UK - New laws to cut migration and put British workers first in force

UK businesses are now required to pay overseas workers coming to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa significantly more, as the government clamps down on cut price foreign labour and continues to deliver on its commitment to drive down net migration.

Part of a robust and fair package of measures announced by the Home Secretary in December, which will mean 300,000 people who arrived in the UK last year would now not be able to, the general salary threshold for those arriving in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa has now increased by 48%, from £26,200 to £38,700. 

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Taiwan / Republic of China - Detailed Handling of Salary Tax Withholdings due to Resident Status Change in the Middle of the Year as a Result of the Departure of a Foreign Employee

Some have asked what to do if a company employs foreign workers who, according to their residence permits, are supposed to stay in the Republic of China for 183 days or more in a taxable year and therefore the company determines that they are residents and withholds tax at the rate of 5% of the resident's income tax on the total amount of their monthly salary, but the foreign worker left the country and resided in the country for less than 183 days. What should be done about the withholding of their salary?

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Japan - Expansion of Visa Quota for Japan-UK Working Holiday Program

In November 2023, expansion of the visa quota issued under the Working Holiday Program was confirmed between Japan and the UK.

In light of the above, effective on April 1, the number of UK nationals (visa quota) eligible to use the Working Holiday Program has been increased from 1,000 to 6,000 annually. 

(Note: The number of Japanese nationals (visa quota) eligible to use the UK's Youth Mobility Scheme has been increased from 1,500 to 6,000 annually, effective January 31, 2012.)

Expanding the visa quota for the Working Holiday Program further encourages exchange and mutual understanding between the youths of Japan and the UK and is expected to further strengthen the relationship between Japan and the UK.

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A Love Story with Paris 2024 Now Out On My YouTube Channel!

Happy Easter! No plans for the Easter weekend? Enjoy this travelogue of mine for pleasure.

Scotland’s Migration Service launched

Scotland’s Migration Service has launched its first phase, which will give people who have recently moved here and employers looking to hire workers from abroad access to bespoke advice.

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US - USCIS Extends Initial Registration Period for FY 2025 H-1B Cap

USCIS has extended the initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap. 

The initial registration period, which opened at noon Eastern on March 6, 2024, and was originally scheduled to run through noon Eastern on March 22, 2024, will now run through noon Eastern on March 25, 2024. 

USCIS is aware of a temporary system outage experienced by some registrants, and is extending the registration period to provide additional time due to this issue.

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[TRAILER] A Love Story With Paris 2024

This is the trailer to my upcoming video [A Love Story with Paris 2024] anticipated to debut on my YT channel on March 29, 2024!

UK - Shortage Occupation List (SOL) will be abolished, to be replaced with a new Immigration Salary List on 4 April.

The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) will be abolished, to be replaced with a new Immigration Salary List on 4 April. This follows a recommendation from the independent MAC, which has also advised the government on which occupations should be temporarily added to the new list initially.

From 4 April, the minimum salary required for those arriving on the Skilled Worker visa will increase from £26,200 to £38,700 – a 48% increase.

The minimum income requirement for family visas will also rise, starting at £29,000 from 11 April. By early 2025 this will be increased to £38,700, helping to ensure dependants brought to the UK are supported financially.

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Singapore - Foreign Workforce Policy Announcements: Employment Pass Qualifying Salary To Increase in 2025

The benchmark for the Employment Pass (EP) qualifying salary is based on the top one-third of local PMET1 wages, to ensure that EP holders are of high quality. The EP qualifying salary is reviewed annually against the benchmark. In line with how the benchmarks have moved, Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be increasing the EP minimum qualifying salary from $5,000 to $5,600 per month. The qualifying salary will continue to increase progressively with age, up to $10,700 for a candidate in their mid-40s. This maintains a level playing field for locals across all age groups.

For the Financial Services sector which has higher wage norms, a higher EP qualifying salary will continue to apply. The EP minimum qualifying salary for the Financial Services sector will be raised from $5,500 to $6,200 per month. This will also continue to increase progressively with age, up to $11,800 for a candidate in their mid-40s.

The revised EP qualifying salary will apply to new EP applications from 1 January 2025, and to renewal applications from 1 January 2026. This will provide businesses more time to adjust to the changes.

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Denmark - Working holiday quotas for citizens of Chile and Argentina

On 1 March 2024, a new quota period for Working Holiday for citizens of Chile and Argentina begins.

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