Immigration news

Immigration New Zealand announced on 2 April that health checks for international students immigrating to study in New Zealand will be relaxed later this year.Immigration Minister Nathan Guy stated the changes would take effect from July 2012. The changes include foreign students no longer needing to provide full medical assessments; Also health screening of partners or dependent children will be limited to serious conditions.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) announced that they will increase the funds required to satisfy the maintenance requirement for Tier 2 visas applicants. The changes go into effect from 14 June 2012. This follows a written ministerial statement from 15 March 2012 that outlines a number of changes to the Immigration Rules, including the closure of the Tier 1 Post Study Work route on 6 April 2012. The following changes will be made to the maintenance requirement for Tier 2 visa applicants:

As part of Canadian immigration's plan to reduce the backlog of visa applications, the government will be rejecting almost 300,000 people who applied for a Canadian visa before 2008. Their applications are being returned and $130 million worth of fees will be refunded as the government aims to decrease the massive backlog they say has been standing in the way of major reform to the immigration system.

India's commerce minister told his US counterpart this week that he is concerned about the rising rejection rates for applications made by Indian tech workers to obtain H-1B visas in the US.Commerce and Industry minister Anand Sharma explained that he had "a frank discussion" with US Commerce secretary John Bryson during talks in New Delhi. Sharma said that he was concerned by the fact that rejection rates for H-1B and L-1 applicants' visa applications have increased over the past few years.

Under new UK immigration visa rules non-EU artists may have an easier time obtaining visit visas for the UK. The new visa rules will allow for overseas artists to enter the UK to work without having to apply for work visas; They will be allowed to stay in the UK for up to a month if they have an official invitation from a UK organisation.

The UK Border Agency announced that from 6 April 2012, visa applicants in Pakistan must submit their initial applications online. This applies to all applicants and their dependents applying under the points-based system.Also, from 1 May 2012 the UK Border Agency in Pakistan will no longer accept paper based applications. Applicants will still need to make an appointment at a visa application centre to submit any necessary supporting documentation. Applicants will also need to give their biometrics and have their photograph taken at the visa application centre.