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…
Immigration Lawyer Blog
No Entry Visa between Sudan and Eritrea
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…
Skilled Migration Reform to Support Australia’s Growing Economy
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…
UAE puts new limits on unskilled expatriate labour
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…
European Commission won’t remove visa-free regime for Western Balkans
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…
Norway: Considers outsourcing of visa service
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…
Adopted Stricter Control of Immigrants: Panama
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…
Australian varsities: Ease visa restrictions for India, China
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…
U.S. extends visa term for Georgian citizens
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…
Georgia introduces visa-free regime for few countries
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…