The Czech government announced on Saturday that it would be closing its embassy in Costa Rica, as well as four other countries, Congo, Venezuela, Kenya and Yemen. The closing is part of the Foreign Ministry’s budget saving plan. The Czech general consulate also said it would be closing its consulate…
Immigration Lawyer Blog
No visa-on-arrival in Lanka except for Maldivians and Singaporeans
Tourists will no longer get their visas on arrival in Sri Lanka September 30 onwards except Maldivians and Singaporeans. On Friday, Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka announced that it was withdrawing the visa-on-arrival facility for tourists from 79 countries including India, UK, USA, China, Japan and host…
Taiwan to simplify visa procedures for Hong Kong people
The government will introduce simplified procedures for visa issuance for Hong Kong citizens in the near future, Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan said Monday. During a meeting in Taipei to promote economic and cultural cooperation between Taiwan and Hong Kong, Lai said that over the past century, civilian exchanges…
Immigration jumps in Britain amid surge in student visas
Amid increasing number of students coming to Britain, migration has risen by more than 20 percent last year in the country. Net long-term immigration was 196,000 last year, compared with 163,000 in 2008. The number of visas issued to students rose 35 percent to 362,015 in the year to June,…
Visa free entry eases Eid visits to Syria
A significantly lower number of people in the southeastern city of Mardin have applied to authorities this year to visit their relatives in Syria during the three day festival after the month of Ramadan, known as Eid al Fitr in Arabic. Officials say the decrease in numbers can be attributed…
Immigration Officials moving to dismiss some deportation cases
The Department of Homeland Security is systematically reviewing thousands of pending immigration cases and moving to dismiss those filed against suspected illegal immigrants who have no serious criminal records, according to several sources familiar with the efforts. Culling the immigration court system dockets of noncriminals started in earnest in Houston…
Minister Kenney announces improvements affecting temporary foreign workers, including live-in caregivers
New rules to strengthen Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program were announced today by the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. Changes that were initially published in the Canada Gazette Part 1 on October 9, 2009 are now being implemented. “The government is taking action to protect temporary foreign workers, including…
British passport services in India to move to British High Commission in New Delhi
From 20 August 2010, as part of a global initiative to streamline processes, the Consular departments of the British Deputy High Commissions across India, including in Mumbai, will no longer be accepting passport applications. After this date, British passport holders should submit their applications to the British High Commission in…
IT Firms in a bind As H1B Visa Fees go up and up….
New U.S. legislation that sharply boosts visa fees to pay for tighter border security may play well in some parts of the country, but the applause is faint in Silicon Valley. The measure, signed into law by President Barack Obama on Friday, is expected to raise operating costs for outsourcing…
UK Naturalisation and Citizenship applications reconsiderations will require a fee
n future if your UK Naturalisation and Citizenship application is refused and you wish UKBA to reconsider their decision you will need to pay a GBP100 fee. Since 6 April 2010 the UK Government has had the power to charge fees for the reconsideration of a refused application for UK…