WR Immigration’s July global immigration recap includes the latest developments on the UK’s biometric appointment availability, Portugal’s residence permit renewal portal, Argentina’s new entry requirements, and more.
UK – New Eligibility Criteria for Sponsored Work Visas Now in Effect; Changes to US Biometric Appointment Availability
New Skill and Salary Thresholds for Sponsored Work Visas
As a reminder, the new skill and salary thresholds for sponsored work visas are now in effect in the UK as of July 22, 2025. For further information, please click here.
US Biometric Appointment Availability
Individuals applying for a UK visa from the United States must now attend a Premium Application Centre (PAC)/Visa Application Centre (VAC) in one of the cities listed below to provide their biometric data. The option to enroll biometrics at a USCIS-run Application Support Center (ASC) is no longer available. This means that appointment availability may be more limited, particularly during peak travel periods. In some cases, applicants may also be required to travel further from home to attend an appointment; however, those receiving an eVisa should be able to collect their passport on the same day.
Visa Application Centre (VAC) locations offering Premium Application Centre (PAC) option:
| New York | Boston | San Francisco | Seattle |
| Washington DC | Atlanta | Houston | Chicago |
| Los Angeles | Miami | ||
Additional Visa Application Centre (VAC) locations:
| Dallas | Austin | Raleigh | Denver |
| Detroit | Hartford | St Paul | Salt Lake City |
| Indianapolis | Tampa | Phoenix | Charlotte |
| Portland | Las Vegas | Pittsburgh | Kansas City |
| St. Louis | Jacksonville | Milwaukee | Nashville |
| Columbus | San Diego | Syracuse | Cincinnati |
| New Orleans | Buffalo | Philadelphia | San Marcos (Carlsbad) |
Portugal – Residence Permit Renewal Portal Now Available
AIMA has officially launched the much-anticipated online Renewal Portal for residence permits. This portal is only available from within Portugal to individuals whose residence permits expired after June 30, 2025.
Individuals with a residence permit that expired on or before June 30, 2025, must wait for an email notification from AIMA to access the Renewal Portal and renew their document. These email notifications will be sent out in chronological order of original expiry, beginning in early 2020 and continuing through to June 30, 2025. As a reminder, the Portuguese government previously granted an automatic extension until October 15, 2025, for all residence permits that expired on or before June 30, 2025, allowing individuals in this situation to remain in legal status while they await renewal.
Canada – New Authority Granted to OINP
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) now has the authority to require in-person interviews for both employers and foreign national applicants to assess the credibility and authenticity of the application and to return applications before a nomination is issued. Government fees will be refunded on any returned applications.
These new powers are designed to facilitate the OINP in allocating nominations to high-quality applications that meet the needs of the current labor market.
Australia – Updated Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) and Visa Application Fees Announced
Updated Fair Work High Income Threshold
The Fair Work Commission has set the annual Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year at AUD 183,100. This threshold will be valid until June 30, 2026.
The FWHIT serves as the minimum salary threshold for foreign nationals ages 45 and over to qualify for an “age exemption” when applying for permanent residence under Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme). As this visa typically has an upper age limit of 45, older applicants must rely on this exemption to meet eligibility requirements. Employers considering sponsoring such individuals for permanent residence should ensure that the employee’s salary has met or exceeded the FWHIT for at least 2 years prior to lodging the application.
Updated Government Fees for Visa Applications
The Australian government also updated its visa application fees on July 1, 2025. Fees have been increased by 3% in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and rounded to the nearest $5. A complete list of updated fees is available on the Department of Home Affairs website here.
Poland – Employers Now Required to Submit Copies of Employment Contracts for Work Permit Holders
As a reminder, employers in Poland are now required to electronically submit a copy of the employment contract for all foreign national employees hired on the basis of a work permit before employment begins.
Please note that this requirement does not apply to foreign nationals eligible to work in Poland on the basis of a temporary residence permit, EU Blue Card or those who are exempt from work authorization, e.g., students, graduates of Polish studies and Ukrainian nationals working under the notification on entrusting work.
Spain – Minimum and Maximum Residence Authorization Periods Outlined
The Spanish government has provided clarification regarding the minimum and maximum allowed duration of work and residence authorizations. Specifically, residence authorizations for Spain may be granted for periods of less than 90 days, provided this does not interfere with the legal provisions for each category.
The following categories have no minimum duration and a maximum duration of three (3) years:
- Highly Qualified Professional (HQP);
- Research Residence;
- Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) for managers or specialists*; and
- Digital Nomad.
* ICT authorizations for trainees are issued for a maximum of one (1) year.
Please note that the Entrepreneur category is currently issued for a fixed duration of three (3) years; shorter durations are not permitted. Likewise, current practice requires that Type D (long-term) national visas have a minimum validity of 90 days.
Vietnam – VNeID Now Required for Temporary and Permanent Residence Card Holders
Foreigners with a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) or Permanent Residence Card are now required to register for a VNeID. Current card holders should make arrangements to obtain a VNeID by August 19, 2025. Moving forward, this will be a requirement for all new TRC holders.
How to apply:
Applicants will need to visit the Immigration Department located in the city where their card was issued. No appointments are available – applicants will be called upon on a first-come, first-serve basis. Foreign nationals who are not fluent in Vietnamese should bring a fluent speaker with them to help navigate the various steps of the process.
Documents required:
- Passport;
- TRC/Permanent Residence Card; and
- Local Vietnamese mobile phone number – This must be a personal number registered in the applicant’s name and linked to their foreign passport. The officer will check that the number is activated and able to receive an OTP message. Please note that company registered/provided numbers/SIMs and unregistered numbers will not be accepted.
VNeID will soon be mandatory for many administrative processes in Vietnam. Foreign nationals who serve as legal representatives of Vietnamese companies are urged to register for a VNeID as soon as possible to avoid disruptions to corporate operations.
Please note that while Long-Term Visa (LTV) holders are expected to have access to VNeID in the future, they are not eligible to apply at this time.
Argentina – New Entry Requirements for Travelers
Foreign nationals entering Argentina are now required to sign a sworn declaration and present documentation evidencing the stated purpose of their visit. Border control officers may deny entry if discrepancies are found or false information is provided. Additionally, travelers with a criminal record may face deportation, even if a conviction has not yet been finalized.
In light of recent reforms that have restricted access to Argentina’s public health care system to citizens and permanent residents, proof of adequate medical insurance coverage is also expected to become mandatory for travelers in the near future.
Additionally, several changes have been made to the requirements for permanent residency, citizenship and family reunification in Argentina:
- Permanent Residency – Applicants must now demonstrate sufficient economic means, have a clean criminal record, and sign an affidavit of lawful purpose. In addition, permanent residents who are absent from Argentina for 12 consecutive months or more will now lose their status.
- Citizenship – Authority over citizenship has been transferred from the federal courts to the National Immigration Directorate (DNM). Two new pathways are now available: a residence-based option for those who remain in Argentina continuously for two (2) years—without travel, even to bordering countries—and an investment-based option that may allow qualified investors to bypass residency requirements.
- Family Reunification – Family members of Argentine citizens or residents will now be granted temporary residence for up to three (3) years, rather than direct permanent status. Ongoing eligibility must be demonstrated by the sponsor to maintain the family member’s status.
