News: 2008

03.12.2008 - UK Home Office starts issuing biometric identity cards
Effective 25th November 2008, the UK Home Office started issuing biometric identity cards for foreign nationals.
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01.12.2008 - Further clarification regarding new UK marriage visa rules
Important Rules have come into effect in the last week of November, some of which are likely to have significant impact on certain groups of settlement visa holders regarding UK immigration.
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28.11.2008 - Important ruling affecting EEA family permit applications
A recent update on the July 2008 Metock parliamentary ruling is widely considered to be a potential minefield for some areas of the UK marriage visa application process.
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05.11.2008 - Changes to the marriage visa application age
November 2008 has seen announcements from the British Government that represent some of the biggest changes in the immigration and border security department for over 45 years.
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25.10.2008 - UK settlement visa backlog caused by major technical problems
The UK Boarder Agency advises that due to major technical problems occurred on October 9, 2008 some fiancee and marriage visa applicants who submitted their settlement applications online may be subject to processing delays.
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27.08.2008 - Fiancee and Marriage Visa Processing Delays in Australia
The British High Commission in Australia advises visa applicants that, due to a tremendous increase in the number of applications filed over the past few months, average processing times for certain application types may become longer.
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24.07.2008 - UK marriage visa age raised from 18 to 21
The last week of July 2008 has seen an important development in the Government's commitment to stamping out forced marriages, with a five point plan to significantly strengthen the safeguards against them.
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17.07.2008 - Leave to enter for spouses - clarification
Some recent announcements relating to the leave to enter for spouses may have caused some confusion amongst holders of two-year spousal and partner visas.
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17.06.2008 - Australian fiancee, partner and marriage visa fee increase
The impending fee increases applicable to a number of Australian visa classes have recently been announced by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
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16.06.2008 - Biometrics for FLR(M) applicants in the UK
It was announced on 13th June 2008 by the Home Office UK Border Agency that there would be some additional changes to the application process. These changes relate to the application forms for those applying to extend their immigration status based on a marital or de facto relationship with a British citizen or lawful permanent resident, including dependants, and relate to biometric information.
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01.06.2008 - Changes in UK Settlement Visa Rules
Changes in the rules of UK Settlement Visas were addressed recently by the Minister for Borders and Immigration, Liam Byrne. Following the updates put in place from April 1st 2008 onwards, the minister was able to clarify a few points that were raised.
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15.05.2008 - Changes in UK marriage and partner visa rules affecting overstayers
A recent announcement by the Minister for Borders and Immigration, Mr Liam Byrne, will bring a fairer, simplified approach to the issues surrounding husband or wife UK visas, as addressed in DP3/96 and DP2/93, resulting in the withdrawal of these enforcement-related marriage policy guidances.
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14.04.2008 - Changes to UK Settlement Visa Processing in Tel Aviv, Israel
In a move meant to positively address the steadily increasing global demand for UK immigrant visas, the British Embassy in Israel has instituted changes meant to vastly improve the entire settlement visa application process. The new rules became effective as of March 2008 and will allow more effective responses to the surge in demand for all UK settlement visas as well as all non-settlement visas.
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01.04.2008 - Changes in UK Immigration Rules Affecting Settlement Visas
Making an application for a UK settlement visa to bring a foreign fiancee, partner or spouse to the UK has become more complicated. Applicants who previously violated UK immigration rules are now subject to very strict penalties. The changes in immigration Rules eliminate the discretion of individual clearance officers, presenting instead a hard-line, one size fits all, environment.
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01.04.2008 - UK Family Immigration Settlement Fees Go Up
As of the first of April 2008, there are some changes for any one seeking to obtain a settlement visa granting their spouse, de facto partner or fiancee rights to reside in the UK permanently. The price for UK settlement application fees has been raised, from GBP500 to GBP515. This fee increase affects all UK fiancee visas, as well as marriage and partner visas. EEA family permit applications are still processed at no cost.
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25.03.2008 - New Phone System for K-1 fiancee visas from US Embassy in Manila
Among all of the world's nations, one of the largest groups currently seeking immigration to the US is Filipinos. Apparently those numbers are causing some challenges for people trying to set Embassy appointments for the final stages of the K-1 fiancee visa application process.
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03.03.2008 - Australia to Introduce Biometric Scheme
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in Australia is leading the way for many countries and adding biometrics to the way they track and process immigrants and process visa applications. These new regulations and technologies will likely affect anyone wishing to migrate to Australia including those who seeking prospective marriage visa, partner, wife and husband visas as well as other types of family visas for Australia.
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07.02.2008 - UK Home Office May Raise Immigration Fees to Pay for Border Security
The UK Home Office announced at the end of January that they are initiating a major "shake-up" of the country's immigration system that will allow Britain to make the most of the influx of immigrant talent whilst preventing abuses to the immigration system.
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27.01.2008 - Citizenship and Immigration Canada Update Spousal Visa Processing Time
Individuals wishing to immigrate to Canada or those who want to bring family to Canada may discover that depending upon where you are in the world can have a huge impact on the amount of time it takes for the immigration process to either approve or deny your application.
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