Immigration news

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced in February 2006 that it will allow a student and her/his dependants to obtain their visas 120 days in advance of the start of the academic program.

This statement indicated that an individual seeking initial entry to the U.S. as a student or the dependant of a student, on the F-1, F-2, M-1, or M-2 visa, may be issued a visa up to 120 days in advance of the start date listed on the primary applicant's SEVIS I-20 Form. This does not mean, however, that the student and his/her family are allowed to enter the U.S. 120 days in advance.

A proposal put forward in Scotland suggests that Scotland should follow Australia's style of immigration, to make it easier to attract workers with rare skills to specified parts of the country, according to the SNP.

US senators crafting a comprehensive immigration reform bill complained on March 15 that a deadline set by Majority Leader Bill Frist could hurt the chances for a guest worker program.

Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee say they need additional time to consider many difficult issues, including include guest workers and the disposition of 11 million immigrants who are in this country illegally.

"This is a complicated bill. We've got to do it right," said committee chairman Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa.

The Directorate General, Immigration & Passports, Ministry of the Interior of Pakistan has decided to establish facilitation desks at all International Airports for issuing visas to businessmen upon their arrival in the country.

Mediterranean and North African countries are losing out because of inefficiency in the way funds are sent home by immigrant workers in Europe, according to a report released March 13.

A study by the European Investment Bank says on average 16 per cent of money sent is lost along the way because recipients and senders do not have access to banks. Use of money transfer companies pushes up transfer costs and means that the funds are not used effectively when they reach the target countries.

Australia's capital Canberra is facing such a chronic shortage of labour that the ACT (Australia Capital Territory) Chamber of Commerce believes the only solution is to import foreign workers.

Doctors from Belgium, tradespeople from Germany and accountants and bookkeepers from Bangladesh are being targeted in a recruiting drive initiated by chamber chief Chris Peters.

Mr Peters says an acute crisis in the restaurant trade, which triggered the mass importation of Filipino guest workers on temporary visas last year, is only the tip of the iceberg.