Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

Applications for Switzerland’s temporary Protection Status S from Ukrainian men aged 18-22 have doubled since September, reaching more than 260 per week. The jump coincides with Kyiv’s latest mobilisation call-up and Switzerland’s 1 November shift to region-based eligibility rules. The surge could strain cantonal housing stocks but also expand the labour pool for sectors with staffing gaps.

The Port of Dover has pushed back the start of biometric EES checks for tourist cars because French border officials have not yet given final approval. The pause removes an immediate risk of long queues but leaves businesses unsure when the new rules will bite.

• From 1 November 2025, Golden Visa residents stranded abroad can obtain a free UAE return permit online in just 30 minutes. • The service is backed by a 24/7 crisis-assistance hotline and covers spouses and children on the same sponsorship. • The change removes costly travel delays for senior expatriates and boosts the appeal of the UAE’s long-term residency regime.

MoFA has rolled out an electronic Return Permit that Golden Visa holders can obtain online in 30 minutes if they lose or damage their passports while abroad. The permit, combined with a new 24/7 consular hotline, gives long-term residents faster, passport-free re-entry and round-the-clock crisis support. The upgrade strengthens the appeal of the UAE’s Golden Visa programme and reduces travel risk for multinational companies relocating staff to the Emirates.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has gone to court to stop the Trump administration’s unprecedented $100,000 H-1B filing fee, arguing the president lacks authority to set visa charges. The lawsuit places a giant cost variable on FY-2026 hiring strategies and demands that employers prepare for multiple scenarios.

From 30 October 2025, everyone granted a UK work, study or family visa—including dependants—will receive a digital e-visa instead of a passport vignette. The change accelerates the Home Office’s plan to scrap physical BRP cards and move to an online immigration system, meaning employers must shift to digital right-to-work checks. Corporate mobility teams should update onboarding processes and advise travellers to set up a UKVI account before departure.

Effective immediately, the UAE has introduced four purpose-built visit-visa categories—AI Specialists, Entertainment, Events and Cruise Tourism—and revised rules for existing permits such as truck-driver, business-opportunity and humanitarian visas. The change supports the country’s strategy to attract specialised talent and regulate lower-skilled mobility, while giving employers clearer guidance and travellers faster processing.

Effective 30 October 2025, EAD renewal applicants will no longer receive an automatic 540-day work-permit extension. Employers must track expirations closely or face forced work stoppages; immigrant-rights groups warn of job losses and potential lawsuits.

A new Supreme People’s Court interpretation effective 30 Oct expands the circumstances under which foreign nationals can be legally recognised as employees in China, strengthening their ability to pursue labour claims and giving companies clearer compliance benchmarks.

A year-long pilot allowing short-stay, visa-free travel between China and South Korea is already translating into double-digit growth in tourist arrivals and retail sales on both sides. Businesses benefit from shorter lead times and lower compliance costs, but travellers must remember that employment and study remain outside the waiver’s scope.

On October 29 2025, IRCC invited 6,000 Express Entry candidates with French-language proficiency and a minimum CRS score of 416. The draw—third-largest this year—advances Ottawa’s goal of boosting francophone immigration outside Québec and expands the pool of bilingual talent for employers facing skills shortages. Companies should prepare for heightened competition and leverage provincial programs aligned with the federal francophone focus.

Effective 30 October 2025, USCIS will no longer grant the widely used 540-day automatic work-authorization extension to EAD renewal applicants. Individuals filing after that date must wait for the new card before continuing to work, creating potential employment gaps and major compliance headaches for U.S. companies.

Effective October 29, 2025, USCIS will reject any immigration filing that is accompanied by a paper check or money order. All fees must now be paid electronically via credit/debit card (Form G-1450) or ACH debit (Form G-1650). Employers, attorneys and applicants who miss the switch risk having filings rejected and losing critical priority dates.

A Home Office consultation published on 29 October proposes extending mandatory Right-to-Work checks to gig-economy and zero-hours workers. Employers in sectors such as delivery, construction and beauty will have to verify immigration status before engaging casual labour, with significant compliance and cost implications for mobility and HR teams.

Government leaks indicate the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan—due by November 1—will hold permanent-resident admissions steady while imposing a population-based cap on temporary residents. Employers will gain predictability on PR numbers but may face stricter study- and work-permit issuance, making early talent-planning essential.

On 28 Oct 2025, IRCC invited 1,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates with CRS scores of 533 or higher to apply for permanent residence. The draw underscores Ottawa’s focus on transitioning in-country talent to permanent status and brings total 2025 ITAs to 74,485. Employers gain retention certainty, while applicants face continued high CRS thresholds.

Finland has sealed its entire land border with Russia until at least 13 December 2025 after a spike in undocumented migrants crossing from Russian territory. Helsinki accuses Moscow of orchestrating the flow as hybrid warfare. The closure forces all asylum applications to airports and ports, disrupts freight routes and complicates business travel between the two neighbours.

On Oct. 27, the 27-day U.S. government shutdown triggered an unprecedented wave of nearly 7,000 flight delays as unpaid air-traffic controllers called in absent. With key hubs such as Newark and Dallas under ground-delay programs, airlines saw up to 45 percent of their schedules disrupted, creating major headaches for business travelers and corporate logistics. Unless Congress restores funding, experts predict widening delays and economic fallout.

China added 43 countries to its unilateral 30-day visa-free scheme on 27 October, covering much of Europe, the Asia-Pacific and Latin America. The policy aims to jump-start inbound tourism and simplify short-term business travel, and has already spurred airlines and online agencies to boost capacity and marketing.