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March 3, 2022

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In immigration news this week:
These items and other news from Costa Rica, Ghana, Luxembourg, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Ukraine, and the United States follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.
United States, March 3, 2022
DHS Designates Sudan and Extends and Redesignates South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status; Expands Employment Options for South Sudan Nationals in F-1 Student Status 
To view entire article, click here.
 
South Africa, March 3, 2022
New Bill to Introduce Quotas for Foreign Workers
To view entire article, click here.
 
Worldwide/Russia, March 2, 2022
Limited Suspensions of Visa Services for Russian Citizens
To view entire article, click here.
 
United States, March 1, 2022
H-2B Cap Is Reached for Second Half of FY 2022
To view entire article, click here.
 
United States, March 1, 2022
FY 2023 H-1B Cap Registration Begins
To view entire article, click here.
 
Worldwide/Ukraine, February 25, 2022
Many Countries Granting Immigration Concessions for Ukrainian Nationals; Exit Ban for Men Age 18-60
To view entire article, click here.
 
United States, February 25, 2022
Regulation To Expand USCIS Premium Processing Program Clears Federal Review
To view entire article, click here.
Costa Rica: New Passports Issued with Longer Validity – The General Immigration Directorate (DGME) has published a decree, effective March 7, 2022, that will increase the validity of newly issued regular passports to 10 years, up from the currently issued five years. Additionally, the DGME will be able to issue “emergency passports” valid for up to one year in exceptional cases where an applicant has an urgent need to depart the country. Currently, these types of emergency passports are not available. The changes are in line with the upcoming implementation of biometric passports in Costa Rica expected in March 2022.    
Ghana: Ghana Card Can Be Used as e-Passport – Ghanaian citizens and dual citizens are now able to use their Ghana National Identification Card, known as the “Ghana Card”, as an e-passport to board flights to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries, which are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. This change follows the recognition of the Ghana Card as a global electronic passport by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national identification card can be used as an e-passport. When negotiations are completed on the topic, travel to non-ECOWAS countries using the Ghana Card will also be possible, though the implementation timeline is not yet known.
Luxembourg: Delays in Appointments with Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Foreign nationals seeking to schedule appointments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit biometric data and collect residency permits can anticipate waits of approximately one month, and two to four weeks, respectively. This is a significant increase in comparison to the usual one to three days for appointments to submit biometric data and five days to collect the residency card. These delays do not impact the foreign national’s ability to start working in Luxembourg upon their arrival.
Russia: Medical Examination Changes for Visa and Residency Permit Holders – As an additional update to the continually changing medical examination rules that are required when foreign nationals arrive in Russia for all types of entry purposes (more information available here), the Russian government has published the following information: (a) COVID-19 is not considered an infectious disease dangerous to others for the purpose of this examination, thus testing for it is excluded; (b) results of previous medical examinations conducted in Russia within one year of the immigration application are valid for the purposes of the application and will now be taken into account; and (c) tuberculosis testing will be conducted on foreign nationals above the age of six, and immunodiagnostics rather than an X-ray will now be performed for the tuberculosis test for those under the age of 18. Fragomen will report on further relevant updates when available.
Sao Tome and Principe: Entry Tax for Visa-exempt Nationals Approved – The Council of Ministers approved a tax of EUR 20 on visa-exempt nationals entering Sao Tome and Principe for tourism or business. The entry tax is expected to take effect on June 1, 2022. The entry tax is expected to generate revenue to cover the operating costs of diplomatic missions abroad.
Slovakia: Dual Citizenship Forthcoming – Effective April 1, 2022, Slovak citizens resident abroad for at least five years will be able to retain their Slovak citizenship if they acquire citizenship in another country, which is not currently permitted. Additionally, minor children will be able to retain Slovak citizenship if acquiring another citizenship by adoption. Individuals who lost Slovak citizenship in the last 10 years under stricter citizenship rules will be able to apply to reobtain Slovak citizenship.
United States/Ukraine: Certain Travelers From Ukraine Exempt from COVID-19 Requirements for U.S. Entry Through April 1 – Through 11:59 PM EDT on April 1, 2022, certain nonimmigrants from Ukraine entering the United States are exempt from the COVID-19 vaccination requirements, according to an amended Department of Homeland Security (DHS) national interest exception (NIE) order. In addition, all U.S. citizens, green card holders, and nonimmigrants traveling with U.S. citizens and green card holders from Ukraine are also exempt from the pre-departure COVID testing requirement through April 1, 2022 if they were present in Ukraine on February 10, 2022, according to an updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order. Both orders were initially set to expire on March 1, 2022. Nonimmigrants traveling from Ukraine will be permitted to enter the United States without showing proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result prior to boarding a flight to the United States if they: (1) are traveling with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident; (2) were physically present in Ukraine as of February 10, 2022; and (3) possess valid travel documents allowing them to travel to the United States. Nonimmigrants who traveled under the NIE to the vaccine requirement will be required to receive a COVID-19 test within three to five days of arrival in the United States; self-isolate in the event of a positive post-arrival COVID-19 test or the development of COVID-19 symptoms; and become fully vaccinated for COVID-19 within 60 days of arrival in the United States if intending to stay for more than 60 days.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.

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Partner Christian Dallman discusses having an employment-based immigration system that can provide the auto industry with the diversity of talent and thought leadership it needs to anticipate the needs of the future in this Automotive News article.
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