The Qatari government has published a law that will require all foreign nationals to have health insurance to enter the county.

Key Points:

  • Employers will be required to provide health insurance for non-Qatari employees through insurance companies registered with the Ministry of Public Health. The terms and conditions as well as a start date for this requirement have not been provided at this time.
  • Foreign nationals who are visiting Qatar will not be required to purchase health insurance from Qatar if they have proof of a valid international health insurance policy.

BAL Analysis: The new health insurance requirement is intended to alleviate the challenges facing the healthcare sector by incorporating both public and private healthcare providers. BAL will continue to monitor announcements regarding the health insurance requirements and will provide more information as it becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Swiss government has expanded its online immigration service by launching a pilot program for certain cross-border commuters.

Key Points:

  • As of May 24, EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) nationals can have their cross-border commuter permits (Permit G) processed for the cantons of Thurgau and Zurich.
  • Applications for cross-border commuter permits at Thurgau and Zurich can now be submitted through EasyGov.swiss.
  • Swiss authorities plan to add the cantons of Aargau, Basel-Stadt and St. Gallen to the expansion by the end of 2023.

Additional Information: Additional cantons are expected to join the pilot program in the coming months. Swiss authorities hope to expand their online immigration service for cross-border commuters to all 26 cantons in the coming years. More information regarding the pilot program for cross-border commuter permit applications is available here.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Italian government has lifted all COVID-related entry requirements for those traveling to the country.

Key Points:

  • As of June 1, individuals who are traveling to Italy no longer face COVID-related entry requirements.
  • Italian authorities no longer require travelers to have a “Green Pass” to enter the country, meaning travelers are not required show a COVID-19 vaccination or recovery certificate or test for COVID-19 before or after arrival.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.b

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Thai government has updated its requirements for obtaining the COVID-19 Thailand Pass.

Key Points:

  • As of June 1, Thai nationals no longer need register through Thailand Pass when traveling to the country.
  • Fully vaccinated foreign nationals must register through Thailand Pass and provide proof of a valid passport, vaccination certificate and health insurance covering at least US$10,000 to enter Thailand.
  • Travelers who are not fully vaccinated can enter Thailand if they register through Thailand Pass and provide proof of a valid passport, health insurance covering at least US$10,000 and a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure.
  • Foreign nationals will receive approval within two hours once they have submitted the required documents through Thailand Pass.

Additional Information: More information regarding the Thailand Pass is available here.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would open registration for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroon on June 7. It will remain open through Dec. 7, 2023.

Key Points:

  • To be eligible for TPS, nationals of Cameroon (or those without a nationality who last resided in Cameroon) must demonstrate they have resided in the U.S. continuously since April 14, 2022, and continuously physically present since June 7.
  • Applicants have 18 months, from June 7, 2022, through Dec. 7, 2023, to register and complete Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. They may also request an Employment Authorization Document by submitting Form I-765.
  • Those who traveled to the U.S. after April 14 will not be eligible for TPS.
  • The full Federal Register notice is available here.

Additional Information: DHS made the decision to add Cameroon under TPS due to the extreme violence between government forces and armed separatist and the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure resulting in economic instability, food insecurity and several hundred thousand displaced Cameroonians.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Labor Department has posted updated processing times for permanent labor certification (PERM) applications and prevailing wage determination (PWD) requests.

PERM Processing: As of May 31, the department was adjudicating applications filed in November and earlier, conducting audit reviews on applications filed in September and earlier, and reviewing appeals for reconsideration filed in January and earlier.

Average PERM processing times:

  • Adjudication – 191 days.
  • Audit review – 278 days.

PWD Processing: As of May 31, the National Prevailing Wage Center was processing PWD requests filed in November and earlier for H-1B (OES and non-OES) and PERM (OES and non-OES) cases. Redeterminations were being considered on appeals filed March and earlier for H-1B cases and PERM cases. Center director reviews were being conducted for PERM cases filed in April and earlier.

BAL Analysis: BAL’s internal case tracking is consistent with the Labor Department’s published processing times. BAL is seeing approvals for PERM applications filed in November and earlier and is starting to see PWDs for requests filed in November and earlier for H-1B and PERM cases.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The German government has lifted COVID-related entry requirements for those traveling to the country.

Key Points:

  • From June 1 through Aug. 31, individuals who are traveling to Germany will not have COVID-related entry requirements.
  • German authorities lifted the “3-G rule,” meaning travelers will not be required show a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, COVID-19 recovery certificate or negative COVID-19 test to enter the country.

Additional Information: In case of new virus variant, an “emergency brake” can be applied to the lifting of entry requirements.

BAL Analysis: COVID-19 entry requirements no longer apply to those traveling to the Germany. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEIUM

The Japanese government has updated its COVID-19 entry requirements and implemented a new COVID-19 country classification system.

Key Points:

  • As of June 1, Japanese authorities categorized countries into “blue,” “yellow” and “red” groups. The lists are available here.
  • Travelers from blue countries and fully vaccinated travelers from yellow countries are no longer required to test for COVID-19 upon arrival or undergo a mandatory quarantine.
  • The daily international arrival cap has increased from 10,000 to 20,000 entries per day.

Additional Information: Regardless of a traveler’s departure country, individuals must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure to enter Japan. More information regarding Japan’s current border measures is available here.

BAL Analysis: Border measures may change with little or no notice. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Italian government has lifted all COVID-related entry requirements for those traveling to the country.

Key Points:

  • As of June 1, individuals who are traveling to Italy no longer face COVID-related entry requirements.
  • Italian authorities no longer require travelers to have a “Green Pass” to enter the country, meaning travelers are not required show a COVID-19 vaccination or recovery certificate or test for COVID-19 before or after arrival.

BAL Analysis: COVID-19 entry requirements no longer apply to those traveling to the Italy. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

 IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Belgian government has lifted its COVID-19 entry restrictions on nonessential travel from outside the EU.

Key Points:

  • As of May 23, individuals who are traveling from outside the EU for nonessential purposes will be allowed to enter Belgium.
  • Travelers from outside the EU will no longer be required to:
    • Test for COVID-19 on the first and seventh day of arrival.
    • Undergo a 10-day quarantine.
    • Complete the Passenger Locator Form.
    • Have a valid COVID-19 vaccination or recovery certificate.
  • More information regarding Belgium’s COVID-19 entry requirements is available here.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.