Immigration news

The Home Office has eased UK visa restrictions for migrant entrepreneurs, NHS workers and overstayers amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It’s understood that penalties for overstaying a UK visa have been scrapped, while NHS workers currently in Britain on a visa can work anywhere without any limit on the number of hours they can work.

 

International students bound for the US have expressed their frustration over problems they’re facing amid a lack of visa appointments at American Embassies in certain countries. The problems come despite US officials saying that they would ‘prioritize student and exchange visitor visa programs.’

 

US immigration officers are reportedly visiting the homes of H1B visas holders working remotely. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing much of the US workforce into remote working, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agents are making home visits to ensure that foreign employees are complying with H1B visa rules.

 

In yet another Home Office immigration U-turn, 6,000 frontline migrant NHS workers will have their UK visas further extended. The government agency had initially refused to extend the visas of foreign NHS staff any further, forcing many to leave the UK. The move has been welcomed, although the Home Office has been slammed for not extending visas earlier.

 

In a letter to the US Department of Labor (DOL), the US Small Business Administration (SBA) has called for a proposed H1B visa wage hike to be delayed. In September, Workpermt.com reported that the DOL had requested that wages paid to H1B visa holders be increased in an effort to deter companies from relying on migrant labor.

 

With the Brexit transition period nearing completion, Tech Nation has announced a five-year visa for EU citizens set to launch in January 2021. The Tech Nation Global Talent Visa, which replaced the Exceptional Talent visa launched in 2014, will be opened to top talent from the EU and offered for up to five years.