direction and visa-on-arrival provisions.

Policy update 2 Jul 2026

Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship, Strikes Down Trump's Executive Order

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 30 that children born in the US are citizens at birth regardless of their parents' immigration status, striking down the executive order that had tried to end the practice.

Policy update 2 Jul 2026

Europe's Airports and Airlines Ask Brussels to Allow EES Suspensions This Summer

Europe's three largest aviation trade bodies sent an open letter to the European Commission on July 1 asking for the power to suspend Entry/Exit System border checks during peak periods, citing wait times of up to five hours.

Policy update 2 Jul 2026

Canada Says Only 1% of "Lost Canadians" Certificates Affected After Surrender Order Sparked Alarm

IRCC confirmed on June 30 that just 67 of the 4,075 citizenship-by-descent certificates issued under Bill C-3, about 1%, remain under review after a documentation audit briefly required some recipients to surrender their certificates.

Policy update 30 Jun 2026

Spain's Extraordinary Regularization Closes with 1.3 Million Applications

Spain's ten-week window for irregular migrants to apply for legal status closed on June 30 with approximately 1.3 million applications filed — more than twice the government's own estimate and the largest regularization in Spain's history.

Policy update 28 Jun 2026

India Resumes Tourist Visas for Bangladeshi Nationals After Nearly Two Years

From 28 June 2026 Bangladeshi nationals can again apply for Indian tourist visas, ending a suspension that began in August 2024.

Policy update 28 Jun 2026

Ontario Closes All Eight Nominee Streams and Opens a Single Workforce Priority Stream

From 26 June 2026 Ontario replaced its eight Immigrant Nominee Program streams with one Workforce Priority stream, and its Expression of Interest system is closed until later in the summer.

Policy update 27 Jun 2026

Venezuela earthquake closes main airport and disrupts immigration processing

Two major earthquakes on 24 June closed Simón Bolívar International Airport and caused outages and delays affecting Venezuelan visa, apostille and other government services.

Policy update 27 Jun 2026

Supreme Court lets US end TPS protections for Haitians and Syrians

A 6-3 Supreme Court decision removes the lower-court orders that had postponed the termination of Temporary Protected Status for about 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians.

Policy update 27 Jun 2026

UAE expands visa on arrival to six nationalities holding qualifying residence permits

Ordinary-passport holders from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa can now obtain a UAE visa on arrival if they hold a valid residence permit from one of nine approved jurisdictions.

Policy update 25 Jun 2026

Supreme Court ruling lowers the bar for stripping returning green card holders of their resident status at the border

A 6-3 Supreme Court ruling on June 23 in Blanche v. Lau changes how border agents can treat returning green card holders. Agents now need only a "reason to believe" a qualifying crime occurred — not the prior "clear and convincing evidence" standard — before reclassifying a permanent resident as a person seeking admission, which can trigger detention, card confiscation, and removal proceedings.

Policy update 25 Jun 2026

Quebec opens family reunification intake July 2 with 15,700-undertaking cap and staggered submission dates

Quebec published new family sponsorship rules on June 23, opening a two-year intake from July 2, 2026 with a total cap of 15,700 undertakings. Each sponsor's submission date is determined by when their relative received their IRCC decision letter — applications sent before that date are returned as inadmissible.

Policy update 25 Jun 2026

Japan raises visa issuance fees fivefold from July 1 — the first increase since 1978

Japan's cabinet approved a 5x increase in visa issuance fees on June 19, effective July 1, 2026. A single-entry visa rises from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 and a multiple-entry visa from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. A separate law passed in May authorizes further increases for residency renewals and permanent residence applications, with the exact amounts to be set before March 2027.

Policy update 24 Jun 2026

UK's second Youth Mobility Scheme ballot for Hong Kong and Taiwan opens 14 July

The Home Office announced the dates on 23 June; eligible nationals aged 18–30 have a 48-hour window starting 14 July to enter the final 2026 ballot.

Policy update 23 Jun 2026

US proposes raising the citizenship application fee by 75% and ending income-based waivers

DHS published a proposed rule on June 23 to raise the N-400 naturalization fee from $760 to $1,330 and eliminate the reduced-fee option and fee waivers for low-income applicants.

Policy update 23 Jun 2026

CDC issues second 30-day Ebola entry order: US green card holders face bar on return from East Africa

A new 30-day CDC Title 42 order issued on June 21, 2026 temporarily bars US lawful permanent residents who have been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days from re-entering the United States.

Policy update 22 Jun 2026

UK opens the Service Supplier visa to Mexican nationals under CPTPP

On 22 June 2026 the UK Home Office added Mexico to Table C of the Global Business Mobility Service Supplier route, letting Mexican service suppliers and self-employed professionals apply under CPTPP commitments — closing an 18-month gap since the UK joined CPTPP in December 2024.

Policy update 20 Jun 2026

Kuwait resumes issuance of commercial visit visas after a nine-day freeze

Kuwait has resumed issuing the single-entry, 30-day Commercial Visit Visa — the workhorse business-travel permit for foreign executives, consultants, contractors and trade-fair attendees — after a 10 June suspension that lasted nine days. New applications are open again; trips planned during the freeze can be rebooked.

Policy update 20 Jun 2026

UAE: final 30-day grace period for residents stranded by the airspace shutdown ends 9 July

The UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security has set a final 30-day grace period, from 10 June to 9 July 2026, for foreign residents and visitors previously exempted from overstay fines after the late-February airspace closures. Regularise your status or leave before 9 July — no further extensions are planned.

Policy update 20 Jun 2026

Saudi Arabia caps instant work visas at 5 for startups and 50 for established companies

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has tightened instant work-visa caps via its Qiwa platform: new businesses can request at most 5 instant visas per cycle, established companies (2+ years) up to 50, and Establishment Programme participants start at just 2.

Policy update 19 Jun 2026

Indonesia: visa and stay-permit processing for foreign workers is running slower right now

If you are applying for or renewing an Indonesian work visa, KITAS or exit permit this summer, plan for longer waits. Standard work-visa processing has roughly doubled to 7–11 working days, exit permits now take a week or more, and there is less hands-on help at appointments — the practical fallout of an anti-corruption clean-up at the Jakarta immigration office.

Policy update 18 Jun 2026

Qatar cuts the post-cancellation residence-permit grace period from 30 days to 14

Foreign residents whose Qatar residence permit is cancelled now have two weeks, not 30 days, to leave, transfer sponsorship or regularise their status — or face a QAR 10/day overstay fine.

Destination spotlight 17 Jun 2026

Destination spotlight: Portugal — still popular, but the rules have moved

Mild climate, an established residency path and a big international community keep Portugal near the top of every relocation shortlist. But the immigration agency, the golden visa and the tax regime have all changed recently — here is the honest, current picture.

Relocation tip 16 Jun 2026

5 things to sort before you move abroad (while it is still easy)

The move itself is rarely the hard part — it is the admin you did not set up in time. Five things that are quick and cheap to handle at home, and slow and expensive to fix once you have left.

Relocation tip 15 Jun 2026

How the Schengen 90/180 rule actually works (and the mistake that gets people banned)

The "90 days in any 180" rule trips up more travellers than almost any other — because the window rolls and does not reset. Here is how it really works, with a free tool that does the maths for you.

Policy update 12 Jun 2026

ETIAS explained: the €20 travel authorisation coming to Europe in late 2026

ETIAS is a new pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors to Europe — not a visa, but a step you will complete online before you fly. Here is who needs it, what it costs, and when it actually starts.

Policy update 10 Jun 2026

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is now live: what it means for short stays

The EU has replaced manual passport stamps with a biometric border system that logs every entry and exit automatically. Here is what changed, who it affects, and why your 90/180 days are now counted to the day.

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What's happening around the world

US ends birthright citizenship for children of foreign government employees and offers a green card instead

The Philippines now takes foreign work permit applications online only

Malaysia cuts its Multiple Entry Visa to 31 nationalities and drops tourism and family visits

USCIS is opening an office in Addis Ababa to check documents and collect DNA

UK changes its Immigration Rules again: exploited Skilled Workers can switch employer, Erasmus+ returns, BN(O) children settle with their parents

Hiring a non-EU worker in Flanders now costs €180 more, on renewals as well as first applications

Cyprus adds blood tests and a chest X-ray to its permanent residence application

Brazil now issues temporary visas by email, and applicants keep their passports

ACT would end New Zealand’s Permanent Resident Visa and require 730 days in the country

Destination spotlight: Germany — work permits eased in July 2026, the citizenship clock went back to five years

Italy and Spain extend reciprocal border checks by 15 days

Thailand's 30-day visa rules are now law: 60-day visa-free entry ends on 15 September

Bahrain automates work permit renewals for Golden Residency holders

Canada closes its Hong Kong permanent residence pathways to new applications

Uzbekistan announces 30-day visa-free entry for Indian citizens

US judge rules the two laws behind speech-based visa revocations unconstitutional

Portugal's Constitutional Court clears the new foreigners and asylum law

Canada raises the study-permit money threshold to C$23,448 from 1 September

Federal judge certifies a nationwide class over USCIS's 39-country hold; USCIS says it will follow the order

Canada extends its Ebola entry ban and visa freeze for DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan to 28 September

Rule ending the 60-day grace period clears White House review; Federal Register publication is next

US pauses immigrant visa interviews worldwide while consular officers are retrained on "public charge"

Japan fixes new residence fees: permanent residence ¥200,000, renewals up to ¥75,000 from 1 October

DHS proposes a $103,265 fee on every new cap-subject H-1B petition

Destination spotlight: Finland — work permits are fast, settling takes longer than it did

US family green card dates jump more than two years in the September bulletin

New Zealand opens two skilled residence routes that need no degree and no points

Poland closes the visa-free work route for Colombians, Georgians and Venezuelans

India stops stamping boarding passes at immigration from 1 September

Court strikes down the 75-country US immigrant visa suspension

Colombia and Israel restore mutual visa-free travel from 1 September

US immigration-court filing fees rise again on 1 October 2026

Switzerland extends protection status S to 2028, and ties new grants to Ukrainian military obligations

Kuwait ends automatic visit-visa and absence-permit extensions from 1 September

China opens 240-hour visa-free transit to Kyrgyz and Vietnamese travellers

Updated UAE visa-on-arrival rules for Filipinos: what counts is a residence permit, not just a visa

Canada's French-language Express Entry cut-off falls to 382, its lowest of 2026

SADC leaders approve a single tourist visa for southern Africa

South Africa's electronic travel authorisation now costs R500

USCIS issues new public charge guidance for green card applicants, effective 18 September

Destination spotlight: New Zealand — the skilled residence rules reset on 24 August 2026

Appeals Court Lets USCIS Resume Re-Reviewing Already-Approved Immigration Benefits

Belgium Replaces Its Cross-Border Worker Permit, and UK Residents Lose Their Entry Route

Australia Has Paused Working Holiday Applications From 24 Countries and Slowed the Rest

South Korea Opens Its Employment Permit System to Kazakhstan, With Workers Expected From 2028

USCIS Extends Ukraine and Sudan TPS Work Permits to 19 October for Those Still Waiting on a Card

Sweden Passes a Two-Year Wait Before Family Can Join Temporary Permit Holders

New US Forms From 15 September: Old Editions of I-539 and I-765 Will Be Rejected

Somalia's US Temporary Protected Status Ended on 14 August

Morocco Drops the Visa Requirement for Albanian Citizens From 15 August

Singapore Raises the Salary Benchmarks That Decide Employment Pass Points From 2027

US: Travel on Advance Parole Can Now Trigger the 3- and 10-Year Re-Entry Bars

Switzerland Suspends Visa Facilitations for Somali and Guinean Nationals

Indonesia Plans to More Than Double Its Visa-on-Arrival Fee — and Charge Extra for Skipping the Online Form

New Zealand moves most visitor visa applications to its new online system from 24 September

Colombia earthquake: immigration offices in Medellín, Cali and five other cities suspend in-person services

US begins phasing out paper immigration filings: new DHS rule lets USCIS mandate online-only forms

Philippines opens online e-Visa applications for residents of the US and 19 Caribbean jurisdictions

India adds 11 entry points for e-Visa holders, including Attari land border and two new airports

US Moves to End the 60-Day Grace Period for Laid-Off Work-Visa Holders

Malaysia Raises the Labour-Market-Test Exemption to RM20,000, Catching Mid-Level Expat Roles

New Zealand Ends the Parent Visa Lottery: 90% of Places Will Go to the Longest-Waiting Families

US Finalizes Rule Adding $4,000–$4,500 Fee to H-1B and L-1 Extensions at Visa-Heavy Employers

South Africa Launches Its ETA on August 12, With the R500 Fee Decision Days Away

Kenya Confirms Mandatory $50,000 Travel Health Insurance, Verified Through the eTA

US Signs New Executive Orders Limiting Birthright Citizenship and Targeting Birth Tourism

Turkey Cancels Citizenship of 6,134 People Over Investment-Program Fraud

Canada Withdraws Week-Old Rule Requiring Reciprocal Work-Permit Applicants to Already Work for Their Employer Abroad

USCIS Can Now Deny Applications Without First Asking for More Evidence

US Consulates Can Now Require a Financial Bond Before Issuing a Green Card Visa

UK Opens Global Talent Visa Route to More Than 100 Research Companies

Ontario reopens its nominee program with a single Workforce Priority stream

EU ministers back Spain over Ceuta and say Schengen was never at risk

Kuwait sets a KD150 fee for converting a visit visa into a residence permit

Oman introduces a free 14-day tourist visa that can be switched to a longer stay

Mozambique Reinstates Its Pre-Travel Authorisation for 29 Visa-Exempt Nationalities

Italy reimposes border checks on arrivals from Spain; France steps up patrols at the Pyrenees

Egypt starts replacing the paper visa sticker with a QR code at Cairo airport

UK Immigration Rules Overhaul Takes Effect: What Changes on 3 August 2026