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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.