IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? A normative resolution has been published detailing the requirements for foreign residents to renew their visas.

What does the change mean? The processes and documentary requirements have been clarified for immigrants who need to extend their residence authorization or convert to permanent residency authorization.

  • Implementation time frame: Immediate.
  • Visas/permits affected: Residence authorizations and work visas.
  • Who is affected: Expatriate employees applying to renew their residence authorization or obtaining permanent residency.
  • Impact on processing times: Renewals and adjustment of status processing is now contained in the immigration law and contemplates a service time frame of 30 days from the date of application submission.
  • Business impact: The applications will be submitted to the Ministry of Labor instead of the Ministry of Justice, which previously processed the applications, and it is expected that they will be processed expeditiously.

BAL Analysis: Foreign nationals renewing their residence authorization or converting their status to permanent resident now have clearly established requirements under the New Immigration Law. Applications will be submitted to the Ministry of Labor and therefore the labor terms of the employee’s initial stay should be carefully reviewed.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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