I experienced the same recently when my employer was extending L to B for this year (non-EU). Authorities asked for salary increase on the ground that it's a 3rd year and my employer negotiated details with them. Eventually it worked out so I cannot complain at the moment :-)

However, that's another evidence that there are some new conditions put in place recently for certain types of positions which should be met, apparently to make it even more challenging to hire outside CH/EU...