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The UK announced that from 11 April 2005, the visa sections in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, will not accept visa applications from first-time visitors to the UK between the ages of 18 and 30. This includes business visitors.
Therestriction was implemented due to high numbers of visa applications,which slowed down processing time. About 18,000 applications a year arereceived at the High Commission in Abuja, with a further 5,000 atLagos. The refusal rate is around 80%.
The "Times of India" reports that an error on the UK Home Office website has confused numerous highly-skilled migrant programme (HSMP) applicants, awaiting information on the status of their applications. The website incorrectly reported that all applications up to July 12, 2004 had been processed.
Many applicants who had applied prior to July 12, 2004 still had not received a reply. After numerous complaints, an official explanation was given: applications up to June 12, not July 12, had been processed.
The issue of immigration has been thrust into the spotlight in UK politics, with both the Conservative Party and the Labour Party calling for tighter immigration laws.
Australia simplifies Special Humanitarian Program visa procedures
Those who would like to have relatives from Africa and the Middle East come to Australia under Australia's Special Humanitarian Program should find it easier to apply for a visa.
People proposing to support relatives or friends who are subject to substantial discrimination in their home country can now lodge their applications with a Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMIA) office in Australia.
The United States Embassy in London issued a pressrelease on April 7 reassuring British citizens that most would not needvisitor visas, as had been widely reported in the press this week.
TheEmbassy said in its press release that British passports issued beforeOctober 26, 2005 – as long as they are machine-readable – wouldcontinue to allow the bearer to travel visa free to the United States.Passports issued on or after October 26, 2005, must contain biometricidentifiers in order to qualify the bearer for visa-free travel.
The UK Home Office has announced that the MBA Provision, as part of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP), will be launched on 12 April 2005. The MBA Provision is designed to attract skilled and talented business managers to the UK, by allowing them to work in the UK for up to 12 months once they have completed their MBAs.