Original post, November 20, 2023

Thailand has extended visa-waivers to citizens of India and Taiwan on a temporary basis. Beginning on 10 November, passport holders from both India and Taiwan can now stay in Thailand for tourism purposes for up to 30 days without obtaining a visa. This exemption will be in effect until 10 May 2024.

In addition, tourists from Russia can stay in Thailand for tourism for periods of up to 90 days without a visa until 30 April 2024. Following the initial 90-day period, Russian citizens may apply for a 30-day extension.

The temporary visa-waivers are being put into place in an effort to boost tourism to Thailand.

Immigration Insights

While these announcements have been made by the Cabinet of Thailand, the most senior members of the Thai government, they have not yet been published as an official announcement from the Ministry of Interior, Thailand, as published in The Royal Gazette. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.

The post THAILAND – Temporary Visa-Waivers Announced appeared first on Newland Chase.

In an effort to streamline work and student permit processes, the Swedish Migration Agency has introduced a pilot scheme to allow nationals from 23 countries to complete the passport verification requirement using an application on their mobile phone or computer instead of attending in person to a Swedish Embassy or Consulate. Eligible applicants include nationals from Albania, Argentina, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Georgia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Peru, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, UK, Ukraine, and the USA.

It is anticipated that eligible applicants will receive an email from the Swedish Migration Agency within a few days of submission of the work or student permit application. The email will contain a link to the online service to complete the verification process online.

The introduction of the online verification will hopefully allow faster processing of applications and will be more cost effective to applicants. However, with many new online services, there may be some potential issues during the initial implementation phase.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an enquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case or company-specific assessments.

The post SWEDEN – Simplified Passport Checks appeared first on Newland Chase.

On March 31, 2024, Japan launched a new residence status called “Digital Nomad Visa”. This visa allows eligible foreign nationals to remain in Japan for up to six months in a 12-month period and work remotely for their overseas employer. Digital Nomad Visa holders are permitted to carry out the provision of paid services or selling of goods to overseas clients and are geared towards professions such as software developers, digital designers, virtual assistants, or sole proprietors of foreign companies.

How do applicants qualify for this visa?

• Applicants must be a national of a visa-exempt country and a country with a bilateral tax treaty with Japan. 
• Applicants must be employed by and remunerated by their employers overseas. 
• Applicants must have a minimum annual income of at least JPY 10 million (approx. USD 68,300) or more at the time of application 
• Applicants must hold an insurance policy that covers death, injury, and illness during their stay in Japan. Coverage of 10 million yen or more for the costs of treatment for injuries and illnesses must be in place.

A Digital Nomad Visa-holder can bring a legally married spouse and children with legal parentage to Japan, provided they also meet eligibility criteria. The Digital Nomad Visa will come under the “designated activities” visa category. Refer to the table below for the list of eligible nationalities.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.

Nationalities Eligible for Japan’s Digital Nomad Visa

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments. 

The post JAPAN – Digital Nomad Visa Launched    appeared first on Newland Chase.

Ultimately, that’s why people work with Newland Chase: Our client relationship team is committed to delivering results, no matter what obstacles stand in their way. As one team member put it, “There is almost nothing that [we] cannot offer in the areas of visa, immigration, and document services.”

We asked some of our most committed and talented team members how they deliver the best possible service for their clients. Reading their responses, it’s clear you won’t find comparable service anywhere else.

Elaine Ang, Senior Client Manager

How long have you worked with Newland Chase?

I joined in September 2021.

In your own words, what is the value in working with a partner like Newland Chase for immigration services?

I feel so proud whenever I am speaking with a client about the breadth of our service offerings, simply because it is not an exaggeration when I say that there is almost nothing that CIBT cannot offer in the areas of V&I and document services.

Besides this obvious fact, I truly believe that Newland Chase does not just pay lip service—we truly listen to our clients needs, no matter the size of the engagement. This even resonates throughout our organization, and I observe that all our internal stakeholders are willing to listen and hear out clients’ requirements and proactively offer solutions to make things work.

Please provide an example of a time you went above and beyond for a client. What was the issue and the outcome?

Our engagement with one client initially began in Europe, and their stakeholders recommended their APAC team to Newland Chase when they had expansion plans in the region. Initial discussions with the APAC Mobility Lead commenced as early as February 2022, and we only managed to close the APAC addendum in December!

The drawn-out negotiations were impacted by team members being hit by COVID-19 infections, the client’s price sensitivity, and more, but I pursued the lead tenaciously. The APAC subsidiary utilizes local immigration service providers in Singapore and Thailand, and yet the Mobility Lead was convinced of our value proposition and managed to also persuade their internal stakeholders to select Newland Chase over a local service provider for Vietnam.

I recently met the client at an event and she spoke passionately to the forum about the importance and value of partnership with vendors, given her experience working with Newland Chase.

What is the next trip you will take for business or leisure?

I am currently 30 weeks pregnant and am glad to share that my last trip was a work trip to Shanghai—it was very meaningful for me, both personally and professionally. Although I am now grounded flight-wise, I am already secretly planning to bring my daughter to see her family living outside of Singapore in 2024—paternal grandparents in Okayama, Japan, and aunty and cousins in Brisbane, Australia.

Carol Myint, Client Manager

How long have you worked with Newland Chase?

Since June 2022.

In your own words, what is the value in working with a partner like Newland Chase for immigration services?

It is the care and attention we put into our client and applicant relationships among the Client Manager, the Country Director, the Newland Chase Consultant with our clients. We really get to know our applicants.

Please provide an example of a time you went above and beyond for a client. What was the issue and the outcome?

A client had a family that had to travel to the US for urgent medical care. The family was located in a country where the US embassy and consulates remained closed. I was able to urgently connect the applicant with our consultant on the ground, and we successfully asked for an emergency visa appointment, which was granted. The medical visa was also granted, and the family could travel to the US on time.

As a result, this client was so pleased that we have had more cases with them, advising on Germany, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

What is the next trip you will take for business or leisure?

I just got back from one-week backpacking in the Grand Canyon (and yes, I got all the way to the Colorado River) in Arizona and I also have a family wedding coming up in Nashville, Tennessee—home to the “Grand Ole Opry House” and the center of the country-music scene.

Fernanda Solorzano, Senior Client Manager

How long have you worked with Newland Chase?

I’ve been working with Newland Chase since the office in Mexico was acquired back in 2016. Shortly after, I moved to Houston, Texas, to work in what was then the US Hub. In 2019 I moved to Oregon to be an on-site client manager for a client. A year ago, I moved to Spain, so I now work hybrid at our office in Madrid.

In your own words, what is the value in working with a partner like Newland Chase for immigration services?

As there is a limited number of global companies that provide immigration services, and this is Newland Chase’s main focus, our level of expertise on immigration matters is truly impressive.

Additionally, the agreements and partnerships we have with immigration law firms in places where Newland Chase does not have a national office significantly enlarges the number of countries where we can provide services to our clients. It is important to mention that there is a thorough process to determine with which partners Newland Chase will associate with to ensure that the best service is provided.

We are known for our caring employees. Our culture consists of fully understanding our clients’ needs and knowing that whenever a person is going through an immigration process, this means they are experiencing a life-changing experience; therefore, our main purpose is for our clients to have an outstanding experience while working with us.

Please provide an example of a time you went above and beyond for a client. What was the issue and the outcome?

Newland Chase has partnered with my client for quite some time now; therefore, several people from both sides have worked on the account. As such, there have been significant changes and challenges when building the relationship with the current team working for the account to ensure we adapt to the client’s needs.

Based on the previous systems to save data and records, we’ve been working hard to keep our records up to date by auditing the current and previous cases. This allows us to determine which actions we need to take, both internally and with immigration authorities, to rectify any matter that needs to be amended.

What is the next trip you will take for business or leisure?

My next trip will be to Belgium, and it will be for leisure—I have always wanted to visit, as I’ve heard it’s absolutely beautiful. One of the reasons I’m traveling is to see the Christmas markets and the city during this time of the year.

Kayleigh Starling, Client Manager

How long have you worked with Newland Chase?

I will be celebrating my two-year anniversary with Newland Chase in January 2024 and brought my experience of global mobility, immigration, destination services, and household-goods shipping from my eight-year tenure with a leading relocation management company (RMC).

In your own words, what is the value in working with a partner like Newland Chase for immigration services?

Relocating in general is an incredibly emotive experience for assignees—one I personally have an intimate understanding of through my work with an RMC, but also my very own relocations.

In my opinion, immigration is key to the overall success of a move and an important trigger for all other relocation tasks. At the best of times, it can be seen as an overwhelming and complex process. Add on to this the challenges of recent years, such as COVID-19, Brexit, the Russia/Ukraine conflict, and what appears to be a trend in shrinking global-mobility teams, and it becomes imperative that a superior partnership network is in place to drive a positive assignee experience for our clients.

Ultimately, I believe having a central point of contact with global accountability for immigration requirements drives regional support at a consistently high standard and results in a globally consistent end-to-end process for all parties.

Please provide an example of a time you went above and beyond for a client. What was the issue and the outcome?

I recently completed a large Request for Information (RFI) project for one of my long-standing clients. Although our direct client contacts were extremely happy with our partnership, service delivery and offerings, the CEO of the organization initiated the RFI due to a cost-saving initiative and noted immigration fees as an area that needed to be reduced.

The procurement and global-mobility teams did not want to invest the time and resources to conduct a full Request for Proposal (RFP) or a change in provider, especially given the service satisfaction with us, so asked us to partner to meet the objective of the CEO.

First, I set up an in-person meeting at their headquarters in the Netherlands to hold a strategic discussion to better understand their requirements and present a refresher on our value offering, achievements, and fees previously negotiated ahead of the RFI request. This meeting was an important step to show our commitment to meeting and fully understanding how we can successfully support.

Following this, I conducted in-depth analysis on services in scope, services utilized, fees and initiation volumes. Utilizing the outcome, I conducted several internal discussions with local teams and our leadership to prepare a best and final offer to meet the cost-saving needs.

I prepared the procurement and global-mobility teams with the tools to communicate the outcome to their CEO successfully, showcasing our efforts to meet their objective. For example, there were occasions when we were unable to discount our fees to meet their target rate, and we appeared to be above the market. We spoke and documented extensively how comparing immigration providers’ costs can be challenging, gave a copy of our fee schedule with detailed descriptions of scope, and highlighted extra benefits included within our fees.

Due to the volume of serviced locations and a frequent changeover in the client’s procurement team, this project took almost 12 months to complete, but resulted successfully in the award of a 12-month contract extension.

What is the next trip you will take for business or leisure?

My next trip will be to London to present end-of-year reviews for two of my clients based in the city. Celebrating our achievements during our partnership over the year is one of my favorite parts of my role, and having the opportunity to have these meetings in person makes it even more gratifying after so many years of restrictions!

For leisure, I am going to avoid the temptation of some winter sun and head up to the north of the UK to visit family—and attempt to run the half-marathon route I will be running officially in Newcastle in 2024!

Stay in the loop with Newland Chase

As you can see, if you’re looking for exceptional service to help you navigate your company’s visa and immigration needs, look no further than Newland Chase. You won’t find a more committed, dedicated, and knowledgeable team working in the visa and immigration space. Contact us for a quote today.

The post Meet Your Newland Chase Client Management Team appeared first on Newland Chase.

Previously, CIBT provided immigration-related services in Hong Kong through our Newland Chase brand. Now, we will also offer service through CIBTvisas, whose mission is navigating the complexities of the visa process and simplifying work and travel. Among the services now available in Hong Kong through the CIBTvisas brand are business and tourist visas, extensive visa support for some of Hong Kong’s most popular outbound destinations, and documentation services including legalizations and police clearance certificate assistance. The office will also offer specialized assistance for Taiwan visa applications, and support for Hong Kong residents in obtaining Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Cards.

As part of our expansion in Hong Kong, we will be adding more dedicated staff who are local experts with a deep understanding of the visa processes in Hong Kong. This staff, along with our industry-leading technology and global mobility database, will supply best-in-class service to travelers, companies, and foreign workers needing mobility assistance in Hong Kong.

The new operations in Hong Kong are part of CIBT’s ongoing expansion in 2023, which has also seen us expand our service offerings in Belgium, and open a new office in Bogota, Colombia. CIBTvisas services in Hong Kong will be led by Latha Olavatth, VP, Client Relationships – Hong Kong.

The post HONG KONG – CIBT Expands Service appeared first on Newland Chase.

The Foreign Special Professional work permit is a category for foreign workers with talents and experience needed by Taiwan in certain fields. These fields include: science and technology, economy, education, arts and culture, sports, finance, law, architectural design, and national defense.

Previously, Foreign Special Professional work permit applications were usually reviewed by a single individual, with only 20-40% reviewed by a full panel. But now, all Foreign Special Professional work permit applications are expected to go to a full panel review before issuance.

The single reviewer option would typically take between 7-10 days to complete, while a full panel review could require between 6-8 weeks before a decision was made. With all reviews now headed to a full panel review, the process to issue a Foreign Special Professional work permit will likely take weeks longer.

Immigration Insights

If you have questions about the Foreign Special Professional work permit application process, please contact us.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.

The post TAIWAN – Review Changes for Special Professional Work Permit appeared first on Newland Chase.

It is important to note the eVisa requirement does not apply to individuals who hold passports from the 69 countries which are part of Japan’s visa exemption program.

For example, this means an individual who has an Indian passport and is residing in the United States would need to apply for the JAPAN eVisa before their vacation to Japan, while an individual who lives in the US and holds a US passport would not since the US is one of the countries currently in the visa waiver system.

The eVisa can cover a tourist visit of up to 90 days and is only available for visitors who arrive in Japan by airplane. Visitors who expect to stay longer than 90 days or are traveling for purposes other than tourism would not be eligible for the eVisa.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.

The post JAPAN – eVisa Extended to 11 Countries appeared first on Newland Chase.

Quarantine arrangements will remain but are scheduled to be replaced by 7-day self-monitoring from 13 October.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.

The post TAIWAN: Full Resumption of Visa-Exempt Entry appeared first on Newland Chase.

The CECC reminds the public that the above border measures and relevant epidemic prevention measures will be adjusted on a rolling basis based on developments in the pandemic situation.

For general advice and information on immigration and business travel to Taiwan, please contact us.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.

The post TAIWAN: Visa-Exempt Entry Reinstated from September appeared first on Newland Chase.

What’s Changed?

An online filing system in Taiwan has been available for some time but its use has been limited to certain applications. Most work permit applications are still filed manually with the authorities.

It has recently been announced that the Taiwan authorities will make it mandatory for all work permit applications to be filed via the online system. They will no longer accept manual work permit applications after this change has been implemented.

Employers will be required to create an online account with the Workforce Development Agency prior to the implementation date to ensure there are no delays in submitting work permit applications of their foreign employee population.

Newland Chase Insights

This change will make it easier for employers to file applications and receive the outcome in a reduced period of time compared to the manual filing route. Newland Chase looks forward to seeing positive immigration changes in Taiwan to continue attracting highly skilled foreign talent.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.

The post TAIWAN: Work Permit Application Online Filing System appeared first on Newland Chase.