New Zealand: Skilled Migrant and Essential Skills — remuneration threshold changes

On 24 February 2020 the wage or salary thresholds for Skilled Migrant Resident Visas and Essential Skills Work Visas will increase.

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China to adjust import tariffs for some products starting January 1, 2020

China will adjust import tariffs for a range of products starting January 1, 2020 to promote high-quality development of trade, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council said on December 23.

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Washington - USCIS Announces Implementation of H-1B Electronic Registration Process for Fiscal Year 2021 Cap Season

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it has completed a successful pilot testing phase and is implementing the registration process in the next H-1B lottery. 

Employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions for the fiscal year 2021 cap, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee.

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New Zealand - New assessments of visitor visas to join New Zealand partners

The previous guidelines suggested that people coming to New Zealand to join a partner living permanently in New Zealand should not be considered genuine visitors. 

The new guidelines recognise that people coming to New Zealand to join their partner can be considered genuine visitors, as long as they meet all other requirements for a visitor visa. 

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Finland - Katso IDs and authorisations will remain in use until the end of 2020

You can continue using your Katso ID and Katso authorisations to access Tax Administration e-services until the end of 2020. 

After that, you must use the Suomi.fi authentication and authorisation services instead. You can start using Suomi.fi services immediately. 

More details on the schedule will be published later.

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China - Ministry plans slew of tax, fiscal measures to boost border trade

China has decided to adopt a slew of measures, including tax and fiscal policies, to enhance the innovation and development of border trade, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

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Switzerland - EasyGov.swiss now features Suva salary declaration and authorisation database

The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is expanding EasyGov.swiss, its online service desk for companies, for the second time this year: with release 1.5 on 3 December 2019, the digital platform now assists small companies in particular with entering their salary data for their salary declarations to Suva. 

The debt enforcement service desk’s features are now available to associations, foundations and cooperatives too, while an authorisation database provides an overview of all professions in Switzerland that are regulated or require authorisation.

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China - Tax exemptions unveiled for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Chinese authorities on Tuesday introduced tax exemptions for entities, enterprises and individuals that support preparations and test events for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. 

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Finland - Tax-exempt allowances in 2020 for business travel

The tax-exempt domestic per diem allowance for 2020 is €43.00, the partial per diem €20.00, and the meal allowance €10.75.

The 2018 kilometre allowance is 43 cents/km.

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