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There were a number of significant changes to the visa system around the World in 2018. Sanwar Ali of workpermit.com covers some of the changes to the UK and US visa system in this workpermit.com review. This is the first in a series of reviews on changes in visa regulations around the World.
On December 3 2018, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released details of a proposed brand new, H1B visa application process for speciality workers. The new US visa process would involve employers having to register candidates online for H1B visas, two weeks before the usual application deadline of April 1.
The UK Immigration Health Surcharge, which had been expected to double in December 2018, will increase on 8 January 2019 the Home Office has confirmed. The immigration health surcharge will increase from £200 to £400 per year for many UK visa categories including the Tier 2 visa, Tier 1 entrepreneur visa, Sole Representative visa and Tier 1 Investor visa categories.
On 6 December 2018, without warning, the Home Office wrongly announced the suspension of the Tier 1 investor visa scheme. However, the Home Office’s announcement was somewhat premature as other government departments opposed suspending the so called ‘golden visa.’ This UK visa has not been suspended.
A policy memorandum issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in mid-November 2018, was supposed to clarify L1A intra-company transfer visa rules. However, it appears that the memorandum – dated November 15, 2018 – has failed to clarify certain L1 visa regulations.
A heavily delayed UK immigration White Paper was finally published by the government on 19 December, 2018 despite divisions within the Cabinet. The White Paper outlines Britain’s post-Brexit immigration policy, including foreigner worker rules, but Cabinet members were still squabbling over the White Paper just 24 hours before it was published.