Client Payment Portal

BELGIUM: Immigration reform aims to expedite single permit application processing

Feb 26, 2020 | Global

Summary of the Issue – After much lobbying, the Belgian government is taking actions to reform the single permit application process with the goal of improving processing timeframes. Implemented on January 1, 2019, the single permit application allows non-EU employees to work in multiple branches of an EU-based multinational company. The single permit replaced a two-sided process for obtaining residence and work permits each with their own rules and procedures.

Policy Reform – The reforms focuses on increasing the number of immigration bureaucrats, streamlining internal processes, and taking advantage of technology efficiencies.

Impact – Upon implementation, the reforms promise to expedite immigration processing by allowing single permit holders (including first-time applicants, renewal applicants, and those changing employers) to start or continue employment upon approval of regional authorities.  First-time applicants must still obtain approval from federal authorities, but can begin working upon approval from local authorities.

More Information –

 

Related Posts:

Outlook for Entrepreneurs Entering Canada

In Canada, the starting point to obtain a work permit as a foreign national is a labor market impact assessment (LMIA). This requires a Canadian company to demonstrate that they advertised the position and that Canadian citizens and permanent residents were given a reasonable opportunity to apply for the position. Until recently, one of the most popular exemptions from advertising to support an LMIA application was the Owner Operator category. Where a foreign national owned more than 50 percent of a Canadian company, no advertising was required, and the Canadian company merely had to establish that the impact of hiring the foreign national would have a neutral or positive impact on the Canadian labor market and that the job offer was genuine. The Entrepreneur permanent residence category was eliminated approximately two decades ago. Since then, many of the provinces have designed entrepreneur programs, but these provincial programs typically require a minimum investment and creation of jobs in Canada and often take months to be approved. Accordingly, in the absence of a true entrepreneur program, the Owner Operator LMIA provided a path for many self-employed business entrepreneurs to initially come to Canada to work, gain Canadian experience working for a Canadian […]

Read More

UK Post-Brexit Immigration Updates

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has published the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules which set out the legal framework for the new immigration system. Important Dates 12/1/2020: skilled worker route opens 12/31/2020: free movement rights end for EU citizens moving to UK and British citizens moving to EU. EU citizens resident in the UK before 11pm on December 31, 2020 are eligible to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme before the June 30, 2021 deadline. 1/31/2021: Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route opens 6/30/2021: deadline for EU citizens in UK to apply to EU Settlement Scheme EU/EEA/Swiss nationals arriving UK before December 31, 2020 Regulations will automatically extend right of residence to June 30, 2021 for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals lawfully residing in UK by December 31, 2020. Employers CANNOT require EU/EEA/Swiss citizens to show you their status under the EU Settlement Scheme until after June 30, 2021. Employers cannot force their existing EU citizen workforce to submit EU Settlement Scheme applications but can encourage them to do so and provide information and support to them on how to apply.  Employers will rightly be keen to avoid any suggestion they are discriminating against EU citizens because of their nationality. We expect to […]

Read More