Move One InMotion

Russia: Immigration Bulletin – Language Test May Be Required for Standard Work Permit Applicants

Immigration Specialist — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:56:09 +0000

The new president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, has announced the future implementation of compulsory exams aimed at migrant workers. Once the presidential decree comes into force, foreign employees, with the exception of highly skilled professionals, will have to prove their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history, and the basics of Russian legislation in order to work in Russia.

The information was posted on the presidential website on 7th May, 2012 and calls for the introduction of the new system by November, 2012 as part of a larger scheme to harmonise ethnic relations in the country. Until November however, further announcements are expected to reveal the full extent of the exam requirements and exemptions. Move One is closely monitoring the changes and will provide updates as necessary.

Special Shipment of Dragon Boats from Hong Kong to Dubai

Move One — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:09:49 +0000

Move One recently completed a shipment with a difference. Always expanding and open to new and exciting possibilities Move One, in partnership with Dubai Diggers Dragon Boat Club, shipped two traditional teak dragon boats from Hong Kong to Dubai. This shipment proved yet again, Move One has the ability to ship anything, anywhere, regardless of shape or size.

Dragon Boating has become extremely popular among the Dubai community. More and more clubs are opening every year and many companies now use dragon boating as a means for corporate team building. An ancient Chinese sport, Dragon Boating originates from Stanley Main Beach in Hong Kong, where the biggest single-day dragon boating event takes place. The event is held during the Tuen Ng Festival and commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in political protest.

It is from these historic waters that the latest additions to the Dubai Diggers fleet originate. Made of traditional teak, the boats each weighing upwards of 600kg have been shipped on behalf of the Dubai Diggers. The boats will be housed at the Al Fazza Beach Club and will be used by the Diggers for training purposes, as well as the upcoming Paddle for the Planet event.

Dubai Diggers is the brain child of Australian Nick Hando; Hando spent 13 years in Hong Kong where he formed the Bondi Diggers. Upon arrival in Dubai, Hando saw the potential for the sport and formed the Dubai Diggers. The Diggers would go on to have immediate success, claiming the Dubai championship from 2008-2011. In 2010, the women’s crew placed 4th at the world championships, while the mixed crew finished in 12th place. The Diggers will again send crews to this year’s world championship in July. The new arrivals will prove a valuable resource in the training and preparation for the crews.

Hando’s passion for the sport is infectious and you get the feeling he could talk “dragon boats” all day. Such is his passion for the sport and the seas upon which the sport relies, Hando and a select few have developed the event Paddle for the Planet.

On 2nd June, 2012 over 50 countries will take part in a worldwide paddling relay. At 8am on June 2nd paddlers worldwide will unite to paddle their craft in support of the planet. Paddlers from all sports, dragon boating, surf skiing, outriggers and surfers will unite for a common goal – to raise funds and awareness for the protection of the world’s marine environments. The event aims to raise money through corporate sponsorship and on the day donations, to support environmental efforts and in particular, the protection of the Daram Marine Reserve in Indonesia.

The new boats will be central to Paddle for the Planet and will allow a greater number of paddlers to participate and therefore, generate more funds for such an important cause. Move One is proud to be associated with Paddle for the Planet and to play its part in supporting the protection of our planet.

Working Dogs on the Move

Move One — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:26:04 +0000

When it comes to animals, Move One’s Animal Transportation department has extensive experience in not only relocating family pets, but also providing comprehensive transportation services for security and working dogs. The global demand for security dogs remains strong, particularly for specially trained munitions detection dogs and standard government security dogs, employed in hazardous and remote locations. Due to the political unrest in many countries, a growing number of police and private institutions are also using security dogs, with the price of a working dog now averaging US$15,000.

Apart from the challenge of standard cargo and logistics projects, transportation of ‘live’ cargo such as working dogs demands exceptional skills, expertise and knowledge. In only a short period of time, Move One has come to specialise in the transportation of working dogs deployed to support military field operations in war zones, safeguard military bases, embassies, and consulates; and detect land mines, explosives, and other ordinances.

With a wide distribution of offices in the Middle East, to include Qatar, UAE (Headquarters for Move One), Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia, Move One has earned a reputation in the region for specialising in the transportation of working dogs, but we also address the needs of the ‘rest-of-the-world’ as well. For example, our Pet Transportation Specialists have assisted the shipment of 26 detection dogs from the Mine Detecting Dog Center in South-East Europe to Azerbaijan, Lebanon, and Iraq. We also shipped a consignment of working dogs within Afghanistan from Kabul to Herat, further demonstrating our capabilities of transporting these animals within challenging environments such as Afghanistan and Iraq. Nearly nine years of in-country experience in both countries provides us with deep insight into their transportation conditions, giving Move One an advantage over other carriers and forwarders in the same line of business.

In September last year, Move One again had the opportunity of handling transportation of 31 Military Working Dogs who completed their service in Baghdad, Iraq, and were scheduled to be shipped back to Houston, Texas. This involved a lengthy road trip with security and a flight from Erbil, Iraq to Dubai. Our team kept their ‘eyes-on’ our four-legged customers, from the time of pickup to airlift to Dubai.

Military working dogs are ‘four-legged soldiers.’ Their tasks in war zones are equally dangerous as those of soldiers. These powerful, agile and specially trained dogs risk their lives protecting military operations wherever they are needed. They are loyal companions, members of a military family, sharing good and bad with their human handlers.

The process of shipping these dogs represents a unique challenge. With its vast experience in transportation of military working dogs, especially in the region of the Middle East, to and from Iraq and Afghanistan conflict areas, Move One has developed the specific expertise, not only in the technical aspects of transportation, but also in understanding how to handle and prepare these animals for shipment. For example, Move One needs to be fully aware of watering and feeding requirements as well as exercising and dog hygiene at transit points. In addition there is a host of medical and administrative documentation which allows the transfer of animals from origin to final destination. In short, each animal must be ‘fit’ to travel, but more importantly, qualified to travel based on origin export policies, and final destination requirements clearing the animal for a safe and legal entry. When animals are shipped, it is mandatory that they travel in kennels fitting the size and weight requirements stipulated by IATA and the airline. Water and food supplies may accompany the consignment based on the customer’s requirements.

As part of the pre-shipment preparation, it is necessary that staff handling the shipment, and especially transit of the dogs, are familiar with all technical and legal requirements for export and import of these animals. Dogs being transported to and from a country of deployment require the following documents as a minimum:

• Vaccination records of the dogs
• Health certificate from country of export
• Permission (OK-to-transit) at transit points
• Import permit – required for most countries

With the increase in security risks, in both war zones and high political risk countries, the demand for security working animals has also escalated. To meet these needs, Move One has increased its service capacity by expanding its operations in the UAE to include Sharjah and Abu Dhabi as import and export points. This will provide greater flexibility in handling inbound and outbound requirements.

Move One’s Animal Transportation department specializes in the transportation of military and other working and service dogs, as well as household pets and exotic animals. Please contact us at pet@moveoneinc.com for a tailor-made quote or more information.

Above and Beyond in Mongolia

Marko Lukic — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:48:36 +0000

Move One recently completed a challenging shipment from the United States (U.S.) to Mongolia for a global manufacturer of industrial tools and equipment. The company entrusted Move One with the delivery of oversized cylinders, containers, and batteries to serve Mongolia’s rapidly growing mining industry. The purchase order, which included three shipments – normal container loads, individually loaded break bulk shipments by sea, and a dangerous goods (DGR) shipment of lithium batteries by air – required the Move One team to respond quickly and draw on years of experience in the field of global logistics.

As there are no direct flights from the U.S. to the Mongolian city of Ulaanbaatar, Move One secured a flight to Beijing, China for the DGR shipment of lithium batteries. Due to the extensive knowledge of Move One personnel, the operations team was able to foresee that land transportation would be the only solution to forward the cargo to its final destination. In fact, Move One was able to properly advise its customer ahead of time and included repackaging services upon arrival in Beijing in order to abide by land transportation regulations for this DGR shipment. This essentially saved the customer time and money as Move One coordinated the arrival of the batteries with the other freight arriving via ocean and consolidated all shipments for a single convoy of land transportation.

Move One arranges special packaging for cylinders to reduce shipping costs

“We also had a shipment of cylinders which consisted of delivering two pieces of 14.5 meter cylinders and two shorter ones,” explains Miroslav Georgievski, Move One’s Operation Coordinator for Mongolia. “For less experienced freight forwarding companies this may have presented a challenge which, if overlooked, could prove needlessly costly for the client.”

Georgievski points out however, that Move One avoided extraneous costs by repacking the two shorter cylinders onto standard European wooden pallets. “If they had remained packed in the containers, this would have significantly increased the shipping costs,” he points out.

According to Business Development Manager Karl Trottier, Move One is accustomed to exceeding customer expectations and delivering customised solutions. “Planning and foresight have been at the core of Move One logistic operations since its early beginnings 20 years ago,” he says. “Today we still operate under the same philosophy that we expect the unexpected.”

With some of the world’s largest untapped reserves of gold, coal and uranium, Mongolia is a growing market for Move One. This market includes the Oyu Tolgoi project, a mineral deposit large enough to produce a third of the world’s copper. This and other mega-scale projects in Mongolia have attracted foreign investors to the region’s rugged and often remote locations, investors who have since come to rely on Move One’s local expertise. With an office in Ulaanbaatar, Move One is actively involved in multiple aspects of Mongolia’s economic development, using all resources at its disposal to assist with freight forwarding and logistics services such as warehousing, purchase order management, and transportation.

For further information about logistics services in Mongolia, please contact Sean Kosa, Move One’s Country Manager for Mongolia at sean.kosa@moveoneinc.com.

Transportation of Armored Vehicles

Middle East Insider — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:25:52 +0000

The demand for armored vehicles in the world is growing. Such vehicles have become standard equipment for organisations and companies operating in conflict zones and dangerous and hostile environments. In recent years, the use of armored vehicles has increased, especially in the regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan, ensuring safe transportation for military, civilian and government personnel operating in unsafe areas.

As a consequence of such a trend, there is an increased need for international transportation of armored vehicles. As opposed to transportation of civilian cars, moving armored vehicle from one country to another is a demanding task. It takes special expertise as armored vehicles are far more difficult to manage and are way more expensive than ordinary civilian cars. Such a job can be rather difficult and requires high expertise, especially when transporting armored vehicles to remote and volatile environments, like Afghanistan.

Move One has a long history, experience and expertise in Global Logistics, particularly in Afghanistan, offering its services to various Government agencies like Consulates and Embassies. Such services range from secure convoys, warehousing and online shipment tracking to air, sea, road, and rail services, as well as purchase order management. It also includes transportation of armored vehicles. With twelve offices, strategically located across Afghanistan, Move One Logistics has the experience and resources needed to handle any logistical requirement in the region, and beyond. The company has offices and operations facilities in all central Middle East countries, and therefore is able to facilitate transit clearance and other operations in the whole region. When it comes to international transportation of armored vehicles to remote and dangerous areas, like Afghanistan, the most important asset the company offers is its experienced and knowledgeable staff. Move One staff in Afghanistan is made up of skilled individuals from around the world, supported by plenty of local talent.

Move One is very proud of its successful projects in this region, one example of its capabilities in the field of armored vehicle transportation to remote and volatile regions is a recent operation transporting 31 armored Toyota Land Cruisers to Kabul for the US Embassy. The company was responsible for moving these vehicles from Tallin port to Kabul, Afghanistan. The vehicles were sent to Bishkek in rail wagons, from where the shipment was taken over by Move One staff, who ordered trucks and forwarded the shipment further to Kabul via Tajikistan. Move one offices in Bishkek and Tajikistan took over the paperwork and arranged visas for the drivers, as well as customs documentation. A rather demanding task considering the fact that all the vehicles had to get permissions from the Afghan Ministry of Interior.

Thanks to the company’s cultural and geographical understanding of the area, combined with extensive experience of local rules and regulations, Move One managed to perform this job, as any other logistical task, on schedule and on time. Move One also specialises in Tax Exemption Protocol Processes for Afghanistan and is one of the most accomplished customs clearance brokers in the country, with the fastest service for Armored Vehicle and Restricted Items clearance.

Move One has been supporting military, humanitarian and commercial organizations in Afghanistan since 2001. For further information about Move One’s logistics services in Central Asia, please contact Gregory Forgrave at gregory.forgrave@moveoneinc.com.

What Do the New UK Pet Import Regulations Mean?

Pet Lover — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:26:09 +0000

Pet travel rules changed on 1 January, 2012 when the United Kingdom (UK) brought its procedures into line with the European Union (EU). From this date all pets can enter or re-enter the UK from any country in the world without quarantine, provided they meet the rules of the scheme, which will be different depending on the country or territory the pet is coming from.

This article explains what you and your vet have to do to bring your pet dog, cat or ferret into the UK from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is classified under Non-European Union listed countries and territories. The following contains only a summary of the rules, so please visit the defra website for comprehensive details of the rules for pet travel into the UK.

From 1 January, 2012 all pet dogs, cats and ferrets (including guide and hearing dogs) can enter or re-enter the UK from the UAE without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the scheme. Animals which do not meet all the rules must be licensed into quarantine until they are compliant. They might then be able to obtain early release if they can be shown to comply with the necessary pet travel requirements.

What you need to do if you are entering the UK from the UAE

Preparing your dog, cat or ferret:

• Step 1 – Have your pet microchipped – Before any of the other procedures for pet travel are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified
• Step 2 – Have your pet vaccinated – After the microchip has been fitted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your pet has a current rabies vaccination. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date. The length of the waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after the first vaccination date. A waiting period is not required for subsequent entries into the UK, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date. If the vaccination is in two parts the 21 day wait will be from the date of the second vaccination
• Step 3 – Get pet travel documentation – For animals being prepared in an EU country, you should get an EU pet passport. If you are preparing your animal in a non-EU listed country or territory you will need to obtain an official third country veterinary certificate (apart from Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland who also issue pet passports)
• Step 4 – Tapeworm treatment – (dogs only): before entering the UK, all pet dogs (including assistance dogs) must be treated for tapeworm. The treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK. There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment. No treatment is required for dogs entering the UK from Finland, Ireland or Malta)
• Step 5 – Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – Your pet must enter the UK from a listed country or territory travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route

What you need to do if you are entering the UK from a country other than the UAE

The rules differ depending on which country or territory the pet is travelling into the UK from:

• European Union (EU) countries and territories
• Non-European Union listed countries and territories – Such as the UAE
• Unlisted countries – Any country not listed in the lists above

For comprehensive details of the rules for pet travel into the UK please contact defra:
Website: www.defra.gov.uk/pets
Email: pettravel@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk
Helpline: +44 (0)870 241 1710

If you would like to book your pet’s specific relocation with Move One, or for further information about our general pet transportation services, please contact us at pet@moveoneinc.com. One of our dedicated animal relocation agents will follow up with you shortly with a quote tailor-made to your needs.

Reference:

defra

Move One Leads the Way with Latest Technological Innovation

Move One — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:53:40 +0000

Move One has developed and implemented the use of an android application that simplifies, hastens and streamlines the moving survey process. Move One’s latest technology can be be installed on a mobile device such as a tablet, and has been designed specifically to comply with industry standards for global use and exchange of electronic data. This innovation, now mandatory throughout Move One’s global organization, replaces the cumbersome paperwork traditionally required to complete a successful moving survey.

Nikola Spasovski, Southeast Europe Manager at Move One, provides a step-by-step overview of the survey application process and a review of the application’s key benefits.

Move One’s Survey Application Process

Step 1: Move Coordinator emails basic contact details file to the surveyor in the field.
Step 2: Surveyor imports the file on the tablet and is ready to input the household items.
Step 3: Surveyor can organise the items per room, and separate them by transportation type. Items, volume and costs for shipment are calculated by the application. The surveyor fills in the items by selecting their icon and then adds item quantity.
Step 4: Once completed, the survey sheet is presented to the customer, surveyor describes the survey information and customer signs off.
Step 5: The survey is emailed to quoting department in an electronic (XML) format, and customer receives PDF copy of the completed and signed form outlining all the details and items shown during the survey.

Spasovski explains the benefits the new survey tablet application provides Move One’s clients:

“The survey tablet has helped Move One further improve customer service and experience in two ways. First, the device is extremely user friendly and thus very easy for staff to operate. Accurate, quality data is collected and transmitted, which then ensures that the rates team is able to provide our customers with the quotation more promptly.”

“Second, the tablet provides an extremely transparent and clear preview of the surveyed items, volume and transport mode. This transparency means that customers can clearly see the results for themselves, directly as they appear on the tablet. The survey tablet is a significant time saving device, enabling the team to now undertake almost three times as many surveys.”

The speed and accuracy of Move One’s surveys, coupled with the quality of data collected and transmitted, has resulted in an increase in the overall number of daily surveys. This directly benefits Move One’s clients, with a much faster survey response time as well as dramatically reducing the time frame for receiving the quotation.

The survey tablet ensures that Move One’s staff has the tools and resources to conduct highly efficient surveys and provide prompt, accurate quotes. As a direct result of the use of the survey tablet, everyone involved benefits from greater efficiency, providing an invaluable resource to the overall operational effectiveness of the Move One team.

New Online Forum for Dubai Expats

Move One — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:04:55 +0000

Move One and Expat Echo Dubai are pleased to announce the launch of Expat Chat Dubai.

Dubai’s newest forum provides an online community for expatriates, whether they are considering relocating to Dubai, newcomers or expat veterans of Dubai.

Expat Chat Dubai is a platform for in-depth discussions, questions, answers and sharing of information amongst Dubai’s large, multicultural expatriate population.

With global experience, local presence and expertise in the areas of relocation, moving and pet transportation, Move One is well positioned to provide the region’s leading online forum.

Following the January 2011 launch of its brainchild, the popular community website Expat Echo Dubai, Move One has firmly established itself as a reliable source of information about Dubai providing trustworthy tips for expatriates.

The forum will benefit from expert advice from both the Expat Echo Dubai and Move One teams. Membership is free of charge and the registration process is quick and easy. Don’t delay, signup now!
For more information visit forum.expatechodubai.com or email us at forum@expatechodubai.com

Ukraine: Curiosity – Ukraine Opens Consulate in Dubai

Immigration Specialist — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:30:58 +0000

The Ukraine has opened a consulate in Dubai responsible for providing consular services to six out of the country’s seven emirates. The consulate accepts visa, citizenship, legalization as well as document procurement applications.

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi remains under the coverage of the embassy of the Ukraine, established in 1994 in Abu Dhabi, which also covers the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Qatar.

The opening of the consulate on 5 April, 2012 aims to further develop relations between the two countries. Currently, a number of agreements have been concluded between Ukraine and the UAE on economic, trade and technical cooperation, on the promotion and mutual protection of investments and on the avoidance of double taxation.

Keeping Compliant – Immigration and Labor Notifications Not to Be Neglected

Immigration Specialist — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:04:33 +0000

Failure to consider all immigration and labor issues during the period of a foreign assignment can leave a company liable for penalties. Due to the often changing regulations, less vigilant employers often find themselves without adequate oversight of immigration compliance.

Move One places great importance on informing clients of the applicable case-specific requirements, even after the issuance of the necessary permits. This may mean periodic notifications to various immigration authorities by employers, but also an employee’s obligation to notify relevant authorities in case of changes in personal data. Any changes in work and living conditions must be communicated to authorities in time and Move One makes sure these reporting requirements are not overlooked.

Address Registration – Sharing the Responsibilities

In general, address registration is formalized in the country of destination, documenting that a foreigner has registered his or her place of living with the local authorities. In case there is a change of address, it has to be reported to authorities within a given time, and the initial proof of registration generally needs to be modified or re-issued.

The person or entity responsible for address registration varies by country. By way of example, in Romania, it is the foreigner’s responsibility to inform the immigration office about a change of address within 15 days after the move (30 for EU nationals) and the employer is not held liable in case of late registration. On the other hand, employers in Russia become liable and must ensure that standard work permit holders staying in private accommodation are registered by either their employers or landlords within seven working days of each arrival. In case this is not arranged, in addition to penalties applicable to the individual, the host entity is sanctioned an administrative fine as well.

In the United Arab Emirates, where arranging immigration permits for employees is largely the responsibility of the sponsoring employer, the ID card process may reveal some areas of possible noncompliance. 2012 sees the integration of the Emirates ID card with immigration processes, introducing a number of additional formalities before a residence permit is issued. While the initial ID card application may be arranged with the help of the company, the foreigner is the one responsible for reporting any change of address, change of employer, change of marital status to the authority responsible for issuing ID cards. This must be completed within 30 days, or a daily fine of 20 dirhams (approximately 5 US dollars) is charged for each day of failure to register, effective 1 June, 2012.

Quarterly Notifications – For Some but Not Others

A corporation may have to fulfill different formalities for various employees depending on the work permit or immigration documents issued to them. Additional formalities may be required for one employee but not the other. In Russia, highly qualified professionals (HQPs) may obtain work permits based on an accelerated immigration process, however a HQP work permit means additional notifications will be required on the employer’s part. The main criteria of a HQP is an annual salary no less than two million rubles and from the moment of HQP work permit issuance, an employer is obliged to notify the Federal Migration Service on a quarterly basis about conditions of the HQPs employment: the salary which has been paid, employment contract terminations that took place within three months and the amount of unpaid vacation granted.

End of Assignment – Necessary Goodbyes

Another immigration requirement often overlooked is the need to cancel permits at the end of an assignment prior to leaving the country. This may require revisiting issuing authorities to return various cards and certificates. In the UAE, for example, immigration permits must be officially canceled by sponsors even if they have already expired. If this is not done, the foreigner may not be able to get new employment permits in any Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country. Furthermore, the employer may file an absconding case against the employee resulting in a life-long immigration ban.

Mitigating Risks – Keeping Track of Requirements

The above are just a few examples of notification requirements needed well after the issuance of a residence or work permit. Requirements vary per country and specific cases and rules often change with little or no notice from the side of the authorities. Move One is in continuous contact with immigration and labor offices for up-to-date information and prepares clients accordingly for any future action needed on their side. Thus the perils of overlooking compliance issues can be avoided.

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