Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-14
February 14th, 2010
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American wins fight to remain in the UK
December 24th, 2009
An American mother living in Scotland has been given bittersweet news this Christmas. Angela Faye Smith, 41, had been facing deportation following the breakdown of her marriage and an unsuccessful visa application. Ms Smith, who had initially entered the UK on a marriage visa, had been informed that she would need to leave the UK on 13th December as her application had been rejected and, as she did not have possession of her two children’s passports, she would have to leave them both in the UK when she was made to return to the USA. Current UK fiancée and spouse visa processing times
December 24th, 2009
One of the most frequently asked questions our clients ask is “How long does it typically take to obtain a UK settlement visa?” We are pleased to provide the most up-to-date information regarding the current processing times for fiancée, partner and marriage visa applications at some UK visa-issuing posts abroad that our office deals with on a regular basis. Four States Help Promote the Potential End of the ‘Widow Penalty’
November 3rd, 2009
Four States Help Promote the Potential End of the ‘Widow Penalty’ The US immigration community has long been split over the fairness, and possibilities for moving forward fairly, of the so-called ‘widow penalty’. This situation arises when the widow or widower of an American citizen, and their children, apply for a green card. Currently, if they are unable to prove that the marriage was bona fide for at least two years prior to their spouse’s death, wit relatively unclear guidance as to have that ‘proof’ is obtained, the widow, or widower and their children are not able to continue their green card application. Additional checks strengthen dependant sponsorship safety in Australia
October 25th, 2009
The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), has recently announced its plans to increase the measures already in place regarding the children in family class dependant applications. Set out by the department’s Family and Health Policy Branch as an addition to the Migration Regulations 1994 that address Partner and Child category visas, a further police check will now be enforced to give extra protection to the children involved in the prospective marriage, partner or spouse visa application. Tightening of the Australian sponsorship requirements for partners
October 20th, 2009
Legislative changes to the onshore visa applications in Australia have come into force. Since 14th September 2009, section 48 of the Migration Regulations 1994 has been amended to reflect the changes, which directly relates to the circumstances in which an applicant who has had a visa refused or cancelled offshore is not eligible to apply for a further onshore visa. Read more at marriagevisahelp.com – Austalian visa consultant New stream for Nova Scotia family visa applicants
October 3rd, 2009
Shortages in the labour markets and certain demographics have lead to the expansion of the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSNP). Nova Scotia, the second smallest province in Canada, is on the far right of the country. The province’s immigration Minister Ramona Jannex spoke recently about the region’s need to increase its population within particular demographics, with information on how it intends to achieve this aim. Contentious ‘Widow’s Penalty’ Frozen for at Least Two Years
September 4th, 2009
A temporary suspension of one of the most contentious immigration policies has highlighted President Barak Obama’s interest in a ‘softer’ approach to some of the more painful consequences of US family immigration. The current interpretation of one aspect of US family immigration under federal law, introduced as part of George W. Bush’s immigration crackdown, is now being frozen pending further notice from the US Department of Homeland Security and US Citizenship and Immigration Services, following a decision by the Obama administration. US immigration: update on emotional hearing for proposed UAFA bill
September 4th, 2009
The Uniting American Families Act saw an important development on 3rd June, 2009, as the Senate Judiciary Committee began its hearing to end the current discriminatory immigration policy for same-sex bi-national couples. Currently, same-sex partnerships that have one non-American partner are unable to sponsor their loved one for US visa applications, unlike opposite-sex couples. With more than 36,000 bi-national same-sex couples affected by the law, an estimated 47 per cent of whom are raising children together, it is no surprise that this is an emotional and highly-charged issue. Relocation of the DIAC processing centre to affect spouse visa applications
September 4th, 2009
The relocation of the previously-named Perth Offshore Parents Centre (POPC) on 25th May 2009 brought with it some important administrative changes which will affect the visa application process for spouse, parent and interdependency visas to the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). Since 25th May 2009, the POPC has been renamed the Parent Visa Centre (PVC) and has moved from its previous address of Level 3, 166 Murray Street, Perth, WA, 6000 to its new location at Wellington Central, Level 3, 836 Wellington Street, West Perth, WA, 6005. |
