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Processing times for work permits have not changed much over the last month. A work permit application in the UK takes up to 5 working days.
Applicants under the Highly Skilled Migrant Program (HSMP) can expect to wait the longest, maybe even as long as 26 weeks.
If you are in the UK already on a work permit or under HSMP, you will probably also have to submit a Leave to Remain application which could take up to 13 more weeks to process.
The Canadian Government is looking at easing adoption rules sothat children orphaned by the tsunami tragedy can be adopted byrelatives living in Canada, the website chinaview.cn reports.
Canada'sImmigration Minister Judy Sgro said on January 5 that theseapplications would be made a priority, as Government and socialservices agencies have been swamped by enquiries from anxious relatives.
Alsoon January 5, the Canadian province of Ontario said it is reviewingadoption procedures to assist the placement of tsunami orphans withtheir families in Ontario.
Spouses of British Citizens and of permanent residents from outside the European Union who wish to remain in the UK on the basis of marriage will face more rigorous requirements to show that their relationship is genuine as of February 1 due to new Home Office immigration rules.
Australia's Department of Immigration is to prioritize the processing of temporary visas for people from areas affected by the Asian tsunami, the Australian national broadcaster the ABC reported January 6 2004.
The Department says it is advising families in Australia and existing applications will be fast-tracked. For new applications, it says priority will go to people with families in Australia as well as orphans or last surviving family members. A hotline for visa inquires has also been set up.
Today is the last full day that you can apply for the DV 2006 Green Card Lottery. The entry period ends tomorrow 12 pm (Midday) US Eastern Standard Time 7 January 2005. This is 5pm GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) tomorrow. Applications can only be submitted online. You can check your eligibility at any time by going to our Green Card Lottery Do I Qualify page.
The number of people seeking asylum in Australia is the lowest in ten years, reports The Advertiser newspaper.