Global Immigration News
June 2010
United Kingdom
Coalition Government to impose migration limit
The number of workers entering the UK from outside Europe will be controlled by a new limit imposed by the coalition Government. An interim limit will be introduced until the Government has had the chance to consult with businesses and the Migration Advisory Committee, the Government’s independent adviser on migration issues. The consultation process will run until the end of September. Permanent limits on non EU economic migration routes will then be decided and put in place by 1 April 2011.
An interim limit will take effect from 19 July 2010 to ensure the number of visas issued under Tiers 1 and 2 of the points-based system are below that issued in 2009. These interim measures include capping the number of Tier 1 migrants at current levels and raising the number of points needed by non-EU workers who come to do highly skilled jobs from 95 to 100.
United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi Quota System
Employers operating in Abu Dhabi must now obtain pre-approval from the authorities in order to sponsor individuals for work permits. Employers can now seek quota approvals on either an individual basis or a block application. The quota system does not affect employers operating in any of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) free trade zones.
The Ministry of Labour is expected to consider the profession, job title, and gender of the proposed foreign worker when adjudicating quota applications. Employers who request large numbers of quota approvals over short periods may experience heightened scrutiny.
Work permit processing times are expected to be reduced under these new rules and employers are expected to be able to cancel approved quotas if their requirements change.
Russia
New Work Permit Program
The Russian Government has now introduced a new streamlined work permit program for highly qualified foreign workers starting from today. Employers seeking to hire highly qualified foreign workers will now be exempt from Russia’s work permit quota and employment permit regimes. Only Russian legal entities and accredited branch offices of foreign legal entities will be able to sponsor foreign nationals for the new highly qualified specialist work permits.
To be eligible as a highly qualified specialist, a foreign employee’s prospective annual gross income must exceed approximately US $65,000. The foreign national must also have considerable experience, skills, and achievements in their field of employment.