Immigration news

A new report claims that New Zealand risks losing out on the potential benefits of having Asian business graduates in their workforce if they continue to face barriers in finding jobs and obtaining visas after graduation.

Australian immigration has opened a new Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) for visa applicants in Vanuatu. The new AVAC is located on the ground floor of the Rossi Ocean Walk. This will make it easier for Vanuatu citizens wishing to apply for Australian visas. Instead of going up the hill to the guarded entrance of the Australian Chancellery, Vanuatu citizens can apply for visas right in the centre of town.The new centre will be open from from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm from Monday to Friday.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) announced that from 1 May 2012 they will introduce a priority visa service in the Philippines and South Korea.The priority visa service will be available to applicants who pay an additional fee to have their visa application placed at the front of the queue. Typically, those who pay for the priority service will have their visa applications processed within 2-3 working days.

Canadian immigration has started a consultation process on revamping their Immigrant Investor Program, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced on 13 April 2012. Currently, you cannot apply anyway for the Immigrant Investor Program. The immigrant investor visa cap of 700 has already been reached and the immigrant investor program will be closed at least until 1 July 2012. It is interesting to note that the Canadian entrepreneur visa scheme is currently suspended.

The US Department of Homeland Security is currently investigating Infosys, an Indian global technology services company, for "errors in a significant percentage" of US visa applications submitted by the company.According to Infosys, the Department of Homeland Security is currently reviewing their verifications of employee work visa applications on the I-9 form. The I-9 form is used by an employer to verify an employee's identity and to certify that the worker is eligible to accept employment in the US. Every employee hired has to complete an I-9 form at the time of hire.

The Cuban government has announced plans to remove many of the restrictions that have prevented Cuban citizens from travelling or emigrating abroad according to National Assembly president Ricardo Alarcon.Alarcon commented on the issue saying that Cuba is "working towards a profound radical reform of emigration." While he didn't divulge on all of the details, he noted that it was a priority issue for the government.