The US State Department recently made it harder for foreigners to secure an investor visa, known as the EB-5 visa.

More specifically, the general minimum investment amount required to obtain an EB-5 visa will rise from $1 million to $1.8 million.

For foreign investors looking to invest in targeted employment areas (TEAs), areas with high unemployment, the minimum investment amount will be $900,000–the previous requirement stood at $500,000.

The EB-5 program was initially created to attract foreign investment in exchange for permanent resident status.

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the increase in minimum investment requirement accounts for inflation.

The last time minimum investment amounts were changed was in 1990.

On top of those changes, states will no longer have the authority to designate which areas qualify as TEAs.

Now, the Department of Homeland Security will have this power.

According to Thailand attorneys specializing in securing US immigration visas including EB-5 visas, the increased investment requirements won’t significantly lower investor visa applications, due to the worldwide attractiveness of the prospect of securing a US green card.

The changes to the EB-5 visa will take effect on November 21.

Read the full story here.

In order to fill its massive skilled labor gaps, the German cabinet is considering a proposal that would make it much easier for workers outside of the European Union to migrate and work in Germany, according to Reuters.

The idea comes as a major surprise when you consider that anti-immigration sentiment is widespread in the northern European country at the moment, playing a large role in the rise of the uber-nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The proposal being drafted by the cabinet would primarily make it simpler for skilled professionals from outside the EU to work in Germany, which could alleviate some of the concerns of those with anti-immigrant sentiments.

Germany stands as the EU’s largest economy, but in recent years has suffered from chronic labor shortages when it comes to young professionals.

In 2015, Germany believed that the influx of refugees would fill its record 1.2 million unfilled jobs, but the language barrier and the lack of necessary skills have made it an uphill battle.

Read the full story here.

During the first two weeks of July, Thai police charged 156 employers with violating the country’s migrant worker laws.

The increased crackdown comes in the wake of a move by the Thai government to document all migrant workers in the country by the end of June.

After the June 30th deadline, the Thai government formed 113 teams to inspect employers in a variety of sectors.

Around two-thirds of those charged were guilty of hiring workers without work permits or other proper work documentation or registration. If guilty, they’d face 10,000 to 100,000 baht fines for each employed undocumented migrant.

On top of punishing employers, the teams charged 687 migrants for engaging in work without a permit.

Read the full story here.

For Thai or US immigration advice or help, contact a professional Thailand immigration lawyer at Chaninat & Leeds.