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May 9, 2023 | Global, Immigration Updates

In this look around the globe, find the latest immigration news regarding Australia’s Temporary Salary Migration Income Threshold , Canada’s federal worker’s strike, the Hague Convention on Apostilles and much more!

But first, we start with this month’s WReview.

WReview: WR Immigration at EuRA

The WR Immigration team recently attended the European Relocation Association (EuRA) conference in Dublin, Ireland.

Highlights included:

  • Hearing both Simon Coveney, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Neale Richmond, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment speak about Ireland’s history as a country of emigration and current place as a hot destination for employment-based immigration.
  • Our Managing Partner of WR Global, Audrey Lustgarten, speaking on the Immigration – The Voice of the Experts panel.
  • Meeting with dozens of our colleagues and clients from Europe and beyond.
  • Continuing the theme of reaching across cultures during our down time by sharing a delicious, spicy Sichuan meal with colleagues from Singapore in the heart of Dublin.

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Australia: Temporary Salary Migration Income Threshold Increased

The government will increase the Temporary Salary Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) from AUD 53,900 to AUD 70,000 for all new subclass 482 work visa applications filed from July 1, 2023 onwards. The market salary for the occupation a foreign national will be offered must be greater than the TSMIT. If the market salary for the occupation is lower than the TSMIT, it is not possible to sponsor a foreign worker for a subclass 482 work visa for the role. Note that if the market salary for an occupation is higher than the TSMIT then the foreign worker must be paid more than the TSMIT. This change in the income threshold will decrease the number of occupations in which it is possible for employers to sponsor foreign workers.

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Canada: Federal Worker Strike Ends

A deal has been reached to end the federal worker strike that began on April 19. Workers have returned to their jobs as of May 1. The strike impacted processing of a number of types of Canadian immigration applications but given the relatively short duration we are optimistic that the long-term impact to processing times will be minimal.

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China: Hague Convention on Apostilles

China has finally agreed to join the Hague Convention on Apostilles. This means that supporting documents required for visa and residence permit applications, such as marriage certificates and diplomas, will now be able to be apostilled in a single step rather than going through a multi-step legalization process to be considered valid for use in China. China’s accession to the treaty is expected to be effective as of November 7, 2023.

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Portugal: Golden Visa Investment Program to Close

Portugal is expected to close its Golden Visa investment program as of mid to late June, so the window of time during which to apply is rapidly closing. In good news, the government has scrapped an initial closure law that would have retroactively cancelled applications in process and impacted those already holding Golden Visas.

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Related Posts:

Immigration Update

In this edition, find the latest news on the dates for Fiscal Year 2023 H-1B Cap Registration, USCIS releasing interfiling guidance and giving encouragement to interfile due to a high number of available employment-based Green Cards, the DHS and DOL announcing availability of additional H-2B Visas, and more! FY 2023 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens March 1 The initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 H-1B cap will open at noon ET on March 1, 2022, and run through noon ET on March 18, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations using the USCIS online H-1B registration system, for foreign workers with an October 1, 2022, start date. USCIS will assign a confirmation number to each registration submitted for the FY 2023 H-1B cap. USCIS said that this number is used solely to track registrations and cannot be used to track case status in Case Status Online. USCIS said prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners or their representatives must use a myUSCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee for […]

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In this edition, find out more about the State Department’s announcement regarding changes in the vaccination requirements for immigrants and certain nonimmigrants; the registration period beginning for the Diversity Visa 2023 program; the State Department’s update on plans for complying with recent Diversity Visa court orders, and more. State Dept. Announces Changes in Vaccination Requirements for Immigrants and Certain Nonimmigrants An important update for all travelers. The Department of State (DOS) announced that effective October 1, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Technical Instructions for panel physicians is requiring all immigrant visa applicants, all K fiancé(e) visa applicants, and nonimmigrant visa applicants who are referred to the panel physicians to receive a full COVID-19 vaccine series as part of their medical exam before being issued a visa. The vaccine must be approved through either the World Health Organization or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Blanket waivers for the COVID-19 vaccination will be applied in countries where the vaccine is not routinely available or when the vaccine is not age-appropriate, DOS said. DOS “encourages all immigrant visa applicants and others subject to a medical exam to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible to not experience […]

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