Immigration news

A new UK visa application centre will open in Chittagong, Bangladesh on 3 July, bringing a total of three application centres across Bangladesh.

The service will be limited to those applicants who qualify for fast-track 'Visa Express' or 'Student Express' services. These applicants will be able to lodge their applications at the new centre from 3 July 2005. Interviews, if necessary, will continue to held at the British High Commission in Dhaka.

Other applicants should use the application centres in Dhaka and Sylhet.

The man behind the US Greencard system is advising the Irish government to introduce the opportunity of permanent residence for immigrants.

Bruce Morrison, a former US Congressman, says immigrants should not be admitted on a temporary work permit basis, when they intend to settle in Ireland.

He was speaking at a forum hosted by the Immigrant Council of Ireland in response to the government`s draft legislation on immigration.

Mr Morrison says temporary permits are unrealistic.

The UK Immigration Service has decided to use the latest iris scanning technology to provide a faster, more convenient way to clear immigration. Called"IRIS" (an abbreviation for Iris Recognition Immigration System), the new technology works by taking a picture of the individual's unique iris pattern, in order to speed up identification at the port of entry and thereby reduce passenger queuing.

Australia's Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has approved the introduction of a new temporary Investor Retirement (subclass 405) for Australia. The regulations for the new visa have been approved by the Executive Council and the visa is set to commence on 1 July 2005. The new visa will replace the current temporary Retirement visa (subclass 410).

Scotland, a country of some five million people, is actively seeking a flow of Fresh Talent. It is hoped that the new immigrants will flourish alongside native-born Scots and help Scotland secure its place as an essential part of the global economy.

The aim of the Fresh Talent: Scotland scheme is to encourage talented, skilled non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals to pursue careers in Scotland. Graduates of Scottish educational institutions who have successfully completed a degree in Scotland will be able to remain in Scotland and work for two years after completing their studies.

The number of backlogged immigration cases in the US system is about 1.4 million so far this year, down from 3.4 million for the first quarter of 2004.

That information comes according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services' newsletter. These cases include many and other immigrants seeking adjustment of status as well as citizenship.

The USCIS said it received 1.3 million new cases in the first quarter of this year, and said in its newsletter that its employees were busy trying to clear the backlog.