EU’s Entry/Exit System goes live – what business travellers to Spain need to know
Beijing unveils next phase of visa-free entry reform, promises fully digital border services
IRCC to Unveil Online Passport Renewal Platform in Vancouver
Latest News
Two draft bills could transform how Polish employers hire foreigners
A legal briefing highlights two government bills published on 27 July: one would introduce conditional ‘silent’ approvals for some residence permits; the other would make any firm that ‘benefits’ from a foreigner’s labour liable for illegal-employment fines. Both drafts tighten compliance obligations for Polish employers of foreign nationals.
China to refine visa-free policy and fully digitize entry procedures for foreigners
Beijing has unveiled plans to widen visa-free schemes and put most immigration procedures online, starting with pilots at three major airports. The reforms aim to cut paperwork, lengthen visa-free business stays and support national free-trade-zone initiatives—welcome news for multinationals and travel managers.
IRCC to Unveil Canada’s First Fully Online Passport Renewal Portal Today
IRCC will announce Canada’s first end-to-end online passport-renewal system today, promising to cut weeks off processing times and shift most adult renewals away from paper. The digital portal uses biometric verification and encrypted photo uploads, easing a long-standing bottleneck for Canadian business travellers and mobility managers.
USCIS issues interim rule to bypass asylum interviews, sending up to 444,000 cases directly to immigration court
DHS has issued an interim final rule—effective July 28—that lets asylum officers skip interviews and send many affirmative asylum cases straight to immigration court. The change could affect more than 400,000 pending applications, accelerating deportation risks and complicating work-authorization strategies for employers who rely on applicants’ EADs. Companies should review the status of any employees with pending asylum claims and be ready for longer processing times and possible detention of key staff.
EU Entry/Exit System reaches 145 million registrations; Polish businesses urged to prepare
The European Commission confirmed on 27 July that the Entry/Exit System, operational since April, has logged 145 million movements. Exemptions apply to residence-permit holders and certain family members, but all other non-EU travellers to Poland are now biometrically recorded. Polish companies should expect slightly longer queues, tighter 90/180-day enforcement and new data-privacy obligations for visiting staff and contractors.
China to Refine Visa-Free Policy and Digitize Border Procedures
Beijing has announced that China will expand visa-free entry, digitise passports and move most immigration services online. New QR-code travel credentials and nationwide “Smart Channel” e-gates aim to cut wait times and paperwork for foreign visitors and business travellers. Multinationals should prepare for faster assignee deployment and digital compliance requirements.