Immigration news

The UK Border Agency has announced that it will begin a new mobile biometric clinic service in west Kazakhstan beginning on 17th August 2012. The service will be run in partnership with VFS Global and will be based in the western city of Atyrau, which is on the Caspian Sea. The service will enable western Kazakhs to submit their biometric information, which they must do if they want to apply for a UK visa, without travelling to the capital Almaty.

President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme comes into force today (Wednesday 15th August 2012). The scheme allows some young illegal immigrants to apply for a determination granting them freedom from deportation proceedings for a two year period. Successful applicants will then be allowed to apply for a permit to work in the US.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has launched a campaign calling for relaxation of the US's immigration laws. The campaign is timed to influence the candidates in the United States presidential election which will be held on November 6th 2012.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has issued a statement warning people who want to work in the UK and students who are already studying in the UK to be aware of a number of frauds. The statement warns of websites that purport to link to or be operated by the UKBA and of fraudulent phone calls made by criminals claiming to work for the UK immigration authorities.

The New Zealand immigration minister, Nathan Guy has announced a scheme intended to encourage overseas students to study in the region of Canterbury, New Zealand. The New Zealand government will grant enhanced employment rights to a wider range of English language students who study in Canterbury. The new rules will come into force on 27th August 2012.

An Australian MP has called for an increase in the number of temporary migration permits issued to skilled migrants. Andrew Leigh, a member of the ruling Labor Party said there was a shortage of Australians with the expertise to fill job vacancies created by the country's natural resources boom.