Welcome to the latest issue of Mobility Minute, a newsletter created by WERC. Every week, this newsletter will land in your inbox to keep you up to date on news from and about the talent mobility industry.
Here’s a quick glimpse of what you’ll find in this week’s issue:
U.S. Government Shutdown: Considerations for Talent Mobility Programs
How Social Media Is Influencing Visa Decisions Around the World
Domestic Moves Stall: How High Rates and Housing Constraints Are Reshaping U.S. Mobility
WERC Welcomes New Members
Survey: Talent Mobility Market Sizing and Economic Impact
U.S. Government Shutdown: Considerations for Talent Mobility Programs
Spotlights
With the U.S. Congress failing to extend funding for the U.S. government before the start of its new fiscal year on 1 October, the federal government has entered its first shutdown since 2019. With some of the services and activities that support various mobility-related functions already impacted by the shutdown and more likely to become impacted in the coming days as the last of previously appropriated resources are exhausted, mobility professionals need to think through how the shutdown could impact their organizations and mobility programs.
How Social Media Is Influencing Visa Decisions Around the World
Immigration
From quiet monitoring to formal disclosure requirements, countries around the globe are increasingly integrating social media into their visa adjudication processes. For mobility professionals, understanding the legal landscape—and helping employees manage their digital footprints—has never been more important.
Domestic Moves Stall: How High Rates and Housing Constraints Are Reshaping U.S. Mobility
Real Estate
Constrained housing supply, high mortgage rates, and the “lock-in effect” are limiting mobility, suggesting relocation demand will grow moderately, influenced by job changes, life events, and long-term interest rates.
WERC brings together the community of experts equipped to meet the creative, analytical, and strategic needs of the talent mobility industry. Join us in welcoming the newest members as of September 2025.
Survey: Talent Mobility Market Sizing and Economic Impact
Help define and articulate the size and impact of the talent mobility industry by completing a groundbreaking, industry-driven study. WERC commissioned a leading market research firm to conduct the first-of-its-kind research study to identify the market size of the talent mobility industry globally and analyze the direct and indirect economic impact of the movement of talent, starting with the United States.
WERC has released a statement regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s 19 September proclamation on the H-1B visa. — WERC
Germany is courting skilled Indian workers unsettled by Trump’s new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, touting its stable and predictable migration policies. In what he described as “a call to all highly skilled Indians,” Germany’s ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, posted a social media video highlighting high wages and job opportunities in Germany’s tech sector, though language barriers and rising nationalism remain concerns. — The New York Times
The U.K. will make digital ID mandatory by 2029 for proving the right to work, aiming to curb illegal migration and streamline access to services. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the scheme will secure borders and benefit citizens, though opposition parties criticized it as ineffective and overly bureaucratic. — BBC News
Japan will replace its foreign trainee program in 2027 with a new system allowing limited job changes, stronger rights protections, and stricter oversight across 17 labor-short industries. The initiative also promotes transitions to longer-term Specified Skilled Worker status, marking a shift from the 1993 scheme that was often seen as a source of cheap labor. — The Mainichi
The White House has asked the Supreme Court to uphold President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, arguing that the 14th Amendment does not apply to children of undocumented immigrants or temporary foreign residents. The request follows conflicting lower court rulings, setting up a potential landmark decision on the constitutional meaning of U.S. citizenship. — The New York Times
China has launched its K visa program targeting young foreign STEM graduates, allowing entry, residence, and employment without a job offer, positioning itself as a more accessible alternative as the U.S. raises H-1B visa fees to $100,000. While the K visa could attract global tech talent, it faces challenges including vague eligibility criteria, lack of permanent residency or family sponsorship, language barriers, and limited citizenship options. — Reuters
U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin reintroduced bipartisan legislation to tighten H-1B and L-1 visa rules, citing abuse by large employers. The bill comes amid heightened scrutiny after the Trump administration imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications. — Reuters
The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has postponed its Residential Real Estate Transfers Rule until 1 March 2026, citing the need to ease compliance burdens. Existing Real Estate Geographic Targeting Orders will remain in effect during the extension. — FinCEN
