Welcome to Mobility Minute, a newsletter published every Friday byWorldwide ERC®for the benefit of members and the global mobility and relocation industry. Here’s a quick glimpse of what you’ll find in this week’s issue:
Longer Passport Processing Times Could Affect Your Travel Plans
What You Need to Know About the U.K. Scale-up Worker Visa
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Longer Passport Processing Times Could Affect Your Travel Plans
The U.S. State Department has reported that this summer’s travel season is expected to be one of the busiest ever, with up to 40% more passport requests compared to last year. Due to the high number of passport applications being processed, it’s important to allow for extra time. The State Department estimates that regular passport processing can take 10-13 weeks, while expedited processing takes seven to nine weeks. The processing times are expected to go up even more as we get closer to summer.
Why is this important?
The U.S. State Department is currently processing around 500,000 passports every week, as there has been a significant increase in demand for travel overseas due to the upcoming summer season. The surge in travel has led to an increase in processing times for passport services and other government agency services, including the Trusted Traveler Programs. However, the programs have not been affected as severely as passport services.
What You Need to Know About the U.K. Scale-up Worker Visa
The U.K. Home Office created a new visa program called the “scale-up worker visa” to help U.K. businesses grow by bringing in highly skilled foreign workers. The visa allows workers to stay for up to two years without sponsorship, and they may extend it for an additional three years or until they become eligible for residency. The program is less bureaucratic and expensive than the skilled worker visa program, making it easier for workers to apply and change jobs after six months.
Why is this important?
The U.K. is facing a talent gap in industries like health care, engineering, and tech, with over 1.2 million job vacancies by the end of 2022. The UK’s scale-up visa program, which aims to fill the talent gap by allowing fast-growth businesses to bring in skilled workers, has been underutilized, with just four visas processed in the first three months due to requirements like higher salary thresholds and growth criteria that may limit its impact. Experts suggest that the government may have to review and update the scheme's policies to encourage more applications and awareness.
Webinar: Supporting your Expatriate Population Through an Unpredictable Immigration Environment— How can you provide the support required to help your employees navigate the rocky immigration landscape? In this presentation on 19 April, global mobility experts will share tips and strategies to help you lead with empathy and provide support for the unique needs of your expatriate employees. Learn more and register.
Foundation for Workforce Mobility Regional Group Scholarship Partnership Program — Applications are due to the Foundation on 30 April. View full scholarship program details.
Corporate Relocation Council of Chicago (CRC) CRP Exam Review Class— On 9 May, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT in Chicago, learn from and study with mobility experts. Learn more and register.
Global Economic Snapshot
According to a report released by the World Bank, Latin America and the Caribbean will experience only modest growth this year due to high-interest rates and falling commodity prices, with the regional economy expected to expand by 1.4% through December. The report notes that the lackluster pace of growth over the past two decades is insufficient to reduce poverty, promote inclusion, and defuse social tensions. — Bloomberg
A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has revealed that employers are calling their employees back into offices and remote work is dwindling. The report shows that 72.5% of private-sector establishments surveyed from August to September 2022 had little to no telework, a significant jump from 2021, which marks a shift in the work landscape as employers try to regain their power. — World Economic Forum
A federal judge has ruled in favor of the Department of Homeland Security’s regulation that allows the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work. The ruling is a victory for highly skilled foreign-born professionals, their families, and the companies that employ them. — Forbes
Expedia is introducing a new artificial intelligence feature to its app, powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology. The feature will allow travelers to plan trips by chatting with a chatbot, with the ability to ask for recommendations on flights, destinations, and hotels, and book directly from some of the suggestions. — The Wall Street Journal
Two recent reports indicate that many companies are not doing enough to reduce carbon emissions in their travel programs. A survey conducted by the Global Business Travel Association showed that only 8% of travel managers in the U.S. prioritize sustainability, and only 12% believe their company’s senior leadership sees it as a priority.
A report by Transport & Environment suggests that around one in 10 companies takes sustainability seriously in terms of business travel. The Travel Smart Campaign found that most companies fail to report non-carbon emissions related to business flying, which are responsible for two-thirds of total climate warming from flying. The campaign urges companies to set ambitious targets to reduce corporate travel emissions, use video conferencing as a substitute for long-haul flying, and switch from air to rail travel where possible.
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