Immigration Lawyer Blog

Ukrainian and Serbian officials have signed here an agreement on a visa-free regime for short-term travel between two countries.

"I am pleased to proclaim that we have just signed a bilateral agreement to ease visa requirements for our citizens," said Kostyantyn Gryschenko, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, during a press conference with his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic.

The agreement provides for visa-free regime for citizens of Ukraine and Serbia for a period of 30 days within 60 days from the date of first entry.

Gryschenko noted that the introduction of the visa-free regime is very important for stirring up visits of Ukraine and Serbia citizens to friendly countries. It will also strengthen relations between the two states and promote intensification of contacts in the economic, culture-humanitarian and other spheres.

In early May, the Republic of Macedonia introduced a visa-free regime of short-term travel for citizens of Ukraine for the period from May 10 to Oct. 31, 2011. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry prepared a draft agreement on visa regime liberalization with six countries, such as Paraguay, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, Croatia, Mexico and Argentina.

Saudi Arabia aims to create more jobs for its nationals by not renewing the work permits of foreign workers who have spent six years in the country, the Saudi labor minister said. The current situation calls for strong cooperation between the government and private sector in solving the problem of unemployment with hundreds of thousands looking for work.

It remains unclear as to when the decision will be implemented or whether it will be applicable to all foreigners or to specific jobs. There are currently eight million foreign workers in the Kingdom, of which six million are employed in the private sector.

Companies across Saudi have targeted workers from Asia, who are allegedly willing to work long hours for low salaries, or have swerved towards well-paid foreign experts. Unemployment in the Kingdom currently stands at 10.5 percent, the minister said. An estimated 28 percent of the unemployed were women and 40 percent high school graduates, he added.

Saudi Arabia has an estimated population of 25 million, with almost 70 percent of Saudis under the age of 30. The Gulf Arab state, the largest economy of the GCC and largest oil exporter in the world, has an annual GDP of $622 billion, and a GDP per capita of $24,200.

Unemployment amongst Saudi nationals has risen despite the country’s wealth. Analysts say that a dated school system focused on religion and the Arabic language is a factor that has produced graduates who have difficulty finding jobs in the private sector. Also, a rapidly growing population - increasing by around 2.4 percent annually – adds to the difficulty for finding jobs.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) today reminded foreigners intending to study in the Philippines to secure a visa or study permit from the bureau before enrolling in any school in the country. Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. issued the statement as the start of new school year is on June 6 and when foreign students are expected to troop by the hundreds to the BI main office to get their student visas.

David also reminded schools that they cannot admit foreigners for enrollment unless the students have the required visas or study permits from the BI student desk. BI added that a school must be accredited or authorized by the BI before it could accept foreign students, or the school will be fined for violating the bureau’s regulations. Existing immigration laws require foreigners who want to enroll in the Philippine college or university to get a student visa.

The BI student desks processes and evaluates applications for student visas and SSPs and thereafter forward the same to the office of the commissioner for his approval. A student visa applicant should at least be 18 years old and must submit a notice of acceptance from his or her school which, also, must issue a written endorsement for conversion of the applicant’s status signed by the school registrar.

The applicant is also required to submit a medical certificate from a government medical institution stating that the applicant is not afflicted with any dangerous, contagious or loathsome disease and is mentally fit; and clearances from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Clearance and BI.

British Parliament may assist Azerbaijan in simplifying visa regime between the two countries to develop tourism. This proposal was received from the UK-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Group members, who met with the Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev during their visit to Baku.

At the meeting the sides exchanged views on bilateral cooperation between the UK and Azerbaijan, on the current state of political and economic relations.

Garayev considers it important to widely use of potential of the established relations.
Garayev expressed confidence in further expanding of cooperation in tourism and culture between the two countries.

The delegation head Mark Field congratulated the minister with Azerbaijan’s brilliant victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. The guest expressed confidence that Azerbaijan will successfully hold this contest in 2012.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle confirmed that Russia and the United States will soon agree on three-year multiple entry visas. At their meeting on Thursday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans to liberalize visa restrictions for businessmen and tourists traveling between the two countries. Under the new agreement, eligible business travelers and tourists would be issued visas valid for 36 months at a unified and reciprocal fee.

"I think that in two months maximum we will sign an agreement to issue new multiple entry visas for three years," Beyrle said in Russian during an interview with Ekho Moskvy radio station. "The presidents instructed to complete negotiations on the issue, that's why I expect the agreement to be ready by summer, maximum by fall."

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin proposed scrapping visa restrictions between the two countries altogether during a meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Moscow in March.

The US may scrap a category of business visas that allows Indian companies to send employees to the North American nation to work on short-term projects in a move that indicates a tightening of immigration laws, according to a letter released on Wednesday by US senator Charles E. Grassley’s office.

Grassley had raised concerns that foreign-based firms may be using B-1 business visitor visas to circumvent restrictions on H-1B visas, in a April letter to secretary of state Hillary Clinton and department of homeland security secretary Janet Napolitano.

In response, the state department said it is working with the department of homeland security to consider “removing or substantially amending the FAM (foreign affairs manual) note” regarding the “B1 in lieu of H-1B” visa category.

The move comes just days after Infosys Technologies Ltd received a grand jury subpoena from an east Texas court requesting it provide “certain documents and records related to the company’s sponsorship for, and uses of B1 business visas”, reinforcing concerns among US lawmakers around the already-sensitive topic of immigration and misuse of visas.

Few Indian software firms use this category of visa, so any amendments to this particular visa category is unlikely to have any material impact on their operations. The visa category, B-1 in lieu of H-1B, allows companies to send workers to the US to engage in work generally limited to H-1B holders for short-term business projects, and is not subject to the prevailing wage requirements or caps that restricts H-1B visa use.

On June 1 the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) will launch a new J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program website. The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is a work and study exchange program created to further mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries. More than 350,000 J-1 visa visitors come to the United States each year, including high school and university students, researchers, physicians, and summer work travelers.

The new site (http://j1visa.state.gov) will greatly improve the online application experience. Everything potential applicants need to know, from how to participate in a program to what the program is like can be found on the new site.

The look and navigation of the new site reflects state-of-the-art web design and plain-language instructions on how to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program. The site features descriptions of each Exchange Visitor program category, so that individuals can find which category is right for them, and testimonials from exchange participants. The site also provides clear instructions on how to apply. Videos and interactive content have been developed to extend the site’s reach into social media. It will give users a faster, easier, and more efficient web experience.

The site is designed to perform well in either low or high bandwidth environments. The site also features an interactive map of the United States for individuals interested in finding out, state by state, how many participants and sponsors are involved in the Exchange Visitor Program.

The new site reflects the Department of State’s commitment to a revitalized Web presence that connects international audiences with the information they need to take part in valuable cultural exchanges, and is the first step in a comprehensive re-design of ECA’s web presence aimed at organizing websites according to how users access ECA information. ECA’s existing J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program website receives the highest volume of user traffic and represents the most popular search item on the ECA website.

A new immigration law took effect in Mexico on Tuesday aimed at better protection of undocumented migrants passing through Mexican territory on their way to the United States.
The new law will permit undocumented migrants to obtain a special visa when entering Mexico from either Guatemala or Belize and tries to enact reforms in the country's immigration ministry, which has been implicated as complicit in criminal acts such as kidnapping migrants.

"Today, Mexico is doing its part to improve the immigration system in North America," President Felipe Calderon said during a ceremony in which he signed the law. "This, without doubt, is advanced legislation, bold legislation, immigration legislation with few precedents in the world," he said.

Migrants have been attacked and kidnapped in increasing numbers in Mexico. The National Human Rights Commission has reported that 11,333 migrants were abducted by criminal groups, including Los Zetas, during a six-month survey period in 2010.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are reminding foreign travelers and Mexican border crossing card (or “laser visa”) holders about requirements to enter the United States, how to obtain an I-94 permit, and when an I-94 permit is required in time for the busy summer travel season.

Under U.S. immigration law, an applicant for admission into the U.S. as a temporary visitor for business or pleasure must prove to a CBP officer that their projected stay in the U.S. will be temporary.

Unless otherwise exempted, each foreign traveler admitted into the United States is issued an I-94 permit (arrival/departure record), as evidence of the terms of their admission.

Mexican citizens entering the country through the southern land border with a border crossing card (“laser visa”) are exempted from the requirement for an I-94 permit unless they are intending to remain in the U.S. for more than 30-days and/or will travel more than 25 miles from the border. Applicants who present a border crossing card (or laser visa) are not eligible to work in the United States.

Those applicants requiring an I-94 permit must demonstrate that they are financially solvent and have sufficiently strong ties to their country of origin, including a home abroad they do not intend to abandon. “Ties” are the various aspects of a person’s life that bind him or her to his or her country or residence. Some examples of ways to document these ties can be pay stubs for a person’s employment/income, a house or apartment mortgage or rental receipt, bank account records, utility bills, etc.

It is not possible to specify the documents applicants for admission should carry, since each applicant’s circumstances vary greatly. Applicants should carry with them whatever documents they think demonstrate their individual circumstances. All traveling family members need to be present during the I-94 application process.

The I-94 permit, which costs $6, allows visitors to travel further than 25 miles from the border and remain in the U.S. for more than 30 days. By U.S. law, a foreign traveler must posses his or her entry documents, and if required, the I-94 permit, with them at all times while in the United States.

In addition, at checkpoints, U.S. Border Patrol agents check foreign travelers for entry documents and the I-94 permit. Travelers not in possession of their entry documents and an I-94 permit may have their visa cancelled and be deported from the United States.

Russians won’t need visas go from the Kaliningrad region (Russia’s most northwestern point) to neighboring regions of Poland and vice versa in next few months to come. This was revealed by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after talks with his Polish and German counterparts in Kaliningrad.

Originally, Kaliningrad was a German city and had the name of Königsberg. There was also a strong Polish influence in this region. The Polish name for the city is Królewiec. After WWII, this region became a part of the Soviet Union, and the city’s name was changed to Kaliningrad.

Many great people have lived and worked in Königsberg, like astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, physicist Hermann von Helmholtz, writer Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann and philosopher Immanuel Kant.

The history of the region embraces three cultures – German, Polish and Russian. The international nature of the Kaliningrad region can still be felt now. Polish and German tourists are frequent visitors here. On weekends, many residents of the Kaliningrad region go to Europe for a spot of shopping. According to official data, Poland issued twice as many visas to Russians so far this year as in the whole of 2010. Similar things are true for Germany.

Some Student visa applicants are required to provide the results of an English language test.

To date, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test is one English language test option accepted by the department for Student visa purposes. The department can also accept an English language test result from test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Occupational English Test (OET) in 14 countries where IELTS is not available.

However, the department will shortly be able to accept the following English language test options for Student visa application purposes:

- TOEFL in all countries
- Pearson Test of English Academic (Pearson) in all countries
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) from Cambridge ESOL (Cambridge) in all countries.

Equivalency scores for TOEFL, Pearson and Cambridge are being finalised and will be announced shortly. Test results from these alternative test providers (or in the case of TOEFL, from applicants in countries other than the 14 previously specified) will not be accepted for Student visa purposes until after this process has been completed. This is expected to be in place later this year.

The department will continue to accept a test result from IELTS. Current testing arrangements and equivalency scores for IELTS will not change. The department will be closely monitoring the implementation of the new test providers and a review will be undertaken to determine whether these should be extended for the use with other visa programs.

To protect Canadian children against child abduction and to further enhance the security of the Canadian passport program, Passport Canada will soon require that travel document applications for children under 16 years of age be accompanied by proof of parentage documentation. Effective December 1, 2011, along with standard application requirements, parents or legal guardians must provide with their child’s travel document application, either:

- A detailed birth certificate indicating the name of the parent(s) issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial vital statistics agency if the child was born in Canada. This document will serve as both proof of parentage and proof of citizenship;
- A certified copy of birth registration (original only) is also accepted for a child born in Ontario; and
- A Copy of an act of birth (original only) issued after January 1, 1994, by the Directeur de l’état civil of Quebec is also accepted for a child born in Quebec;
- An order of adoption indicating the name of the adoptive parent(s); or
- A foreign birth certificate indicating the name of the parent(s) (documents in a language other than English or French must be translated to either English or French) if the child was born outside of Canada.

From Monday 23 May, tribunals will not consider evidence submitted after an application has been made, in appeals relating to applications made in the UK under the points-based system.
UK Border Agency statistics show that around two-thirds of appeals allowed by immigration judges are due to late evidence being submitted.

The rules change is designed to end unnecessary appeals and help make sure that applications are right first time. It will apply to all applications made within the UK through the points-based system.

South Korea may open embassy in Georgia. This desire was voiced at a meeting of a delegation of the Korean Republic’s National Assembly and a delegation of the Georgian-Korean friendship group of the Georgian Parliament.

According to the head of the Korean-Georgian friendship group of the Korean Parliament In-Ji Ri, the opening of the embassy will bring the relations between the two countries into a more active phase and cooperation will become more fruitful. He said South Korea may offer assistance to Georgia in the sphere of high technologies and share its own experience.

The UK Border Agency in New York is now responsible for processing all visa applications in the United States. Effective today (20th May 2011) the UK Border Agency in Los Angeles will close.

Please note, if you are a resident in one of the States previously covered by the Los Angeles visa section and submitted an online application prior to 8th March or 6th April (for California residents) you should review the visa issuing post stated on your visa application form.

If the Los Angeles office is stated on your visa application form, you should submit your application and supporting documents to the visa processing office in Los Angeles prior to 20th May 2011. The Los Angeles office will cease accepting applications made prior to 8th March or 6th April (for California residents) on 20th May.

Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Klyuyev said here on Wednesday that biometric passports will be introduced in the country by the end of this year. "This is a very important task and, in my opinion, we will be able to resolve the issue till the end of the current year," said Klyuyev at a meeting in Kiev.

The main purpose of the new passports introduction is to facilitate travel of Ukrainian citizens abroad. A new system of biometric verification and identification will enable to get visas faster. The new passports will be very close to the EU standards. They will contain a non-contact electronic data with passport biometrical data in accordance with international rules. An ID number, digital images and digital signature will be also the elements of the new documents.

According to preliminary calculations, biometric passport will cost about 92 U.S. dollars in Ukraine. While the average European price of biometric passports is about 62 dollars. Klyuyev, also minister of economic development and trade of Ukraine, stressed that the president and prime minister of Ukraine personally control the process of visa regime with EU liberalization.

A biometric passport, also known as an e-passport is a combined paper and electronic document that contains biometric information that can be used to identify the traveler's features.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today proposed significant enhancements to the administration of the USCIS Immigrant Investor Program, commonly referred to as the EB-5 Program—transforming the intake and review process for immigrant investors as part of the Obama administration’s continued commitment to improve the legal immigration system and meet our economic and national security needs for the 21st century. The EB-5 Program makes 10,000 visas available annually to immigrant investors who invest in commercial enterprises that create at least 10 U.S. jobs. EB-5 investors may petition independently or as part of a USCIS-designated Regional Center.

“Congress created the EB-5 Program in 1990 to attract investors and entrepreneurs from around the globe to create jobs in America,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “We are dedicated to enhancing this program to ensure that it achieves that goal to the fullest extent possible.”

USCIS is proposing three fundamental changes to the way it processes EB-5 Regional Center filings. First, USCIS proposes to accelerate its processing of applications for job-creating projects that are fully developed and ready to be implemented. USCIS will also give these EB-5 applicants and petitioners the option to request Premium Processing Service, which guarantees processing within 15 calendar days for an additional fee.

Second, USCIS proposes the creation of new specialized intake teams with expertise in economic analysis and the EB-5 Program requirements. EB-5 Regional Center applicants will be able to communicate directly with the specialized intake teams via e-mail to streamline the resolution of issues and quickly address questions or needs related to their applications.

Third, USCIS proposes to convene an expert Decision Board to render decisions regarding EB-5 Regional Center applications. The Decision Board will be composed of an economist and adjudicators and will be supported by legal counsel.

This proposal will be online until June 17, 2011, for public comment—providing stakeholders an opportunity to offer feedback on the proposed changes to the administration of the EB-5 Program.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that effective Aug. 15, 2011, petitioners residing in countries without USCIS offices will be able to file a Petition for an Alien Relative (Form I-130), with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility. This will increase the efficiency of the relative petition filing process and give USCIS more flexibility in managing its workload. Previous regulations permitted these petitioners, who comprise about 5 percent of all I-130 petitioners, to file with USCIS or the U.S. Department of State at their local U.S. embassy or consulate.

Under the new regulation, published today in the Federal Register, petitioners residing in countries without USCIS offices may file a Petition for an Alien Relative based on the addresses provided in the revised form instructions, also available on www.uscis.gov:

For U.S. Postal Service:

USCIS
P.O. Box 804625
Attn. CSC/I-130/OS
Chicago, IL 60680-4107

For Express mail and courier deliveries:

USCIS
Attn. CSC/I-130/OS
131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

Petitioners residing in a country with a USCIS office have the option of sending their I-130 forms to the Chicago Lockbox, or they may file their Forms I-130 at the international USCIS office having jurisdiction over the area where they live.

To enable a smooth transition, petitioners should continue to file at their local U.S. embassy or consulate through Aug. 14, 2011. Beginning Aug. 15, petitioners residing abroad must file according to the new instructions.

Individuals with questions or concerns should contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

In an effort to cater to foreign investors and businesses, President Chinchilla signed a new policy this week that will grant 2-year temporary residencies to foreign executives and employees in Costa Rica. Certain foreign companies operating in free-trade zones and the tourism, export, import and business sectors will now have an easier time at the Costa Rican immigration office.

The laborious process of obtaining a visa in Costa Rica will soon become easier, thanks to a new regulation signed by President Laura Chinchilla. The new “Foreign Business Registration Policy” will expedite the visa process for foreign business executives and employees working and investing in Costa Rica.The policy change will grant two-year temporary residencies to foreign executives, managers and technical personnel employed in free-trade zones or by the tourism, telecommunications, airlines, and import and export sectors.

A representative of the Foreign Trade Ministry (COMEX) told that this policy doesn't apply to individuals unless they are employed by foreign businesses or operations that fit the criteria outlined by the government agencies.

Estonian Ambassador to Denmark Meelike Palli opened the fifth Estonian Honorary Consulate in Denmark. Estonia’s new honorary consul is Thomas Graversen. The honorary consulate is located in the city of Fredericia in South Jutland.

Estonian Ambassador Meelike Palli said at the opening that an honorary consulate in Fredericia will help to develop closer economic and cultural ties than before. “Opening an honorary consulate in the economically active area of Jutland – the triangle of Fredericia, Vejle and Kolding – will create new opportunities for Estonian businesses in business relations, export, and investments,” the ambassador stated.

“Since Denmark and Estonia have such good, long-lived and historical relations, being the Estonian honorary consul is a particularly great honour for me,” noted Thomas Graversen during the opening of the honorary consulate.

Head of the foreign offices of Enterprise Estonia Krista Humal was present at the opening to introduce Estonia’s favourable investment environment and tourism opportunities. Others present at the opening of the honorary consulate were members of South Jutland’s local government and representatives of business, cultural, educational and consular circles, including Mayor of Fredericia Thomas Banke.

Honorary Consul Thomas Graversen was born in Fredericia in 1962. He studied at the Fredericia International Business College and at the Trekantområdet Business Academy. In 1984 he began working at the furniture production company Fredericia Furniture and in 1995 he became the owner of the company.

The new honorary consulate is located at the address Treldevej 183, 7000 Fredericia, Denmark. The honorary consul can be reached by phone at +45 7592 3344, by fax at +45 7592 3876, or emails can be sent to estonianconsul@fredericia.com.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today published an expanded list of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degree programs that qualify eligible graduates on student visas for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension-an important step forward in the Obama administration's continued commitment to fixing our broken immigration system and expanding access to the nation's pool of talented high skilled graduates in the science and technology fields.

The announcement follows President Obama's recent remarks in El Paso, Texas, where he reiterated his strong support for new policies that embrace talented students from other countries, who enrich the nation by working in science and technology jobs and fueling innovation in their chosen fields here in the United States, as a part of comprehensive reform.

By expanding the list of STEM degrees to include such fields as Neuroscience, Medical Informatics, Pharmaceutics and Drug Design, Mathematics and Computer Science, the Obama administration is helping to address shortages in certain high tech sectors of talented scientists and technology experts-permitting highly skilled foreign graduates who wish to work in their field of study upon graduation and extend their post-graduate training in the United States.

Under the OPT program, foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges and universities are able to remain in the U.S. and receive training through work experience for up to 12 months. Students who graduate with one of the newly-expanded STEM degrees can remain for an additional 17 months on an OPT STEM extension.

Sudan and Eritrea have agreed to open their common borders to facilitate passage between the two countries through ID cards without the need for entry visas. In addition, the two countries have agreed to facilitate goods and commodities traffic, without restrictions, organize inter trade and remove all border crossing points that hinder movement of citizens of the two countries.

Eritrean President, Isaias Afewerki, said the close relations between Sudan and Eritrea has prompted governments of the two countries to work for facilitating natural movement of the peoples of the two countries.

In his meeting in Asmara yesterday with the visiting Minister of Interior, Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kamal Hassan and the accompanying delegation, the Eritrean President said the stability of North Sudan and South Sudan means the stability of the entire region.

The Minister of Interior said the visit by the Sudanese delegation to Eritrea comes by within the directives of President Omer Al Bashir who has directed for the removal of all obstacles that hinder smooth traffic between the two countries.

The Federal Government will implement a suite of regional migration initiatives together with a measured increase in permanent migration – to 185 000 visas – in 2011-12 to deliver on its broader economic and regional development priorities. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, made the announcement today as part of the 2011-12 Budget, and said a new model for selecting skilled migrants was proposed to be introduced, as the significant next step in the government's migration reforms.

The government's recent reforms have contributed to a decline in net overseas migration levels by almost half from its peak of more than 315 000 for the year ending December 2008 to about 180 000 for the year ending September 2010, slowing the rate of population growth to a more sustainable level.

'This has provided scope for a moderate increase in the migration program in 2011-12, while maintaining more sustainable annual levels of net overseas migration – in the region of 170 000–180 000 over the next few years,' Mr Bowen said.

About two-thirds of the increased migration program will be for skilled migrants to help fill critical skill needs, particularly in regional areas. The skill stream intake will increase to 125 850 places, with 16 000 places allocated to the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. Regional visas will also be afforded the highest processing priority to recognise the needs of employers and encourage regional migration.

'For the first time, the Federal Government will specifically allocate permanent visas for regional areas,' Mr Bowen said.

The government will also fast-track permanent residency for temporary business (subclass 457) visa holders who have spent two years in regional Australia and where their employer will continue to sponsor them for a further two years. This will make it easier for 457 visa holders to remain in the region where they have been living and working.

Mr Bowen said regional areas would also benefit from the introduction of Regional Migration Agreements, a new initiative that will bring together employers, local and state governments and unions to cooperate in addressing local labour needs.

'This government recognises that different regions face different opportunities and pressures. The patchwork nature of the Australian labour market means it's important to recognise unique local circumstances and tailor migration solutions accordingly,' he said.

'Regional Migration Agreements will offer a coordinated, localised response to labour needs, helping local areas to implement workforce strategies that support growth while ensuring local workers remain the first choice for employers and industry.'

Fostering training initiatives for Australians will be a strong focus of the new agreements. The existing network of regional, industry and union outreach officers will also be further resourced to ensure regional employers and industry groups are well informed about such initiatives, and can better gain access to skilled labour where it is needed.

'This is a responsible and measured approach that recognises the role skilled migrants play in supporting regional enterprises, such as in the resources and healthcare sectors and in trades and professions currently facing significant shortages,' Mr Bowen said.

The family intake for the 2011–12 migration program will increase to 58 600 places. The family program is socially important as it allows for the reunification of Australians with their close relatives, children and spouses.

Mr Bowen said in setting the size and composition of the migration program for 2011–12, and announcing recent reforms to skilled migration, the government has balanced the importance of maximising prosperity for all Australians, ensuring communities and regions are sustainable and maintaining job opportunities for local workers. It is critical that Australia's skilled migration program is driven by Australia's skills needs, rather than the desires of prospective migrants.

'That's why the government will introduce a new model for selecting skilled migrants to better target Australia's future skill needs, expected to come into effect on 1 July 2012. The new model concludes a series of reforms to ensure the skilled migration program is more focussed and efficient, demand-driven and tailored to employers' needs.

The UAE government is to implement new limits on the influx of unskilled workers in a move to balance the country's demographic structure. The country's Federal Cabinet Sunday said the "uncontrolled import of unskilled labourers should be limited and replaced by recruitment from within the UAE".

The UAE will instead focus on bringing in highly skilled workers based on "accredited professional and educational certificates", state news agency WAM said. However, the cabinet's resolution said the chairman of the Federal Demographic Structure Council may exempt from this resolution domestic helpers or any other categories he specifies.

In a bid to lessen the unskilled workers in the construction sector, the largest employer of this kind of manpower, the Cabinet instructed agencies to define a set of guidelines to improve productivity and limit the number of unskilled workers needed.

The UAE's handling of its demographic structure is one of government's top priorities, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's ruler said at the Cabinet meeting. Sheikh Mohammed, also Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, said empowering the UAE citizen and making him the key engine of development was one of its main aims.

He said the government was drawing up policies in a bid to strike a "demographic balance in parallel with the comprehensive development that benefits UAE citizen in all emirates of the country". He was speaking during a Federal Cabinet meeting which issued a resolution to set specific percentage targets of UAE citizens over the next 20 years, without elaborating on the details. The Cabinet also ordered the setting up of a minimum required qualifications to occupy some jobs.

The European Commission (EC) is not planning on implementing any measures for the time being that would result in ending the liberalized visa regime for the Western Balkans, EC Spokesman Martin Grabiec told B92 on Friday (May 6th). He confirmed that several days ago the EU's executive arm had received a letter from Belgium, expressing concern about certain cases involving so-called false asylum seekers, but said the EC's stance is clear. "Even if Belgium really requested suspension of the visa-free regime it would be necessary to hold a debate and get consent from all member states," he explained.

On Saturday, European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur on Visa Liberalisation for the Western Balkans Tanja Fajon told Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti that "a new wave of false asylum seekers from Serbia and Macedonia, especially in Belgium and Sweden is a reason for a great concern among the EU member states."

According to her, the possibility of reintroducing visas for the citizens of one or both countries should not be ruled out. "Visa-free travel has certain restrictions. If you don't respect the rules you will face consequences," she warned.

Norway’s Consulate General in Murmansk plans to enter agreement with an external company for receiving of the visa applications and handing out issued visas.

More and more people in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions apply for visa to Norway, Sweden and Finland.

In February, Finland opened the world’s largest visa-centre in St. Petersburg. The centre is operated by a private Indian company that receives applications and delivers out visas on behalf of the Finnish Consulate General in the city. Now, Norway wants to do the same in Murmansk.

The entry to Panama of foreigners from countries with restricted visas must be approved by the National Council of Security, Public Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino said. He added that this new norm will be applied across the country and offices of the consulates of Panama all over the world have been instructed that the measures take immediate effect.

"The measure is being announced yesterday by Migration Director of Panama and at all the consulates in the world," he said, adding that although the new measure has not been approved as law yet it was already being enforced.

He said the decision is under the administration of the Security Council rather than the National Migration Service which up until yesterday had handled such issues. Mulino said that citizens from such countries will have to submit a request to the Migration Service but that request will then be transferred to the Security Council. Mulino added that his office is working on the executive decree, which will be presented to Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli to be ratified and published.

Melbourne, Beleaguered Australian universities have come together to plead for easing of visa restrictions for students from India and China. The two most populous countries in the world provide the vast bulk of international students to Australia. There has been a significant drop in students from India putting many self-funded Australian universities and other higher education providers in deep financial crisis.

Though the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) recently eased the visa norms for India and 37 other countries, a body representing Australian universities want more relaxations to save the third largest export of the country.

There has been a call to revamp the Assessment Level system which decides the key requirements like financials and English Language requirements for the international students interested in Australian education. Currently, students from India and China are classified under Assessment Level 3 and 4. The visa requirements become stringent as the level goes up.

"Broadly, the extraordinary burden placed on high quality university students from Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries, particularly in terms of financial proof, is critically prohibitive to the ongoing sustainability of the international education industry," Universities Australia (UA) said in a submission to the Knight Review of Student Visa Program. The submission suggests varied Assessment Levels within countries like China and India.

The need for selective Assessment Levels has been made as "in India and China if high rates of fraud and non-compliance exist in Punjab and Fujian respectively, then they should attract a much higher assessment level compared to other regions within those large countries", UA argued in the submission to the review body. The Universities Australia has blamed "Commonwealth" agencies for not acting in time to prevent fraudulent practices even though "the triple digit growth in 572 visas from Nepal and India (Punjab) was very obvious" in 2009-10. The subclass 572 visas were granted to students enrolled in vocational courses like hairdressing and cookery.

Georgian Foreign Ministry welcomes the U.S. decision to extend the visa term for Georgian citizens. Given the visa-free regime that Georgia has established for United States citizens, based on the agreement reached at a meeting of a working group under the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Charter, the U.S. government has decided on a maximum extension of the visa term for certain categories of Georgian citizens, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.

The maximum visa term for tourist and business visas (B1/B2) and transit (C1/D) visas will increase from the current 12 months, multiple entry, to 120 months, multiple entry and in the A, F, G, H, J, L, M, O, P, Q, R categories - from the current 12 months to 60 months; in the B, C, D categories - from the current 12 months to 120 months.

Georgia introduces a visa-free regime for citizens of Albania, Iraq, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the Parliamentary Secretary of the government Gia Khuroshvili told Trend, citizens of these countries will be eligible for visa-free stay in Georgia for 360 days.

According to the Georgian government, the introduction of the visa-free regime will facilitate the inflow of foreign investments in the country and tourism development. Earlier, Georgia introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of the United States and European Union states. The bill was considered by ministers at yesterday's governmental meeting, and will be submitted to parliament for approval in the next few days.

The government will issue a visa exclusively for foreigners marrying Koreans, from as early as the latter half of this year, as part of efforts to boost its immigration efficiency and help foreign spouses better settle down here. The plan comes as the Ministry of Justice Friday unveiled changes in the nation’s immigration law, saying it will submit a revised bill to the National Assembly for approval in the near future with an aim of making the changes take effect in the second half of this year.

A new F-6 visa will be issued to foreigners who come here to marry Koreans in a bid to better help a growing number of migrant wives, mostly from China and Southeast Asian countries, adapt to the new living environment and deal with legal and other issues here. Currently, they receive an F-2 visa just as other foreigners who wish to stay here for longer than 90 days.

The country has seen a rapid increase in the number of foreigners coming to marry Koreans over the past few years. The number was estimated to exceed 140,000 nationwide as of the end of 2010. “It is difficult to implement policies specifically directed to “marriage immigrants” because there are many types of long-term foreign residents under the current F-2 visa regime. We expect the introduction of a separate visa for foreign spouses will help us provide timely and more tailored-made policy assistance,” a ministry official said.

Foreigners whose Korean husbands or wives have died or gone missing will also be eligible for the visa. Additionally, foreign retail investors bringing in more than $500,000 here will be given the F-2 visa, while those who invest over $300,000 and hire at least two Korean employees will also be given the same status. Currently, only foreigners employed by a company investing
over $500,000 here are given the right to stay for the long term.

In a bid to secure talented human resources, the government also plans to make foreigners holding Ph.D. degrees eligible for the F-2 visa. Now, only those who have Ph.D.s and are employed by domestic companies are issued with the visa.