IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Israel has approved a measure to provide investor visas to Americans, completing a reciprocal agreement in which the U.S. will provide similar visas to eligible Israeli investors.

What does the change mean? The new visas will allow American and Israel investors, along with their families and essential employees, to stay and work in each other’s countries.

  • Implementation timeframe: Implementation is expected soon, but no official date has been set.
  • Visas/permits affected: A new Israeli B-5 visa.
  • Who is affected: U.S. nationals interested in investing in Israel.
  • Impact on processing times: None.

Background: In June 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama approved a measure to allow Israeli investors, their families and executives in their companies to enter the U.S. with E-2 visas, but its implementation depended on reciprocal action in Israel. On Aug. 13, 2014 the Israeli Knesset approved a decision to offer new B-5 visas to Americans investing in Israeli businesses. Senior officials at the Ministry of Interior stated that the visa will allow American investors, their family members and key employees to live in Israel at first for one year, but their stays may be extended upon demonstration of job creation in Israel.

BAL Analysis: Israel’s Ministry of Interior is expected to issue regulations on procedures for the B-5 visas soon.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Israel. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

Copyright © 2016 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

What is the change? Starting Tuesday, Israel’s primary public sector labor union is launching a partial strike.

What does the change mean? Operations at all border control posts, with the exception of Ben-Gurion International Airport, will be suspended.

  • Implementation timeframe: Starting July 8 for an indefinite duration.
  • Visas/permits affected: All visas and permits.
  • Who is affected: All travelers seeking to enter Israel through border control posts, with the exception of Ben-Gurion International Airport.
  • Impact on processing times:Depending on how long the strike lasts, it could cause delays.

Background: The public sector labor union is initiating a strike that will bring border control operations to a halt. Other government services including the tax authorities and courts will also cease operations. At this time, no information has been provided about how long the strike may last or whether more government offices will join the strike.

BAL Analysis: Travelers should be aware that Ben-Gurion International Airport is the only border control post where operations will continue during the strike.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Israel. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

Copyright © 2016 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

What is the change? The Israeli government has signaled its readiness to offer a new B-5 investment visa for Americans investing in Israel.

What does the change mean? The new visa would create a reciprocal arrangement in which Israeli investors will be offered E-2 visas for entry into the U.S. in exchange for a similar visa opportunity for American investors in Israel.

  • Implementation timeframe:This summer.
  • Visas/permits affected:The American E-2 visa and the new B-5 Israeli visa.
  • Who is affected:American and Israeli businesses with investments in each other’s countries.
  • Impact on processing times:To be determined.
  • Business impact:The arrangement should create new opportunities for investment in both countries.
  • Next steps:Israel will issue regulations for the new visa.

Background: Last year, President Obama signed legislation to add Israel to the list of countries that are eligible for the E-2 non-immigrant investor visa in the U.S., allowing investors and their employees to live in the U.S. for up to two years. A reciprocal plan for American investors in Israel was formulated by an inter-ministerial committee and approved by the Israeli government March 30, but implementation has been delayed.

The American-Israel Chamber of Commerce recently sponsored a seminar at which a representative of the Ministry of the Interior stated that Israel anticipates issuance of the regulations this summer. It would be the first Israeli work visa that would allow employment authorization for dependent spouses. It would be valid for one year and may be extended upon a showing of job creation in Israel.

BAL Analysis: The new reciprocal visa arrangement should benefit American and Israeli companies making investments in each other’s countries.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Israel. For additional information, contact your BAL attorney.

Copyright © 2016 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

What is the change? Government offices will close June 3 and 4 for Shavuot, a Jewish holiday.

What does the change mean? No work permits or visa applications will be processed.

  • Implementation timeframe: June 3 and 4.
  • Visas/permits affected:All visas and permits.
  • Who is affected: Visa and work permit applicants.
  • Impact on processing times: Possible slight delays after the holiday.

Background: All government offices close for the holiday. Schedules in overseas posts, however, will vary—some will close and others may provide limited service.

BAL Analysis: Applicants for visas and permits should check with their local consulates for holiday schedules.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Israel. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

Copyright © 2016 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

What is the change? Israeli government offices will be closed May 5-6 in observance of the nation’s Day of Remembrance and Independence Day.

What does the change mean? No work permits or visa applications will be adjudicated.

  • Implementation timeframe: May 5 through May 6.
  • Visas/permits affected: All visas and work permits.
  • Who is affected: Visa and work permit applicants.
  • Impact on processing times: Possible slight delays after the holidays.

Background: Government offices close for the annual two-day holiday while procedures in overseas consular posts will vary. Some overseas missions will suspend operations while others will process on a limited schedule.

BAL Analysis: Applicants for visas and work permits should check with their local consulates for holiday schedules.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Israel. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

Copyright © 2016 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

What is the change? Government offices are closed for Passover from April 10 through April 23.

What does the change mean? Processing of visa applications and work permits will be suspended.

  • Implementation timeframe: April 10 through April 23.
  • Visas/permits affected: Work permits and visas.
  • Who is affected: Foreign nationals applying for visas and work permits.
  • Impact on processing times: Delays.

Background: The holiday suspension of immigration processing comes in the wake of a worker strike in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which occupied most of March and concluded April 2. The strike created a backlog of applications. Overseas Israeli consulates may also suspend or limit processing during the holiday period, and schedules will vary from consulate to consulate.

BAL Analysis: Applicants for visas and work permits should check with their local consulates for information on operating hours during the holiday. The office holiday closings and limitations mean that the delays created by the recent strike may continue for some time beyond the agency’s return to work after Passover. The Ministry has not provided any estimates on how long it will take to clear the backlog.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Israel. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

Copyright © 2016 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

What is the change? Workers in the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs have ended a month-long strike.

What does the change mean? Israel is reopening its foreign diplomatic missions abroad, as well as its headquarters in Jerusalem.

  • Implementation timeframe: Immediate.
  • Visas/permits affected: All visa processing and consular services.
  • Who is affected: All foreign nationals processing through an Israeli consular post.
  • Impact on processing times: Significant delays due to backlogs.
  • Business impact: Processing should return to normal once backlogs are cleared.

Background: For the past seven months, the Ministry and its workers have been engaged in mediation. In early March, the workers initiated a series of escalating sanctions that halted visa processing and consular services. The workers then launched a full-blown strike on March 7, protesting low wages and working conditions, and demanding pay increases in line with the costs of living in the countries to which they were posted. The strike closed all 103 of Israel’s foreign missions, including its United Nations mission, as well as its Jerusalem headquarters. Under an agreement reached last night with the Ministry of Finance, wages will be set by a formula used in OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, to adjust for cost-of-living increases.

BAL Analysis:  While the news is a positive development, the strike will leave a large backlog in its wake. The Ministry has not provided any estimates on how long it will take to clear the backlogs, and processing delays may vary among Israeli consular posts. This is the second strike in less than 12 months and hopefully the agreement to index Ministry wages for cost-of-living increases will be a long-term solution.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Israel. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

Copyright © 2016 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

What is the change? A strike at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put all consular services on hold.

What does the change mean? Israel’s diplomats will not issue visas or provide any consular services during the strike.

  • Implementation timeframe: Immediate and ongoing.
  • Visas/permits affected: All visas and consular services.
  • Who is affected: All foreign nationals processing through an Israeli consular post.
  • Impact on processing times: Depending on how long the strike lasts, it could cause a backlog and impact processing times.
  • Business impact: Any stoppage of visa issuance will impact the cost and timing of assignments in Israel.
  • Next steps: The strike may have additional organizational implications that BAL will continue to report as they develop.

Background: The Ministry has been in mediation to avert a strike for seven months. Those efforts failed. On March 6, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release stating that Israel’s diplomats will no longer meet with foreign counterparts, make official visits either in Israel or abroad, or provide any consular services, including issuing visas.

BAL Analysis: Businesses should plan for delays and possible backlogs for consular services.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Israel. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

Copyright © 2016 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

What is the change? A new working permit, good for a two-year period, is now available for foreign nationals.

What does the change mean? As of Feb. 5, the Work Permit Unit of the Ministry of Interior is accepting applications for two-year permits, as well as one-year and three-month work permits previously available.

  • Implementation timeframe: Feb. 5.
  • Visas/permits affected: Work permits. Note: The longer working permit duration does not affect the B-1 working visa which remains limited to one year only.
  • Impact on processing times: The processing time to extend a one-year B-1 visa for a second year (to match a two-year work permit) is expected to be shortened to 45 days.
  • Business impact: Companies can benefit from the longer permit duration, but are likely to undergo more rigorous scrutiny than when applying for the shorter-duration work permits.
  • Next steps: Regulations are expected shortly that will detail procedures, government fees and processing times. BAL will report this news when available.

Background: The Work Permit Unit of the Ministry of Interior recently announced that starting Feb. 5, it will issue working permits for durations of either three months, one year or two years. With a two-year permit, foreign employees will not have to go through the process of extending one-year permits. However, at this time, the B-1 working visa issued in the employee’s passport is still only valid for a maximum of one year. Therefore, workers on the new two-year work permit must apply to extend their visas shortly before the end of the first year.

BAL Analysis: Companies now have a new work permit option for longer assignments and projects extending beyond one year. However, we anticipate that those applying for the new two-year working permits will be scrutinized more heavily than for the shorter permits, and will have to justify the longer working period with additional supporting documentation.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Israel. For additional information, please contact GlobalVisaGroup@bal.com.

Copyright © 2016 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.

Employees wishing to sponsor same-sex spouses on their work permits will soon be able to do so in Uruguay and New Zealand. Uruguay is set to begin allowing same-sex marriages on Aug. 1, and New Zealand will follow suit on Aug. 19. Altogether, four countries have legalized same-sex marriage this year. France legalized same-sex marriage in May. Also, United Kingdom recently passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in England and Wales, which may go into effect as early as summer 2014. Now, including these four new countries, 16 nations recognize same-sex marriage.

While several nations recognize civil registration and domestic partnership for immigration purposes, both situations often require more documentation and time to process. Immigration authorities may also be less likely to approve them. The recognition of same-sex marriage provides a simpler and more efficient route for married same-sex couples to migrate together.

Below is a breakdown of the countries that have legalized same-sex marriage. Each has a brief summary of the nation’s policies for recognizing relationships for immigration purposes.

Country Marriage Civil Registration Domestic Partnership
EMEA
Belgium Yes Possibly, if documented. Possibly, if documented.
Denmark Yes Yes Yes
France Yes No In certain specific situations, domestic partners who have lived together for at least one year may apply for a reunion and residence permit.
Iceland Yes Yes Under certain circumstances.
Netherlands Yes Yes Yes
Norway Yes Yes Yes
Portugal Yes Yes, if living together for at least two years. Yes, if living together for at least two years.
South Africa Yes Yes Yes
Spain Yes Under certain circumstances. Under certain circumstances.
Sweden Yes Yes Yes
United Kingdom Yes Yes Yes
APAC
New Zealand Aug. 19 Genuine, stable partnership must be proven. Genuine, stable partnership must be proven.
AMERICAS
Argentina Yes No No
Brazil Yes Must prove “stable union.” Must prove “stable union.”
Canada Yes May be required to submit a Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union form. May be required to submit a Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union form.
Uruguay Aug. 1 Yes Yes

For additional information, please contact GlobalVisaGroup@bal.com.

Copyright © 2016 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.