UNITED STATES - US Embassy in London Issues Update on NIV Processing Times and Expands Visa Reissuance Program
February 17, 2012 - The Embassy of the United States in London has alerted attorneys that visa services will be limited during the summer months of July and August in all nonimmigrant visa (NIV) categories. In anticipation of this delay, the Em...
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UNITED STATES - Department of State Allows L Visa Issuance Based on Reciprocity Schedule
February 15, 2012 - A final rule has gone into effect allowing the U.S. Department of State (DOS) to issue L visas based on the visa reciprocity schedule. Under current regulations, L visa issuance is limited to the petition validity period, wh...
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UNITED STATES - Data Reveal High Denial Rates for L-1 and H-1B Petitions at USCIS
February 15, 2012 - The National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), a non-profit, non-partisan public policy research organization, recently released an analysis of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data on the number of H-1B and ...
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UNITED STATES - Beijing Announces Implementation of Department of State’s New Visa Interview Waiver Pilot Program
February 15, 2012 - On January 19, 2012, President Obama signed an Executive Order to significantly increase legitimate travel and tourism to the United States, with the goal of increasing visa-processing capacity in China by up to 40% in 2012. ...
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CHINA - Law Proposes Fingerprinting All Foreign Nationals
February 14, 2012 - Legislators in Beijing have received a draft law that would empower the public security authority to fingerprint foreign nationals. If approved, the law would allow the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign...
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UNITED KINGDOM - Tiers 1, 2 and 4 and Large Sponsor License Fees Set to Increase by April
February 14, 2012 - As a measure to relieve taxpayer burden, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) is recommending an increase to visa application fees. Once approved by Parliament, the following fees are expected to come into effect on April 6, 2012:
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AUSTRALIA - Department of Immigration Grants Exception for Engineers
February 10, 2012 - Following extensive discussions and correspondence between BAL Australia and the Department of Immigration, an exception to current policy has been granted to the registration requirements for engineers in Queensland. When a...
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - National ID Card Deadline Extended in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
February 9, 2012 - Foreign nationals working for private companies located in one of the free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have received an extension on the earlier announced deadline to register or renew their national ID cards.
The Emirates Ident...
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ISRAEL - Visa Processing Delays Expected Due to Strike
February 9, 2012 - A general strike of Israeli workers providing national and local services began on Wednesday. The strike includes immigration offices, banks, airports, and railways and will most likely cause a delay in visa processing, as a ...
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UNITED KINGDOM - English Language Test Results Must Be Submitted Before Applying for Leave to Remain
February 9, 2012 - Effective April 6, 2012, applications for Leave to Remain in the UK under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), Tier 1 (General), and Tier 2 of the points-based system by non-native English speakers must be accompanied by test results that show t...
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UNITED KINGDOM - Absences Beyond 180 Days to Prompt Greater Scrutiny of Indefinite Leave to Remain Applications
February 9, 2012 - Qualified foreign nationals submitting an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will be deferred to a senior caseworker if they have spent more than 180 days outside of the UK on long business trips during the qualifying...
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UNITED KINGDOM - Fingerprints and Digital Photograph Required for Indefinite Leave to Remain Applications
February 9, 2012 - Foreign nationals applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as settlement or permanent residence, will soon be required to submit fingerprints and a digital photograph in support of their applications. Parliam...
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RUSSIA - Work Permits No Longer Required for Nationals of Kazakhstan; Additional Documentation Required in Support of Invitation Letters for Dependents of Highly Qualified Specialists
February 8, 2012 - Two significant changes to Russian immigration law have recently come into effect. Nationals of Kazakhstan and their family members are no longer bound by Russia’s work permit requirements. Additionally, the Federal Mig...
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BRAZIL - Peru Joins the Brazil/MERCOSUR Agreement
February 8, 2012 - Peru is the seventh South American nation to join the Brazil/MERCOSUR agreement, joining Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Chile. As a result of Peru joining the MERCOSUR group, citizens of Peru will now be eligible ...
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UNITED STATES - Department of State Institutes Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Waiver Pilot Program
February 8, 2012 - Pursuant to President Obama’s initiative to improve and speed up the visa process for certain categories of travelers, the Department of State (DOS) has implemented the Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Waiver Pilot Program. This P...
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UNITED STATES - Secretary Napolitano Announces Rule Proposing Permanent Global Entry Program
February 7, 2012 - Yesterday, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the publication of a final rule that would establish Global Entry as a permanent program. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protect...
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Additional Medical Requirement for Sri Lankan and Indonesia Nationals Applying for Employment and Residence Visas
February 6, 2012 - Effective February 12, 2012, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will require nationals of Sri Lanka and Indonesia seeking entry as either a student, employee, dependent, or member of a household staff to obtain a medical fitness cert...
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UNITED STATES - Obama Administration Outlines Immigration Reform Proposals for Business Growth
February 1, 2012 - Yesterday, President Obama sent Congress a new Startup America Legislative Agenda to accelerate startup and small business growth following his State of the Union Address last week. The agenda lays out his legislative vision ...
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AUSTRALIA - Work and Holiday Visas Available to Argentinean Nationals; Argentina and Brazil Added to e676 Qualifying Countries
February 1, 2012 - Starting February 29, Argentina will be the ninth country added to the list of countries eligible for the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) Visa. According to a release from the assistant secretary in the Education and Tourism ...
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ARGENTINA - Police Clearances Require Change in Process and Additional Passport Photos
January 31, 2012 - As a result of the Registro Nacional de Reincidencia going on strike, foreign nationals must now obtain their police clearance background checks through the Policia Federal Argentina (PFA). Though most of the requirement...
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CZECH REPUBLIC - Non-EU National Registrations and Educational Document Nostrifications Begin
January 31, 2012 - Both retroactive and newly submitted labour office registrations (reported here last week) for non-EU work permit holders have begun in Prague. All additional labour offices are expected to begin implementing these new proced...
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UNITED STATES - Memo Provides Critical Feedback to USCIS’ Current Review of L-1B Petitions
January 27, 2012 - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has submitted a memo to USCIS providing critical feedback on the USCIS interpretation of the term “specialized knowledge,” and outlining the correct standards and evidentiary requ...
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UNITED STATES - USCIS Releases Q&A Regarding Company Validation Information Tool Used in Adjudication of Employment-based Petitions
January 27, 2012 - U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) released a Q&A regarding the Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE), which is used in adjudication of employment-based immigration petitions to confirm informat...
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BRAZIL - First-Time Vitem V Holders May Avoid Months-Long Appointment with Federal Police Registration Delays by Registering at the São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport
January 25, 2012 - Lengthy scheduling delays with the Federal Police in São Paulo have prompted the Brazilian immigration authorities to allow first-time Vitem V Visa holders to complete their registration with the Federal Police at the São Paulo-Gua...
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CZECH REPUBLIC - Work Permit Applications for Non-EU Nationals Now Require Legalized Diplomas with Nostrification
January 23, 2012 - Effective Monday, January 23, non-EU foreign nationals who will be on Czech payroll must submit their work applications with a legalized diploma that has undergone nostrification. The Ministry of Labour is still in discussion...
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