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Speeding Up Compulsory ID Cards for Foreign Nationals

September 1st, 2009
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Home Secretary Alan Johnson has recently been in talks with the UK Border Agency to look at ways in which the proposed identity card scheme for foreign nationals may be speeded up.

The current plans see all foreign nationals requiring compulsory identity cards within three years, meaning that any person from outside the European Economic Area wanting to live and work in the UK for more than six months will have to go through the rigorous process of obtaining an identity card, which includes both personal and biometric information.

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New Australian partner visa forms now available

August 31st, 2009
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The new Australian visa application forms are now required from all foreign nationals applying for a family-class fiancée, partner or marriage visa to come to Australia, with the old forms no longer accepted as of 1st July 2009. Applications submitted using the old forms will be rejected. It is important to be aware that, even though the new 40SP and 47SP forms look very similar, there are some differences, so it is imperative that the new form is used for all applications.

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Fee increase across the Australian visa application spectrum

August 26th, 2009
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Recent changes to the fee structure of both onshore and offshore Australian visa applications came into effect on Wednesday 1st July 2009, having initially been announced in late June, and apply to all foreign nationals looking to obtain a fiancée, partner or marriage visa for entry into Australia.

The fee changes will see the onshore subclass 820, subclass 801, subclass 829 and subclass 814 visa applications increase considerably, from its previous AUD$2105 to AUD$2525. For offshore fiancée, spouse, and partner visa applications, there are also increased fees, going up from AUD$1420 to AUD$1705.

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New Australian partner visa forms now available

July 5th, 2009
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The new Australian visa application forms are now required from all foreign nationals applying for a family-class fiancée, partner or marriage visa to come to Australia, with the old forms no longer accepted as of 1st July 2009. Applications submitted using the old forms will be rejected.

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Fee Increases Across the UK Visa Application Spectru

June 25th, 2009
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Recent changes to the fee structure of both onshore and offshore UK visa applications came into effect on Monday 6th April 2009, having initially been announced in February, and apply to all applicants looking to visit, work or stay in the UK, including fiancee, partner and marriage visa applications.

These fee changes are in direct response to the review conducted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding consular and visa services, with a general consensus reached that those that use the service should be covering the associated costs. Foreign Office Minister Gillian Merron explained, “It is right that those who benefit from consular services should meet the cost of them, rather than the UK taxpayer. The new fees represent the full economic cost of what we do, and will ensure that British missions continue to provide a high standard of service to consular customers.”

more details at marriagevisahelp.com

US immigration: update on emotional hearing for proposed UAFA bill

June 25th, 2009
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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.

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Changes to Knowledge of Life Requirement for UK Settlement Applications

June 11th, 2009
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The Knowledge of Life test for those visa applicants of all categories, including UK marriage visas and partner visa applications, has just got a little bit stricter.

While the test itself is, in many ways, a continuous work of changes and amendments in response to the changing face of life in the UK, an announcement made on 19th March 2009 has highlighted the necessity for UK visa applicants of all categories to pass the Knowledge of Life test before settlement can be granted.

This is a core change to the current visa application process because, prior to this announcement which came into affect on 31st March 2009, some UK settlement visa applications that met all the relevant requirements except the Knowledge of Life test were able to be automatically considered for limited leave to remain to be granted in the same category, with the difference in monetary fees being refunded.

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Current UK fiancée and spouse visa approval times

June 11th, 2009
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One of the most frequently asked questions our clients ask about the UK settlement visa application process is “How long does it typically take to obtain a visa?” We are pleased to provide you with the most up-to-date information on the current processing times. The table shown below represents cases that have been approved within the last two months.

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Changes to the UKBA procedures for those applying under European law

June 10th, 2009
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euOn 1st June 2009, the UK Border Agency brought an important change into effect regarding the processing of a range of visa-related applications.

The core change is that applications for registration certificates, residence cards, family member residence stamps and confirmation of permanent residence in the United Kingdome by European nationals and their families will now be checked for accurate completion as soon as they are received by the UK Border Agency.

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Relocation of the DIAC processing centre to affect spouse visa applications

June 10th, 2009
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australiaThe 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.

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