covid-19 town hall: relocation immigration · total travel bans became common worldwide, with...

COVID-19 Town Hall:Relocation Immigration

COVID-19 TOWN HALL:RELOCATION IMMIGRATION

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Today’s Presenters

Jurga McCluskeyPartner, Head of ImmigrationDeloitte UK

Azmina AboobakerU.S. Immigration ManagerFacebook


Welcome

Lynn Shotwell, GMS, SCRM-SCPPresident & CEOWorldwide ERC®


Monday Night


Tuesday Press Conference

This pause will be in effect for 60 days, after which the need for any extension or modification will be evaluated by myself and a group of people based on economic conditions at the time. This order will only apply to individuals seeking a permanent residency, in other words, those receiving Green Cards. Big factor. Will not apply to those entering on a temporary basis. As we move forward, we’ll examine what additional immigration-related measures should be put in place to protect US workers. We want to protect our US workers, and I think, as we move forward, we will become more and more protective of them. Donald J. Trump


This Morning


First Countries to Implement China / Hubei Travel Bans

Initial Responses – Early 2020

Oceania:Australia: 01/02/2020

New Zealand: 02/02/2020

US & LATAMUS: 02/02/2020

El Salvador: 31/01/2020Antigua and Barbuda:

31/01/2020Jamaica: 31/01/2020

AsiaChina: 23/01/2020

Wuhan regional lockdown begins

Singapore: 29/01/2020North Korea: 22/01/2020

(tourism)Japan: 01/02/2020India: 02/02/2020

Philippines: 02/02/2020South Korea: 04/02/2020

EuropeItaly: 31/01/2020

Russia: 31/01/2020Czech Republic: 09/02/2020

Middle EastIran: 31/01/2020

Oman: 03/02/2020UAE: 03/02/2020KSA: 06/02/2020

AfricaTanzania: 29/01/2020Rwanda: 30/01/2020

Egypt: 01/02/2020 Algeria: 03/02/2020


Expansion of Travel Restrictions Worldwide

Oceania:New Zealand: 19/03/2020

Australia: 20/03/2020

US & CanadaUS: 11/03/2020 Initial travel ban extended; 21/03/2020 borders

with Mexico and Canada closed

Canada: 16/03/2020

LATAMEl Salvador: 11/03/2020Argentina: 15/03/2020

Brazil: 19/03/2020

AsiaIndia, Malaysia: 18/03/2020

Singapore: 23/03/2020China: 28/03/2020 entry

suspended

Middle EastIsrael: 18/03/2020UAE: 25/03/2020 KSA: 01/04/2020

AfricaEgypt: 19/03/2020Ghana: 22/03/2020

South Africa: 26/03/2020

Extensive Travel Bans

EuropeEarly adopters: Italy, 09/03/2020; Denmark and

Czech Republic: 14/03/2020EU & Schengen states: 17/03/2020

Russia: 18/03/2020

With 210 Countries and Territories around the world reporting approximately 2.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 throughout March and April, near-total travel bans became common worldwide, with >200 countries and territories imposing travel restrictions as of 22 April 2020.

Lockdown Generates Contraction in Q2 UK GDP

Office of Budget Responsibility, 14th April 2020


COVID-19 Global Responses Government Reactions & Concessions

Source: Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker, Blavatnik School of Government.

Stringency Legend

90+

80+

70+

60+

50+

40+

30+

20+

10+

Around the world, we have seen varying degrees of government responses in such diverse areas as travel regulations, regional lockdowns, and economic strategy.• The below map shows the comparative stringency of COVID-19 policies worldwide, assigned a rating from least to most stringent (0-100)• These ratings are based on review of policy responses across 13 key fields, including school closures, travel bans, social distancing, fiscal, or monetary measures.

Country Fiscal package(share of GDP) Loan Schemes Grant schemes Cost deferrals Other Monetary

France 4% €312bn loan guarantees (14% GDP)

Employment, Business, Self-employed support Tax deferrals Additional health spend

ECB QE €120bn

PPEP €750bn

ESMCredit €240bn

EIBLiquidity €200bn

Germany 4.9% €825bn loan guarantees (25% GDP)

€50bn grants to small businesses and self-employed Tax deferrals Additional health spend

Greece 7.5% Loan guarantees Employment, Business, Self-employed support Tax deferrals Additional health spend

Ireland 2.3% Liquidity support €0.2bn (0.1% GDP)

Employment support €6.0bn (1.8% GDP) Tax deferrals Health spend €2bn

(0.5% GDP)

Italy 1.4% Credit supply support €5.1bn (0.3% GDP)

Employment support €10.3bn (0.6% GDP)

Tax and utility deferrals €6.4bn (0.4% GDP)

Health spend €3.2bn (0.2% GDP)

Netherlands 1-3% Loan guarantees Employment, Business, Self-employed support Tax deferrals €35-45bn

Spain 1% Loan guarantees for companies and self employed up to €100bn

Employment, Business, Self-employed support Tax deferrals Health spend €3.9bn

UK 4.4%* £330bn loans to small, medium cos and Inv Grade

Business Support (£27bn)Employees support (£40bn) Tax payment deferrals NHS Spend £5bn

Welfare £7bn

QE £200bn 65bp rate cut to

0.1%

Source: IMF*Fitch estimate for UK fiscal package share of GDP

Europe: Fiscal and Monetary Policy Responses


Global Easing & Extensions Countries Due to Open/Return to Normality or Extending Lockdown

Oceania Australia: 16/04/2020

extension for at least 4 weeksNew Zealand: 22/04/2020

primary schools opening and some easing of measures

AsiaChina: 08/04/2020 Wuhan

restrictions liftedJapan: 01/04/2020 extension

for at least 4 weeks

EuropeItaly: 14/04/2020 some easing of measures

Denmark: 13/04/2020 some easing of measuresUK: 16/04/2020 extension for at least 3 weeks

US & CanadaUS: Measures relaxed in

some states, regional restrictions still in effect

Canada: 14/04/2020 extension for at least 4

weeks AfricaSouth Africa: 10/04/2020

extension for at least 3 weeks

Middle EastIran: from 20/04/2020 inter-

province travel ban lifted

Europe: Easing of Restrictions

Country Deaths > 10 Widespreadworkplaces closed

Duration of lockdown: from workplace closures

(days)Easing from Form of easing

Italy 26 Feb 10 Mar 3514 Apr Booksellers and children's clothes stores to reopen in some regions

4 May Full lockdown set to end

Austria 23 Mar 16 Mar 29

14 Apr Smaller shops, garden centres reopening

01 May Larger shops, shopping centres to reopen

Mid May Restaurants and hotels to reopen

Spain 10 Mar 14 Mar 30 13 Apr Non-essential workplaces allowed to reopen

Denmark 22 Mar 13 Mar 3415 Apr Schools reopening for younger children

10 May Restaurants and cafes to reopen

Germany 16 Mar 22 Mar 2919 Apr Some shops reopening

04 May Schools reopening for older children

France 08 Mar 17 Mar 35 so far 11 May Schools to reopen followed by gradual lifting of other restrictions

UK 13 Mar 23 Mar 29 so far NA NA

Source: Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker, Blavatnik School of Government. Politico. Deloitte research

Approach Across European Countries


Highlights – Exceptional Immigration Measures Due to COVID-19

Global Immigration Concessions

AmericasCanada: Salary and working hours can be reduced, unpaid leave/furloughs are

allowed temporarily without notification to the authorities if solely related to the

COVID-19 crisis.Colombia: Automatic extensions for

up to 1 month from the end of the national Health Emergency.

Brazil: Automatic visa extensions.

Middle EastKSA: Visitors in Saudi Arabia with visit visas due

to expire may extend stay for up to 180 days.New article added to Labour Law in light of

COVID-19, restricting use of force majeure as justification for dismissal.

UAE: All UAE Residence permit holders and visit visa holders (in-country or not) are entitled to an

automatic renewal of their permits/visas until 31/12/2020.

New resolution introduced to protect foreign employees in private sector. Where applicable,

this means temporary reductions in salary or hours do not impact status, and companies must

maintain health insurance coverage.

AfricaSouth Africa: Extended permission

to work/study in country for those impacted by expiries or with renewal

applications in progress during COVID-19 measures.

Tanzania: Visa grant notices extended by 3 months; 1 month

grace period for expiries.

Oceania Australia: New 408 Visa provision

introduced for in-country visa holders impacted by COVID-19: those unable to depart or those remaining to assist

in critical sectors during the pandemic.New Zealand: Visas expiring

between 2 April & 9 July automatically extended to 25 September. Key

workers and healthcare prioritized.

AsiaJapan: 90 days extension for in-country visa holders unable to return to home country. Certificates of Eligibility normally

valid for 3 months are now valid for 6 months.Singapore: Singapore registered companies who

implement cost-saving need to notify the MOM. Employers may request employees to stop coming to work for a short

period of time or reduce their working hours. Work Pass holders should not be away from Singapore for more than 6

months consecutively or risk cancellation of the pass.

EuropeEuropean Commission: Recommended all members extend Schengen status for those

impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions.Israel: Salary reduction and unpaid leave are allowed temporarily without notification to the

authorities if solely related to the COVID-19 crisis. Portugal: Salary and working hours can be reduced temporarily without notification to the

authorities if solely related to the COVID-19 crisisUK: Salary reduction up to 80% of their salary or £2,500 per month if solely related to the COVID-

19 crisis. Automatic 1 year extensions for health professionals working in the UK.


Europe: Immigration Response to Critical BCP Measures

Source: Deloitte North & South Europe Immigration Survey April 2020

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Temporary SalaryReduction

Unpaid Leave/Furlough Reduction of WorkingHours

Voluntary Reduction inHours

Visa/PermitCancellation Risk if

Outside Host Country

Automatic/ExceptionalExtensions of Status

Redundancy Concession Impact on FutureEmployer

Sponsorship/License

How has European Immigration Policy responded to the need for Business Continuity and Cost Efficiency measures?

COVID-19 Accommodation / Permissible May be Possible No COVID-19 measure/Not Permissible N/A


US Immigration Response

• Introduced limited flexibility but continuing to rely on pre-COVID requirements

• Must file extensions/change of status but USCIS will use discretion for late filings

• Relaxing PERM and LCA requirements

• Additional 60 days to respond to RFEs/NOIDs but still have to submit a complete response

• No extension or change of status for ESTA travellers but can get 30-60 day “satisfactory departure”

Suspension of Premium Processing (PP) • Challenging to start candidates requiring certain

visa types (O-1, E-3, TN, etc.)• Less certainty and heightened anxiety for all filings

H-1B Processing Delays

Consulate Closures • Delays in visa issuance and admin processing resolution • Ongoing backlogs if/when consulates reopen

Practical Impact

• 90-day filing window opened 4/1 but data entry will start 5/1• No extension or change in the 90 day filing window • Gaps in work authorization post-10/1 for cap gap


I-9 and E-Verify Updates

• Remote I-9 process • Employers can designate an “agent” for Section 2

• Notices of Inspection (NOIs) • Employers with NOIs from March get 60-day extension

• E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmation (TNC) extensions • Employees will have additional time to resolve TNCs • Employers cannot take adverse action during “interim” case

status


Contingency Planning

• Put together a working group with I-9, employment law, recruiting and business leaders to map out next steps for current employees, new hires, and candidates

• Think about short-term and long-term options

• Items to consider: • Potential gaps in work authorization • Alternative work arrangements (remote work, global options) • Delayed start dates


Developing Items


Looking To The FutureBusiness Continuity Planning

Lockdown Regulations:• Continuous changes as borders,

businesses & schools re-open

• Return to work on contracts and projects may vary by industry & country

Immigration Applications:• Longer processing times• Changes to requirements• Visa cancellations• Permanent residence

New Hires • Delays to start dates• Changes to onboarding process• Changes to contract terms• RTW checks• Withdrawal of offers

Other considerations:• Remote working• When and where is physical

presence required?

Travel Restrictions:• Nationality & travel history• Additional documentation• Insurance coverage• Authority vs. company-driven

Employee Key Concerns:• Health implications• Location planning• Provider preferences • Cost implications

Ongoing Assignments:• Automatic extensions• Returning to host countries• Changes to role or location• Tax/Social Security

implications

Communications:• Clear & consistent• Internal stakeholders• Employees• Clients • Vendors


Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map


Travel Impacts- Entry restrictions: are the

borders closed, restricted or unrestricted?

If so what are the restrictions based on and who do they

include?

Any further relevant information - Exit restrictions: are the borders closed, restricted or

unrestricted?If so what are the restrictions

based on and who do they include?

Any further relevant information?

Social ImpactsQuarantine: are quarantine measures in place? Is there a full

lockdown within the country?What criteria is quarantine applied on e.g. travel history;

medical history?Any further comments- expected end to the measures?

Permit Impacts- Online - Paper

- In-person- Extensions/Renewals- All other in-country

applications- Any special concessions?

Are these services limited; suspended; continuing as usual; not applicable or not confirmed?

What further information is there for visa holders?

Are there any special measures in place for extensions?

Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map

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