Aug. 6, 2013 - In light of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down key provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional, the US Department of State has issued guidance to consular posts regarding the immigration implications on same-sex couples. The Department of State instructed consular officers to immediately review visa applications by same-sex spouses in the same manner as those filed by opposite-sex spouses, unless there is a specific provision of the federal law that would prevent them from doing so.Learn More...

July 31, 2013 - The General Notary Archive in Mexico City is scheduled to re-open by the end of this week. Closed since mid-July, the archive is responsible for handling apostilles and legalizations for immigration purposes. There may be delays as the archive deals with the backlog of documents that accumulated during its two-week closure.Learn More...

Aug. 5, 2013 - Effective immediately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has introduced new regulations that substantially improve and streamline the ability of employers to obtain work authorization for foreign nationals. Most notably, non-restricted nationals may now convert status in country. This change will enable many employees to come to Colombia as visa-free tourists and convert their status in country. Learn More...

Aug. 6, 2013 - Employers in the energy sector in Alberta can continue to hire skilled tradesmen under a pilot program that allows them to forego the labor market opinion process. The Alberta Occupation-Specific Pilot will continue to accept applications through July 31, 2014.

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Aug. 7, 2013 - Clients planning travel through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi are advised to make alternate arrangements. A major fire in the airport today has disrupted international travel. JKIA has reopened for cargo and domestic service, but international flights are currently being diverted to other regional airports. Learn More...

Aug. 8, 2013 - Employers seeking to hire highly-skilled foreigners in Russia may soon benefit from a proposed overhaul of the immigration system. The Federal Migration Service (FMS) Director Konstantin Romodanovsky recently announced that the government is currently developing a new approach to immigration, which is designed to encourage experts to immigrate and remain as permanent residents. The new policy is still in the proposal phase, and no laws have yet been drafted. Learn More...

July 31, 2013 - Visa application processing at all Israeli consulates will resume tomorrow. The National Labor Court has suspended the Foreign Ministry strike and referred the diplomats’ union and the government to a mediator to resolve the salary dispute. Tomorrow at noon, all consulates are expected to be fully staffed and operational. Learn More...

June 27, 2013 - As of July 1, the processing of Indian visas in the U.S. will be transitioned to the Indian-owned company BLS International. Starting today, no new applications will be accepted by Travisa Outsourcing, the incumbent contract holder. Visas completed by June 28 can be picked up during normal business hours. Any visas still being processed by the Indian consulate as of June 28 will be passed to BLS International, and must be picked up from their offices. Learn More...

Aug. 8, 2013 - On Sept. 1, the Beijing Public Security Bureau will implement new timeframes for the submission of renewal and change applications for residence permits and visas. As of this day, applications for work permit renewals or changes must be filed at least 30 days before the original permit expires. Renewals and changes for all other visa types must be filed at least seven days before the expiration date. There will be penalties for late submissions, but no details are currently available about what those penalties will be. Learn More...

5 August 2013 - Due to recent legislation, foreigners working in offshore maritime capacities will soon be required to obtain a visa with work authorization. Expected to go into effect in early 2014, the Migration Amendment (Offshore Resources Activity) Act 2013 (Act No. 117 of 2013) is designed to protect the local labor market for the offshore oil and gas resources industry. Previously, visas for this type of work were not specifically regulated. Learn More...