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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Originally posted from Speeding Up Compulsory ID Cards for Foreign Nationals

Two important changes to the New Zealand partner visa application process have come into effect since the beginning of August 2009.

The first change relates to the fees for family class applications, including marriage visa and de facto partner visa applications, lodged outside New Zealand from the 17th August onwards. It is important to note that those applications received after the 17th August with the old fee will not be accepted. This change is as a result of the significant currency changes over the past few months and, as such, does not relate to applications made within New Zealand and paid for in New Zealand dollars.

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Originally posted from New fees and health screening changes to New Zealand visa applications

A stricter marriage visa interview has been introduced by the Australian Immigration department to deal with the increase in sham marriages and civil partnerships.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship Bona Fides Unit is dedicated to assessing the genuine and on-going nature of marriages, de facto relationships and civil partnerships for those people applying for Australian partner and spouse visas.

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Originally posted from Tighter personal interviews help root out sham Australian marriage visa applications

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.

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Originally posted from Relocation of the DIAC processing centre to affect spouse visa applications

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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Originally posted from US immigration: update on emotional hearing for proposed UAFA bill

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.

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Originally posted from Contentious ‘Widow’s Penalty’ Frozen for at Least Two Years

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 [...]

Originally posted from New stream for Nova Scotia family visa applicants

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 [...]

Originally posted from Tightening of the Australian sponsorship requirements for partners

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 [...]

Originally posted from Additional checks strengthen dependant sponsorship safety in Australia

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 [...]

Originally posted from Four States Help Promote the Potential End of the ‘Widow Penalty’

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 [...]

Originally posted from Current UK fiancée and spouse visa processing times

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 [...]

Originally posted from American wins fight to remain in the UK

News updates: http://www.marriagevisahelp.com/ # Powered by Twitter Tools

Originally posted from Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-14

The visa application fees for offshore prospective marriage (fiancée) visa and temporary marriage and de facto partner visa will increase from previous AUD$1,705 to $1,735.  read more at marriage visa help

Originally posted from Partner visa fee increased in Australia

JCWI Voices UK Language Test Concerns (Date: 01.12.2010)
Almost as soon as the new English language test came into force on 29th November there have been criticisms of the scheme.
The most vocal organisation is the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigration (JCWI), whose concerns regarding the fairness of the new test are gaining extensive publicity. The JCWI is calling for people to contact their local MPs in order to help publicise what it sees as a series of unfair and unequal requirements arising from the test.
Read more about JCWI Voices UK Language Test Concerns

UK Marriage Visa Fee Increase (Date: 22.11.2010)
Beginning 22 November 2010, processing fees for the UK settlement visas most often applied for by fiance(e)s, partners and spouses of British Citizens and lawful permanent residents will increase from current £644 to £750 or the equivalent in foreign currencies.
Read more UK Marriage Visa Fee Increase

Information Regarding the New English Language Test (Date: 19.11.2010)
Following the announcement by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) on 26th July 2010, the new English language test is set to come into force on 29th November 2010.
Read more Information Regarding the New English Language Test

Originally posted from Latest news from Marriagevisahelp.com