New Citizenship Act allowing revocation of Canadian citizenship takes effect

The Federal government says it now has the power to revoke the citizenship of some Canadians convicted of terrorism, treason or espionage.

A controversial new law, first introduced last June, went into effect on Friday.

• New citizenship rules target fraud, foreign terrorism

The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration says there are several serious crimes that could result in dual citizens losing their Canadian status.

The ministry says it would revoke citizenship for anyone found guilty of terrorism, treason and high treason, and spying for a foreign government.

The rules would also apply to dual citizens who take up arms against Canada by fighting in a foreign army or joining an international terrorist organization.

The new law has met with strong public criticism, and two Ontario lawyers have already launched a court case arguing it is unconstitutional.

• Immigration bill facing challenge by human rights advocates

Immigration Minister Chris Alexander argued the new rules are meant to confront what he described as the "ever-evolving threat of jihadi terrorism."

Case of jailed Al Jazeera journalist highlights risks of new law

"Our government knows that there is no higher purpose for any government than to ensure the safety and security of its citizens and we have never been afraid to call jihadi terrorism exactly what it is," Alexander said Friday at an event in Toronto.

He said the changes to the Citizenship Act will ensure that "those who wish to do us harm will not be able to exploit their Canadian citizenship to endanger Canadians or our free and democratic way of life."

Critics have expressed concerns about the way in which the new law could be applied to certain high-profile cases.

When they were first announced, the official opposition New Democrats extracted a promise from the government that the new rules would not be used to target Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy, who was then a dual citizen.

Fahmy was convicted of supporting a terrorist group in a widely-denounced trial held in Egypt and was originally sentenced to seven years. The Al Jazeera television producer later gave up his Egyptian citizenship in an unsuccessful bid to be deported back to Canada and is currently undergoing a new trial on terrorism charges.

In a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair argued that Fahmy's case highlighted the risks inherent in the new legislation.

In October, Toronto-based lawyers Paul Slansky and Rocco Galati launched a constitutional court challenge against the new law. Federal Court Judge Donald Rennie dismissed the case earlier this year.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/new-citizenship-act-allowing-revocation-of-canadian-citizenship-takes-effect-1.3093333

13 companies barred from applying for H-1B visa

Like past two years, this year too US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency that processes H-1B applications, reached the cap for H-1B work visas for 2016 within the first five days.

The huge number of applications show the massive demand for these visas. But it's increasingly getting tougher to get a work visa each year. For, these visas are often blamed for rising unemployment in the US.

Past many years have also seen bills being introduced in the US that attempt to penalise -- in some way or the other -- the companies using these visas.

There has also been a rise in the rejection rate of H-1B visa applications filed by companies. Below is the list of companies that have been debarred/disqualified from applying for H-1B visa.

1. Advanced Professional Marketing Inc

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

 Address: 229 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010

Employer willful violator: Yes

Debarment period: 8/1/2014 to 7/31/2015

2. Amreli Technology Solutions LLC

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address: 17530 NE Union Hill Rd. Redmond, WA 98052

Employer willful violator: Yes

Debarment period: 1/31/2014 to 1/30/2016

3. ASAP America, LLC d/b/a ASAP America

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address: 1501 US Highway 441

 

Employer willful violator: Yes

Debarment period: 7/31/2013 to 7/30/2015

4. digiBlitz Technologies Pvt Ltd

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address: 3976 University Drive Suite 350Fairfax, VA 20300

Employer willful violator: NO

Debarment period: 10/1/2014 to 9/30/2015

5. DTP, LLC d/b/a Digital Transaction Processing

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address: 16000 Christensen Road, Suite 130, Seattle, WA 98188

Employer willful violator: YES

Debarment period: 12/10/2013 to 12/9/2015

6. Gunderson Sweetwater

June 01,2015

 

 

Address: 8410 W. Thomas Road, Bldg. 4, Suite 138, Phoenix, AZ 85037

Employer willful violator: YES

Debarment period: 10/1/2014 to 9/30/2016

7. Jai Mataji, LLC

June 01,2015

Address: 1206 Piedmount Hwy., Cedartown, GA 30125

Employer willful violator: YES

Debarment period: 10/29/2013 to 10/28/2015

8. Life Nutritionales LLC

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address: 1501 US Highway 441, North, Suite 1706, The Villages, FL 32159

Employer willful violator: YES

Debarment period: 7/31/2013 to 7/30/2015

9. Marathon Health Care Corporation

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address: 443 Winthrop Street, Basement, Unit 4B Brooklyn, NY 11203

Employer willful violator: NO

Debarment period: 9/1/2014 to 6/31/2015

10. RMJM Group Inc

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address: 132 W. 31st Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10001

Employer willful violator: YES

Debarment period: 10/1/2014 to 9/30/2016

11. Rudell & Associates, Inc

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

Address: 11-11 40th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101

Employer willful violator: YES

Debarment period: 10/29/2013 to 10/28/2015

12. Supreme Tech Solutions, LLC (Krios Technology Group LLC)

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address: 8306-B Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, VA 22182

Employer willful violator: YES

Debarment period: 12/31/2013 to 12/30/2015

13. Xcel Solutions Corp

June 01,2015

 

 

 

 

 

Address: 254 Route 34, Oakdale Plaza #3, Matawan, New Jersey 07747

Employer willful violator: YES

Debarment period: 10/1/2014 to 9/30/2016


Source: US Department of Labor website

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/slideshow/13-companies-barred-from-applying-for-h-1b-visa/itslideshowviewall/47497353.cms

Indian child denied SA visa

Cape Town - A group of tourists from India became the first reported casualties of the new unabridged birth certificate requirements, Western Cape MEC for Economic Opportunities Alan Winde said on Monday.

“I received the correspondence from an India-based tour operator on Friday, who said that a group of 45 people are likely to cancel their trip because one of the children travelling in the party had not been granted a visa,” Winde said in a statement.

The Indian consulate had raised concern because in their country, the details of both parents were endorsed in a child’s passport, which Winde said rendered the passport as “an equivalent document” to an unabridged birth certificate.

“The tour operator stated that all its tour groups spend nine nights in the Western Cape. Research by the tourist industry indicated that the average spend per international tourist is around R5 000; hence the visa refusal may cost the Western Cape economy well over R200 000.

“There are more than 200 000 people employed in formal jobs in the tourism sector in the Western Cape, these jobs are now under serious threat”, Winde said.

He added that the Western Cape Government’s Red Tape Reduction Unit was continuing its research into the impact of the visa regulations.

“We are examining the tourist arrivals information over a three-year period. We will analyse the data in conjunction with incidents such as the implementation of the new visa regulations in May last year, Ebola and other significant events to determine how they have impacted international travel,” said Winde.

“The provincial government remains committed in its fight to ensure that the country’s immigration regime does not damage the economy and cause job losses through unnecessarily onerous requirements.”

These findings will be forwarded to the office of Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba. Winde called on national government to provide clarity on the status of the visa regulations review.

Winde said: “On Friday, Minister Jeff Radebe reiterated President Jacob Zuma’s statement that a review of the regulations would be taking place, but to date no such process has been initiated. We need clarity on whether and when this review will be going ahead.” 

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/indian-child-denied-sa-visa-1.1866160#.VWzRx0ahooI

Passport exit immigration checks now in force at UK borders and ports

Passport exit immigration checks now in force at UK borders and ports:
A new scheme is being phased in at UK border crossings, so that UK immigration can collect data on all passengers leaving the country. The information is obtained by staff working for airlines, ferry companies, etc who record details of every traveller leaving on a commercial flight, or by sea or by rail. The data collected is then passed on to the Home Office.


A new scheme is being phased in at UK border crossings, so that UK immigration can collect data on all passengers leaving the country. The information is obtained by staff working for airlines, ferry companies, etc who record details of every traveller leaving on a commercial flight, or by sea or by rail. The data collected is then passed on to the Home Office.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The government wants the checks to identify individuals who are in the UK illegally. This means that passport and travel details will be transmitted to the Home Office.

The information will then be collated and added to Home Office data, where it can be accessed if the government needs it. All data will be processed in line with the Data Protection Act 1998, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the common law duty of confidentiality."
Exit checks part of increased UK Immigration enforcement

The government says it has launched the scheme under the 2014 Immigration Act, mainly to monitor immigration and gather data. It's also in place they say to boost national security; ministers say that it enables police and spies to track the activity of known criminals and terrorists across the world.

Security and UK Immigration Minister, James Brokenshire said: "It is important that we have an immigration system that is fair, tackles illegal immigration and cracks down on those who attempt to cheat the system by remaining in the country when they have no right to do so. Exit checks will give us crucial information that confirms a person's exit from the UK."

In an interview with BBC breakfast, former Independent Chief Inspector of UK Borders and Immigration, John Vine, said: "It will allow the government, for the first time in a long time, to obtain information about who is left in Britain."

Up until recently it's not been possible for the government to know who's overstayed their visa and who's remained in the country, and they've not known who's here and who's left."

Mr Vine when Chief Inspector for Immigration was responsible for producing reports which caused a considerable amount of embarrassment to the Home Office and the Government. Many have suggested that he resigned from his position because of disagreements with the Government.
Ferry and Channel Tunnel passengers affected the most

Those travelling by ferry or the Channel Tunnel from Dover will be affected most by the new checks as they have to wait to have their passports scanned before continuing on their journey. Airports will be least affected because airlines will provide information from travel documents in advance, so that hopefully passengers will not notice any increased delay due to the new system of checks.

School coach parties made up of British or European children below the age of 16 will be exempt from the checks. For people travelling between Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man an alternative system will be put in place.

Alternative arrangements will also be put in place for travellers journeying on small non-scheduled flights or using non-commercial pleasure boats.
Phased introduction of new UK Immigration Exit Check System

For the first month, to minimise disruption, only 25% of passport holders will have their details fully verified in order to ensure they are genuine. After one month, verification checks will rise to 50% and by mid-June it is intended that 100% of those travelling out of the UK will be checked.

Eurotunnel, which is responsible for operating and maintaining the Channel Tunnel, said 100% of travellers would come under the new verification checks system immediately; they feel they are ready to do this having already spent £2.5 million on new systems, and on employing 50 new staff.
UK borders will come to a standstill

John Keefe, Eurotunnel's Public Affairs Directors, warned that UK borders will grind to a halt in the near future because traveller numbers will grow.

He said: "We'll see a 20-25% rise in the number of travellers using the Eurotunnel over the next five years, and a 30% rise in truck traffic. However, the Government's approach to managing the borders will bring them to a standstill - we need smarter technology."

Tier 2 Visa Changes and other UK immigration changes from 6 April

Tier 2 Visa Changes and other UK immigration changes from 6 April;
Major UK immigration changes took effect on 6 April 2015 with the Tier 2 visa category set for substantial changes. The most significant change is the introduction of an NHS surcharge for most UK visa applicants.

New NHS Health Surcharge and other Application fees

For concise and recent immigration information watch our news.
Major UK immigration changes took effect on 6 April 2015 with the Tier 2 visa category set for substantial changes. The most significant change is the introduction of an NHS surcharge for most UK visa applicants.
New NHS Health Surcharge and other Application fees

From 6 April 2015 UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) increased visa application fees across the board. The Government fees for Tier 2 visa and sponsorship applications can be accessed here.
From April 6 there will also be an NHS surcharge applicable to immigrants in many visa categories. Non-EEA migrants entering the UK for a period over six months and those currently in the country seeking to extend their stay will be subjected to the new NHS surcharge scheme.
The surcharge is a £200 annual fee per person (£150 for students) and the amount is payable when lodging an application.

There are a number of exemptions from the NHS health surcharge. Those that do not have to pay the surcharge include nationals of the EU and nationals of Australia and New Zealand, migrants applying under the Tier 2 intra company transfer category and those applying for indefinite leave to remain.
Visitors, inclusive of those coming to Britain with a business visit visa visiting for a period of six months or less will also be exempt from the surcharge. However, they would be required to pay 150% of the cost of any treatment received from the NHS.

Tier 2 Visa Minimum salary thresholds
The salary threshold is increased annually and thresholds relating to individual occupations, as outlined in the Codes of Practice, have also increased in the majority of cases. The key revised income thresholds are as follows:
Minimum salary threshold for all Tier 2 General employees increased from £20,500 to £20,800. In practice many occupations will have a higher salary threshold anyway.
Minimum salary threshold for those whose jobs that are exempt from being advertised on Jobcentre plus will increase from £71,600 to £72,500
High earner threshold changed from £153,500 to £155,300
For Tier 2 ICT employees whose jobs who come under Short Term Staff, Skills Transfer or Graduate Training category the minimum salary threshold was increased from £24,500 to £24,800
For Tier 2 ICT employees who come under the "Long Term Staff" category the minimum salary threshold increased from £41,000 to £41,500
Tier 2 Visa Restricted Certificate of Sponsorship Changes
If you are applying to employ someone from abroad you need to apply for what is called a Restricted certificate of sponsorship (RCos) as part of the Tier 2 visa application. If you do not currently have any Restricted Cos you will need to apply for these and wait for the monthly allocation. Every application is scored in accordance with the UK's Points Based System.
Restricted certificates are issued to:
Tier 2 (General) workers who are currently abroad and will have a salary less than £153,500 per year
The family members (dependants) of someone in the UK who was last granted a Tier 4 visa
Application of restricted certificates must be done through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). You will be given access to this if you are a company that has been granted a Tier 2 sponsorship licence.
Sponsors should be clear that any new Tier 2 visa applications will be assessed based on any changes to the immigration rules that came into effect on April 6. Sponsors will need to submit RCoS applications bearing in mind the new minimum salary thresholds and the new Codes of Practice.
Tier 2 Cooling-off period
Prior to the changes, a foreigner arriving in Britain on a Tier 2 Visa and who either leaves the country upon completion of an assignment or whose visa expires without the possibility of renewal, would have to wait 12 months to apply for a new Tier 2 Visa, known as the 'cooling-off period'.
However, new legislation from April 6 means greater flexibility for UK businesses; Companies are permitted to bring in a foreign national more than once per year on short assignments of less than three months, without being required to come under the 12-month cooling-off period.
UK Shortage occupation list
Occupations included on the shortage occupation list are exempt from the Resident Labour Market Test.
One shortage occupation list covers the whole of the UK, plus Scotland, with the addition of paramedics applied to the UK list. Changes to these lists, as specified by gov.uk, include:
Changes to graduate occupations in the health sector for both the UK and Scotland list, including the addition of paramedics to the UK list;
Changes to the existing entry on the UK list for overhead lines workers in the energy industry; and
The re-classification of some existing entries.

 

UAE, the first Arab country without visa in the Schengen area

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UAE citizens can now travel in 34 European countries, including the Schengen area, without a visa after the states became the first in the Arab world to strike such a deal with European governments.

The visa exemption applies for no more ‘than 90 days over a period of six months.
European citizens traveling to the UAE will have reciprocal rights.
Israel is the only other Middle East country to qualify for such a scheme.
The proposal to grant visa-free Schengen UAE had been approved by the European Parliament last June with 523 of 577 votes.

Source: http://www.euronews.com/2015/05/07/uae-the-first-arab-country-without-visa-in-the-schengen-area/

'Grateful' PM Modi Grants Visa Power to Canada

PM Narendra Modi with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

 Toronto:  Addressing a large audience in Toronto on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Canadians visiting India would get a 10-year visa.

"You probably face problems but won't speak about it. We have decided...you will now get Indian visas for 10 years," PM Modi said to a 8,000-strong gathering of the Indian diaspora at the Ricoh Coliseum.

"Agar Jan-Man badal raha hai, toh bharosa bhi hona chahiye (If the ethos is changing, then there should also be trust)," he said to loud cheers.

 

In a one-hour speech punctuated with applause and chants of "Modi, Modi" from the audience, the prime minister also recalled that at a time he was denied a visa by the US and the UK - over the 2002 riots on his watch in Gujarat, the state he ruled for 14 years - it was Canada that granted him a visa in 2006.

"That is why I am very, very grateful to Canada," he said.

He said India's visa policy would support greater engagement and people-to-people contacts between India and Canada.

PM Modi is the first prime minister on a bilateral visit to Canada in 42 years.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/grateful-pm-modi-grants-visa-power-to-canada-755341

The United States has depleted its annual supply of EB-5 immigrant investor visas for the second year in a row after a huge wave of applications from rich Chinese.

The State Department has announced that starting in May, no more spots will be available to Chinese for the rest of the U.S. government's fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

Known as EB-5, the immigration program hands out green cards to foreigners who invest at least $500,000 and create 10 jobs in the U.S. The program, which caps the number of visas issued annually at 10,000, hit its annual limit for the first time last August.

This year, the program has reached the quota even earlier, reflecting the massive jump in demand among wealthy Chinese to move to the U.S., especially after Canada ended a similar program in 2014.

The waiting line now for an EB-5 visa is estimated to stretch two to three years, according to law firm Greenberg Traurig.

There are 13,000 pending applications, and the long queue is of particular concern for investors hoping to secure green cards for their children, said immigration lawyer Bernard Wolfsdorf of Wolfsdorf Rosenthal. Kids can only get dependent visas through an investor parent if they're 21 years or younger at the time of application approval.

"Many apply so they can give their college kids a chance to attend top U.S. colleges," said Wolfsdorf. "Some parents who filed too close to the child's 21st birthday will age out."

Related: Rich Chinese overwhelm U.S. visa program

In 2014, Chinese nationals accounted for 90% of EB-5 visas issued, compared to just 13% in 2004, according to government data compiled by CNNMoney. That translated to 8,308 EB-5 visas for Chinese nationals last year, a huge surge from a decade ago, when only 16 visas were granted to Chinese.

For rich Chinese, a green card is a ticket out of China -- a way to escape heavy pollution or gain access to improved education options. The broad anti-corruption campaign that President Xi Jinping has waged has also rattled wealthy Chinese.

Advocates say immigrant investors have provided an important alternative source of financing in the U.S., especially after the financial crisis, pouring billions of dollars into new jobs and major projects such as Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards real estate development. 

On top of that, wealthy immigrants contribute to their neighborhood economy by purchasing homes, buying cars and paying for their children's education.

But still, there are plenty of critics. Some say the program is a relatively cheap way for the global elite to buy citizenship. Others say the scheme has too much red tape, and believe the program is mismanaged to the point of fraud.

The Department of Justice has accused at least one Chinese couple of fraudulently obtaining visas through the EB-5 program.

In March, the U.S. government arrested Shilan Zhao, the ex-wife of a former Chinese official, on charges of immigration fraud and money laundering. The Department of Justice also claimed that the couple bought property in the U.S. with money laundered through a massive grain storage facility in China, where Qiao served as director for 13 years.

As of March 27, Qiao remained at large, according to the Justice Department.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/15/news/economy/china-us-visa-eb5-immigrant-investor/

USCIS Completes the H-1B Cap Random Selection Process for FY 2016

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on April 7, 2015 that it has received enough H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap of 65,000 visas for fiscal year (FY) 2016. USCIS has also received more than the limit of 20,000 H-1B petitions filed under the advanced degree exemption, also known as the masters cap.  
USCIS received nearly 233,000 H-1B petitions during the filing period, which began April 1, including petitions filed for the advanced degree exemption. On April 13, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process, or lottery, to select enough petitions to meet the 65,000 general-category cap and the 20,000 cap under the advanced degree exemption. USCIS will reject and return all unselected petitions with their filing fees, unless the petition is found to be a duplicate filing.
The agency conducted the selection process for the advanced degree exemption first. All unselected advanced degree petitions then became part of the random selection process for the 65,000 limit.
As announced on March 12, 2015, USCIS will begin premium processing for H-1B cap cases no later than May 11, 2015.
USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise exempt from the cap. Petitions filed on behalf of current H-1B workers who have been counted previously against the cap will also not be counted towards the congressionally mandated FY 2016 H-1B cap. USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions filed to:

• Extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the United States;
• Change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers;
• Allow current H-1B workers to change employers; and
• Allow current H-1B workers to work concurrently in a second H-1B position.

U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge in fields such as science, engineering, and computer programming.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

Source: http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-completes-h-1b-cap-random-selection-process-fy-2016

US to conduct lottery system for H1-B visas after hitting cap in 5 days

USCIS will now use the computer-generated process, also known as the lottery, to randomly select the petitions needed to meet the caps of 65,000 visas for the general category and 20,000 for the advanced degree exemption.

The agency will first randomly select petitions for 20,000 visas allocated to foreign nationals with advanced degrees from US universities.

All unselected advanced degree petitions will then become part of the random selection process for the 65,000 general li ..

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UK Tier 4 and Tier 2 Visa Sponsorship Licence suspended for Bucks

Buckinghamshire New University's Tier 4 sponsorship licence has been suspended, preventing them from accepting new admissions of overseas students from outside the EU; Students sponsored by the University exceeded the visa refusal rate permitted by UK Immigration. In addition the Tier 2 sponsorship licence to enable the University to employ professional level workers from outside the EU was also suspended.

Bucks failed to meet Home Office Tier 4 student visa refusal rate target

Bucks University had to meet the previous UK Immigration target for student visa refusals of 20 percent or less. Bucks New University missed hitting the target by just 1.16 percentage points, the equivalent of three students. It is even more difficult now. In November 2014, tougher requirements were implemented with the acceptable Home Office refusal rate threshold being reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent.

Suspension of both Tier 4 and Tier 2 Sponsorship Licences

The suspension of Bucks New Univiversity's Tier 4 and Tier 2 sponsorship prevents the University from sponsoring new students and employees from outside the EU. Buckinghamshire New University have 20 days to appeal the suspension by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). However, should the university fail in persuading the Home Office that they should keep their licence, their Tier 4 sponsorship licence will be revoked.

Staff and student wellbeing

Bucks New University's vice-chancellor, Rebecca Bunting, said: "Our main concern is the welfare and wellbeing of staff and students. We're working continuously, along with all other UK universities, to improve our systems and processes in order to comply with a challenging set of sponsorship rules and our senior management team will be cooperating fully with UKVI."
She added: "We have been given time to check our information against UKVI's data and that work has commenced."

Criticism of Tier 4 Sponsorship Licence Requirements

The new lower threshold for visa refusals at ten percent has attracted criticism because, while universities issue Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies to non-EU students accepted by the University, which are subsequently used for the visa application, universities have no real control over visa refusal rates.
Errors on student documentation and Home Office judgements in credibility interviews are two of the decisive factors, among many, which can result in rejection.
A spokeswoman for the Home Office stated: "Universities must ensure they have robust compliance systems in place or risk losing their privilege to sponsor foreign students.
All institutions holding a Tier 4 sponsor licence must pass an annual assessment in order to retain the ability to recruit international students. Bucks New University failed to pass this assessment so we have suspended its licence."

Glyndwr University

Buckinghamshire New University is not the only University that has failed to meet UKVI requirements, Glyndwr University currently faces continuing restrictions on its licence to recruit foreign students from outside the EU amid allegations that hundreds of its students held 'invalid' or 'suspect' English language qualifications.
Two other universities that had their sponsorship licences suspended are the University of Bedfordshire and the University of West London, which had their licences suspended for a time in June 2014. The good news is that these Universities have now been informed that they can now continue to sponsor overseas students.

Problems with decision making at Home Office and organisation sponsored by Home Office

Comments by Sanwar Ali, Editor, workpermit.com News

With the General Election fast approaching it is surely important for us to look at the track record of the Home Office and an organisation sponsored by the Home Office when it comes to decision making. We are extremely concerned about the secretive nature of decision making at the above organisations.
Why was both the Tier 4 and Tier 2 sponsorship licences suspended for Bucks New University? Did suspension of the Tier 4 licence affect the Tier 2 sponsorship licence? If so why?
Our investigations have revealed that far too often what happens is that a Government organisation or quasi non-Governmental organisation makes a decision in one area (say in the case of the Home Office suspending a sponsorship licence) but then decides to take further action where there is no real reason to do so, and in a number of cases where there is no jurisdiction to do so. This is a serious abuse of State power and leads to shocking injustices occurring. Whatever happens after the General Election on 9 May 2015 it is hoped that the new Government will not allow this to happen in future.
Written by Daniel Waldron and Sanwar Ali
Edited by Sanwar Ali

Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2015-04-01/uk-tier-4-and-tier-2-visa-sponsorship-licence-suspended-for-bucks

H1-B visa cap reached within 5 days

The U.S. on Tuesday said it has reached the cap for the H-1B work visas for 2016 within the first five days for the third consecutive year and will now conduct a lottery system to allocate the visas highly popular among IT professionals from countries like India.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it has reached the congressionally-mandated H-1B cap for fiscal year 2016, besides receiving more than the limit of 20,000 H-1B petitions filed under the U.S. advanced degree exemption.

USCIS will now use the computer-generated process to randomly select the petitions needed to meet the caps of 65,000 visas for the general category and 20,000 for the advanced degree exemption.

The agency will first randomly select petitions for 20,000 visas allocated to foreign nationals with advanced degrees from U.S. universities.

All unselected advanced degree petitions will then become part of the random selection process for the 65,000 general limit.

“Before running the lottery, USCIS will complete initial intake for all filings received during the filing period, which ended April 7. Due to the high number of petitions, USCIS is not yet able to announce the date it will conduct the random selection process,” it said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/h1b-visa-cap-reached-within-5-days/article7080647.ece

Visa granted for Newmarket man fighting deportation threat

Matthew and Brian Crane

A family has received some relief in its battle with the Home Office after a father was granted the right to stay in the UK until 2017.
Brian Crane, of Newmarket, was told a month ago that he would not be granted a visa for the UK and would be deported to Pennsylvania after he overstayed his time in the country.
The 53-year-old American, who lives with his wife Lorna, who is a British citizen, and his son, Matthew, had twice applied for a leave to remain visa for the UK.
But twice he was told he would not qualify because he had “accidentally overstayed” from 2012 until 2014.

Related content

• Newmarket family in battle with Home Office to stop American father being deported

After a battle with the Home Office and calling on local MP Matthew Hancock for help, last week, the family received some good news when Mr Crane received a visa through the post.
He told the News: “They have granted me a leave to remain visa.
“It is only valid until August 2017 and I will then have to submit more paper work, but until then the pressure is off.
“I was surprised because we got some of the same responses as last time saying I did not qualify.
“Then in the final paragraph they finally said I was being granted leave to remain.”
The new visa means that Mr Crane is free to seek work again in the UK. He had been forced to leave his job in a civilian role at RAF Lakenheath when he found out his visa had expired.
“This visa allows me to work, I just do not have access to public funds such as the Citizens’ Advice Bureau or Job Seekers’ Allowance if where I was working was to go bust,” he said.
“At the moment I’m hoping to find something a little closer to home in Newmarket.”
In an update, Matthew Crane said: “We received a piece of good news through the post – a signature required letter containing a residence card for my father.
"Whilst this is great news, knowing that he is allowed to stay and work until close to the end of 2017, it leaves many unanswered questions which we will be chasing up."
Mr Crane is hoping to find out whether this visa will mean he has to start his length of stay in the UK all over again so that he can eventually become a permanent citizen.
Matthew also hit out at the latest visa conditions, which are similar to Mr Crane's previous visa conditions.
He added: "There is still one matter that boggles my mind.
"They are happy for him to work, pay tax and national insurance, but when it comes to public funds they have denied him.
"Maybe one day our immigration system will get the repairing it desperately needs."

source:  http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Visa-granted-Newmarket-man-fighting-deportation/story-26112940-detail/story.html#ixzz3VIp2NCBX

Mumbai: Australia embassy clean bowls World Cup contest winner

Despite winning an all-paid-for trip to witness the ICC World Cup final at Melbourne on March 29, Jignesh Sanghrajka will watch the match from home. The Marine Lines resident and his travel partner brother won the tickets at an online contest but their visa applications were rejected citing insufficient funds as the reason.

Today, Jignesh Sanghrajka feels like somebody who won a jackpot, but misplaced the lottery ticket. Despite winning an all-paid-for trip to watch the ICC World Cup final in Melbourne on March 29, the 28-year-old might now be forced to watch the grand final from his couch at Mumbai.

Out of the world (cup): Jignesh Sanghrajka (right) was all set to visit his sister in Adelaide and watch the ICC World Cup final at Melbourne with his brother Mehul Sanghrajka (left). Pic / Atul Kamble
Jignesh and his older brother Mehul’s visas were rejected by the Australian embassy on ‘financial grounds’ as per a communication to them which sunday mid-day has a copy of. The winner was Jignesh, who was to take Mehul along with him on the trip.

Jignesh Sanghrajka (left) with his elder brother Mehul at thier residence in Princess Street. Pic/Atul Kamble
Forty-one-year-old Mehul is an investment consultant and insurance agent living in Kandivli, while Jignesh lives at Princess Street (Marine Lines). Jignesh, who recently joined a start-up company, was the winner of the Emirates Facebook competition which took place last month.
The contest was open to all those above 18. All they had to do was answer a question on the airline’s official Facebook page. The competition closed on February 16, Dubai time. Jignesh had to predict the winner of the February 15 match between India and Pakistan. Jignesh predicted an India win, which is what happened at the Adelaide Oval.
The winner was entitled to two economy-class return tickets to Melbourne, match tickets for the World Cup final, three nights’ hotel accommodation on a twin-sharing basis at a five star hotel. The rough estimate of the package would cost around R3 to 4 lakh per person.
Jignesh would have travelled outside Mumbai for the first time to watch a cricket match. “I was really excited when I won this contest. It is a dream for any cricket fan to travel to watch the World Cup final. Melbourne Cricket Ground (the venue for the final) is such a historic ground. I was looking forward to visit the MCG museum. But I am shattered now. After coming so close to realising my dream, I have missed out due to visa issues,” a dejected Jignesh said.
“I am crazy about cricket and football. I follow every match on TV and whenever there are cricket matches in Mumbai, I catch them live at the stadium,” he added.
On February 24, Jignesh was informed on his Facebook page that he had won the prize. “I first thought I may have won some merchandise because I often participate in online contests. So, I sent whatever details they had asked for,” said Jignesh. A couple of days later, Jignesh received an email from the public relations firm of Emirates confirming him as the winner of the contest. “I was thrilled.
I experienced my life’s biggest joy. I immediately informed my family and friends. I could nominate another person to travel with me, so I decided to take along my brother. Once we received the tickets (EK 501 Mumbai-Dubai and EK 406 Dubai-Melbourne) and hotel booking confirmation, we applied for Australian visas (on March 13),” explained Jignesh.
Jignesh requested the airlines to book their return tickets from Adelaide instead of Melbourne as they wanted to visit their sister for a couple of days. “Our return journey was slated to be on April 2 from Adelaide,” he said.
Along with all the relevant documents for visa process, Jignesh also got a supporting letter from the International Cricket Council (ICC). So far so good. Then came the shock. On March 18, Jignesh and Mehul received a letter from R Choudhry (Visa Officer, Department of Immigration and Border Protection) which stated: “Regarding your financial circumstances, I note that your income as per the income tax documents is not significantly high and therefore, I am not satisfied if such an income/occupation would constitute an incentive for you to return. Considering this, I am not satisfied that a genuine visit is intended.”
Mehul was shocked by the Australian consulate’s reply. “I have been paying nearly R50,000 as income tax since the last few years. We attached our bank statements and showed a minimum of R1 lakh in our savings account while applying for the visas. I also attached a valuation report of our two houses in Mumbai. We would also be carrying 1000 Australian dollars despite this being a fully-paid trip.”
“We also produced a letter by my sister who is staying in Adelaide for many years now. It is really hard to believe that despite all this, the Australian consulate does not believe we are genuine travellers,” said a livid Mehul.
A spokesperson from the Australian High Commission in a statement on Sunday said: "We're looking into it and will contact the applicants to see what can be done."

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-australia-embassy-clean-bowls-world-cup-contest-winner/16081180

Deportation could ruin newlywed couple’s ‘fairy tale’ - Newlywed fights ouster of husband over ‘minor’ infraction

Omar Lopez hopes to avert deportation to Spain to stay here with his wife, Tali, and Mila, her infant daughter.

Tali Lopez wants a happy ending to her “fairy tale” story.

But six months after marrying an old friend and settling in her native Buffalo, Lopez is fighting for her new husband.

Omar Lopez, a citizen of Spain visiting here on a visa waiver, was arrested after a traffic stop last month and has been held at the Federal Detention Center in Batavia ever since.

Lopez is battling her husband’s deportation – he could be forced to leave at any time – and plans to host a public rally at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Niagara Square to solicit support for him.

Friends and family say Lopez’s deportation is an overreaction to a relatively minor infraction. He overstayed his visa waiver by several months.

Even worse, they say, the government’s prosecution is tearing apart a family with deep roots in Buffalo. The family includes his infant stepdaughter, Mila, whom he plans to adopt, and dozens of relatives.

“He just wants to work and support his family,” said Julie Kruger, Lopez’s lawyer.

Kruger has appealed to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that detained Lopez, and hopes ICE will grant a stay that would allow him to remain in Buffalo.

Lopez’s case is the latest in a series of deportations across the country that immigration lawyers and other critics say indicates the Obama administration’s hypocritical approach.

The administration has publicly indicated it would focus deportation efforts on criminals and other high-risk detainees, not law-abiding visitors married to U.S. citizens.

If that’s the case, Kruger said, then why is Lopez still in custody?

“He is not an enforcement priority at all,” she said.

Lopez is here on a visa waiver program that allows visitors from certain countries to stay in the U.S. for 90 days. His deadline for leaving passed last May. He elected to stay and, according to his wife, had begun the process of applying for permanent resident status.

Tali Lopez says she and her husband met four years ago in Spain

She returned to the U.S. and he eventually followed. They decided to marry and live here.

Lopez says her husband also decided to seek permanent residency and hired an immigration consultant. It still took several months to complete the paperwork, she said, and before they could finish, he was pulled over for a traffic violation on Feb. 12.

Found to be driving without a license and in the country illegally, he was arrested and ordered detained in Batavia.

The final decision was made, not by an immigration judge, but by Michael T. Phillips, ICE’s field office director in Buffalo.

“As a visa overstay, his case is a priority under the agency’s current enforcement strategy, which focuses on individuals who have abused the visa or visa waiver programs,” said ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls.

Officials also noted that, under the visa waiver program, Lopez was subject to mandatory detention.

Tali Lopez says she has written two letters to Phillips since her husband was sent to Batavia, and he shows no signs of altering his decision.

Still, she holds out hope that something will change his mind. “I want him to consider that we are, one, a family, two-thirds of which is American,” she said of her herself and Mila. “We want, above all, to be together and to be in this country. It’s my country. I don’t want to have to leave it.”

Lopez says she and Mila will, if necessary, follow her husband back to Spain. She also says she feels like she’s the one being forced to leave.

“I don’t want to be deported,” she said. “I want to stay in the United States. I want to raise my family here.”

Source: http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/buffalo/deportation-could-ruin-newlywed-couples-fairy-tale-20150323

At 56%, Indians record highest US work visa rejection: Report

BENGALURU: Despite the growing bonhomie with the United States, India suffered by far the highest number of L-1B visa denials between 2012 and 2014.

As high as 56% of the L-1B visa petitions by Indians was rejected, compared with an average denial rate of 13% for all countries other than India. The data was released by the Virginia-based National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), a non-profit and non-partisan public policy research organization focused on trade, immigration and related issues. It's based on data obtained from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Despite the growing bonhomie with the United States, India suffered by far the highest number of L-1B visa denials between 2012 and 2014.

The data shows the denial rates for Chinese and Mexican nationals were less than half of India's - at 22% and 21%, respectively. British nationals followed at 16% and Japanese and German nationals at 15%.

L-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa enabling US employers to offer intra-company transfer of employees with specialized knowledge from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in America. 'US employers' in this case also include Indian companies with US subsidiaries. The biggest users of L-1 visas are Indian IT companies like TCS, Infosys and Wipro. Transferred employees can stay in the US for up to five years.

The total number of L-1B petitions filed by employees of Indian origin was 25,296 during 2012-14, while the number of denials was 14,104, a 56% denial rate.

"The data is shocking and needs to be taken up immediately at the government level. Unlike the H-1B visa, L-1 visas do not have a yearly limit. Given that India is globally known for its specialized knowledge pool, the US government should provide the reasons for such a high number of rejections from India, while streamlining and providing clear guidance on the application process," said Vikram Shroff, head of the HR Law practice at leading law firm Nishith Desai Associates.

Rejection rates have increased sharply since the 2007-08 global financial crisis and the resulting high unemployment rates in the US. For all countries, the average rejection rate was under 10% before 2008, but now stands at 35%. The Indian rejection rate has contributed significantly to this increase. What's surprising is that the rejection rates are rising even with the unemployment rate in the US dropping sharply.

NFAP says the high rate of denials and requests for evidence (made when an application/petition lacks required documentation/evidence) for L-1B petitions could have a negative impact on the US's ability to develop products and services that compete globally. "Over the past several years, the law governing L-1B petitions did not change, while the economy has become more global," said Blake Chisam, former chief counsel of the House Ethics Committee and a partner at law firm Fragomen.

In early 2012, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials had proposed new guidelines to review and update the definition for L-1B petitions. "The new proposed guidance never materialized and, based on reports from employers and attorneys, inconsistent decision-making, as well as high levels of denials and requests for evidence have continued," the report said.

Rakesh Prabhu, partner-immigration practice at ALMT Legal, feels that US authorities are trying to do a "balancing act" - trying to protect the interests of the American workforce but also providing some concession to foreign workers, such as the recent move to give work permits to their spouses. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/At-56-Indians-record-highest-US-work-visa-rejection-Report/articleshow/46640791.cms

New U.K. Student Visa Charges for Indians: What to Know

Bikes are chained to the railings in front of the Radcliffe Camera building on March 22, 2012 in Oxford University.

Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Indians studying in the United Kingdom will now have to pay a fee to cover possible treatment under the country’s National Health Service. The payment, announced Friday, is part of a broader push to recoup some of the cost to the British taxpayer of migrant healthcare.

Indian and other migrants from outside the European Economic Area who stay in the U.K. for more than six months will have to pay £200 ($295) a year when they apply for a visa starting April 6. Students will have to pay £150. Those already in the U.K. from outside the EEA will also have to pay the new surcharge if they extend their stay.

India is the largest exporter of students to the U.K. after China and had 19,750 of its citizens enrolled there in higher education in the academic year 2013-14, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency. But numbers have fallen sharply in recent years as visa rules have changed to make it more difficult for Indian students to work in the U.K. In 2009-10 for example, India had 38,500 students studying in U.K. universities, Hesa said.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2015/03/20/new-u-k-student-visa-charges-for-indians-what-to-know/

Changes to 457 visas announced

Tony Davey , CEO of The Davey Group, with Guilong Li, his leading hand boilermaker, surrounded by his other foreign workers who work under a 457 visa. Source: News Corp Australia

EMPLOYERS will still have to advertise jobs locally before hiring skilled workers from overseas.

The federal government has adopted most of the recommendations from a review of the 457 visa scheme including relaxing English language requirements.

According to a report in The Australian, integrity checks will be strengthened including an increased focus on employers who seek to exploit the program.

Assistant Immigration minister Michaelia Cash said there will be penalties imposed on businesses that accept payments in exchange for sponsoring visa holders.

“We will proactively prosecute and name and shame offenders exploiting overseas workers and misusing the program,” she told News Corp.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/changes-to-457-visas-announced/story-fnkgbb6w-1227267575963

Egypt scraps visas on arrival for British travellers

Thousands of Britons visiting Egypt will soon face the hassle of negotiating embassy bureaucracy, after authorities in the country announced the withdrawal of visas on arrival for those travelling outside an organised tour.

Under new rules, to be introduced from May 15 and laid out in a statement by the tourism ministry, "individual" travellers will have to pre-arrange their entry visa either by visiting the Egyptian Consulate in London or by making a postal application, which can take up to five days to process.

Full details of the new system – which may make a revival of Egypt's beleaguered tourism industry a more difficult proposition – have not yet been announced. It appears likely that the phrase "individual" traveller refers to all those visiting the country independently, rather than as part of a package tour. The cost is also to be established, but a tourist visa for British nationals applying in London is currently £20.

The Egyptian Consulate says that visa processing takes two working days for those who apply in person, and up to five for applications submitted by post.

The change will make travel more problematic for many. Independent travellers account for about 15-20 per cent of Egypt's tourists.
EasyJet had 393,000 seats available to the Egyptian cities of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh in 2014, indicating the country's popularity with those making their own arrangements. The Red Sea resorts are attractive destinations for Britons seeking winter sun, and divers enticed by the rich underwater life in the region. The airline said that it is currently working with the Egyptian and British authorities to understand the scope of the proposed visa changes.
 
^{Divers are attracted to Egypt's Red Sea resorts for the colourful underwater. Photo: AP}
The tighter entry restrictions are reportedly the result of security services needing more time to assess individual applications to visit Egypt, where civil unrest and political instability has been commonplace during the last four years. Security sources said that the changes were also intended to monitor visits by Western human rights advocates, who have criticised the Egyptian government’s harsh treatment of liberal activists.
Read more: Ancient Egyptian burial site may contain one million bodies
The tourism ministry believes that the decision will only have a “small effect” on the industry, still a significant contributor to the Egyptian economy despite the slump that has affected it since the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
Visitor numbers fell dramatically from 14.7 million in 2010 to around 10 million last year.
"The industry depends on the large groups brought in by tour operators”, a tourism ministry spokesperson said.
Khaled Ramy, Egypt’s new tourism minister, said last week that the country hopes to generate $20 billion in revenue from tourism by 2020 by attracting a total of 20 million visitors.
 
^{Egypt's attractions have been emptier than in the past because of fears over political instability. Photo: AP}
But the new regulations appear to counter Egypt’s intention to improve its image, and may make reviving the tourism sector more difficult.
Anthony Sattin, a Telegraph Travel contributor and expert on Egypt, said that independent tourists may well find the process of obtaining a visa longer. "I doubt Egyptian consulates are ready for the influx", he said, adding that, "it will certainly do nothing to attract the extra 10 million annual visitors that the new minister of tourism is currently chasing." He also pointed out that visas obtained in London are more expensive than those tourists can currently obtain on arrival, which cost USD$25 (£17).
A spokesperson for the Egyptian tourist office in London said that they had no information on the changes and were waiting for the official position from Cairo, expected early next week.
Read more: how well do you know Ancient Egypt?
While most Britons will currently make use of the visa on arrival system, applying for an Egyptian visa in advance is possible. It involves negotiating short opening hours and submitting a raft of documents. Potential visitors must provide two recent passport photographs along with the £20 fee, passport and a completed application form. Applicants only have a three-hour window on weekday mornings to submit their paperwork, and a 90-minute afternoon slot for collecting successfully processed visas. Those who apply in person must come back to collect their visa in person, as the Consulate will not send passports in the post.
Discover our great range of Egypt holidays and hotels with the Telegraph Travel Collection, including once in a lifetime trips along the river Nile.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africaandindianocean/egypt/11479913/Egypt-scraps-visas-on-arrival-for-British-travellers.html 

Call for overseas graduate work visa for Scotland

Students from outside Europe should be given special permission to stay and work in Scotland after their studies have finished, according to a report.

The Scottish government's Post-Study Work group said the work visa, which was abolished by the UK government in 2012, should be reintroduced.

A Home Office spokesman said the system had been open to "widespread abuse".

But the Post-Study Work group said there was "overwhelming" support for its re-introduction in Scotland.

The post-study work visa had allowed non-EU graduates to remain in the UK for two years.

Under the current rules, students from outside the EU are allowed to stay in Britain for four months at the end of their courses and if they get graduate jobs they can switch from student visas to work visas.

Graduate jobs

In December, Home Secretary Theresa May gave her backing to a plan that would require all foreign students to leave the country at the end of their courses.

Mrs May believes the current rules are being abused, with many students staying in the country illegally after their studies.

The plan put forward by the Conservatives would require anyone whose student visa expires to leave the country and re-apply if they want to continue their studies or take up graduate jobs.

But Scottish Europe and International Development Minister Humza Yousaf said the Post-Study Work group report showed there was a "clear indication that business and education in Scotland are equally keen to see the reintroduction of post-study work visas."

He added: "Immigration policy is currently too heavily influenced by the priorities of the south east of England, based on the values of the current UK government and driven by a desire to reduce the numbers of incoming migrants which does not recognise Scotland's needs and does not serve our economic or societal interests.

"Scotland's needs are different to those in the rest of the UK. Scotland has a large, established migrant community and the Scottish government welcomes the contribution new Scots are making to our economy and society."

Negative impact

Mr Yousaf said the post-study work visa would help Scotland attract and retain "world-class talent to fill vacancies which cannot be filled by resident workers".

He said the report made clear the negative impact on education institutions, communities and the economy since the scheme was closed in 2012.

The minister said: "We welcome the Smith Commission's view that the UK and Scottish governments should work together to explore a potential new post-study work scheme for Scotland and will make every effort to work with the UK government to ensure that such a route is re-established in Scotland."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The student immigration system we inherited was open to widespread abuse.

"In its place, we are building an immigration system that works in the national interest by attracting the brightest and the best to study and work in top universities and good jobs, not allowing bogus colleges to cheat the rules and letting graduates remain to drive pizza delivery vehicles.

"In fact, we are seeing record numbers of applications to our universities with figures up by almost 18% under this government - and our elite Russell Group institutions are leading the way, showing a 30% rise since this government came to power.

"Britain remains the second most popular destination in the world for international students behind only the US, and has seen significant growth from key countries including China and Malaysia."

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31998769

While the government recently said it would waive visa requirements for 30 countries starting in April, legal issues may delay its implementation as an Indonesian law stipulates that visa exemptions could only be made on a reciprocal basis.

Tourism Ministry’s spokesperson Vincent Jemadu said that the ministry would propose the elimination of the “reciprocity basis” clause, which could hamper implementation of the visa-free privilege for the 30 countries.

The Immigration Law No. 6/2011 stipulates that the only foreigners who are allowed to enter Indonesia without visas are citizens of countries that similarly don’t require Indonesians to get tourist visas.

“In order to effectively implement the visa-free policy we do need to revise this law; otherwise we have to conduct a painstaking process of negotiation for reciprocity,” Vincent said.

“We are planning to propose this [revision] to the Law and Human Rights Ministry to support the government’s plan to boost the country’s foreign exchange income from the tourism industry,” he continued.

Through the visa-free policy, the government aims to attract an additional 3 million tourists this year, bringing the overall target up to 11 million tourists.

Malaysia, which waives visa requirements for 164 countries without any reciprocity basis, welcomed more than 27 million foreign tourist last year.

As reported, the government would extend the visa-free policy, which was initially set for China, Japan, South Korea and Russia only, to 30 countries, including Canada, Mexico and the US.

Also included on the list are European countries such as Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, in addition to South Africa and Middle Eastern countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Currently, tourists from these countries are still required to pay a US$35 fee for a visa-on-arrival for a 30-day stay in Indonesia.

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly earlier said that the government would keep pushing the aforementioned countries to also adopt the visa-free policy for the sake of reciprocity.

Pushing for reciprocity, however, will be a daunting task for the government.

French Embassy press officer Gaspard Vignal said that Indonesia’s planned visa-free policy would possibly attract more tourists from France to Indonesia. “France is enthusiastic about this project; more French will be able to come and visit Indonesia. For the reciprocity, however, France is under the Schengen rule for visas. The country is not the only one to decide,” he said.

Separately, Adam Rutland, the head of media and communications at the British Embassy, said that the UK visa requirement was given a regular review and there was no plan to change the visa requirement yet.

Law and Human Rights Ministry’s acting director general for immigration Tengku Syahrizal said that the ministry was still waiting for an official direction regarding the implementation of the visa-free policy, which was planned to come into effect in April.

“Based on the law, it should be implemented on a reciprocal basis, but the government has decided to waive visa requirements, even though it is not in accordance to our law,” Tengku said. “There are no specific instructions for us yet.” - See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/03/23/free-visas-30-nations-violates-law-may-not-fly.html#sthash.0laRtIy5.dpuf

While the government recently said it would waive visa requirements for 30 countries starting in April, legal issues may delay its implementation as an Indonesian law stipulates that visa exemptions could only be made on a reciprocal basis.

Tourism Ministry’s spokesperson Vincent Jemadu said that the ministry would propose the elimination of the “reciprocity basis” clause, which could hamper implementation of the visa-free privilege for the 30 countries.

The Immigration Law No. 6/2011 stipulates that the only foreigners who are allowed to enter Indonesia without visas are citizens of countries that similarly don’t require Indonesians to get tourist visas.

“In order to effectively implement the visa-free policy we do need to revise this law; otherwise we have to conduct a painstaking process of negotiation for reciprocity,” Vincent said.

“We are planning to propose this [revision] to the Law and Human Rights Ministry to support the government’s plan to boost the country’s foreign exchange income from the tourism industry,” he continued.

Through the visa-free policy, the government aims to attract an additional 3 million tourists this year, bringing the overall target up to 11 million tourists.

Malaysia, which waives visa requirements for 164 countries without any reciprocity basis, welcomed more than 27 million foreign tourist last year.

As reported, the government would extend the visa-free policy, which was initially set for China, Japan, South Korea and Russia only, to 30 countries, including Canada, Mexico and the US.

Also included on the list are European countries such as Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, in addition to South Africa and Middle Eastern countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Currently, tourists from these countries are still required to pay a US$35 fee for a visa-on-arrival for a 30-day stay in Indonesia.

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly earlier said that the government would keep pushing the aforementioned countries to also adopt the visa-free policy for the sake of reciprocity.

Pushing for reciprocity, however, will be a daunting task for the government.

French Embassy press officer Gaspard Vignal said that Indonesia’s planned visa-free policy would possibly attract more tourists from France to Indonesia. “France is enthusiastic about this project; more French will be able to come and visit Indonesia. For the reciprocity, however, France is under the Schengen rule for visas. The country is not the only one to decide,” he said.

Separately, Adam Rutland, the head of media and communications at the British Embassy, said that the UK visa requirement was given a regular review and there was no plan to change the visa requirement yet.

Law and Human Rights Ministry’s acting director general for immigration Tengku Syahrizal said that the ministry was still waiting for an official direction regarding the implementation of the visa-free policy, which was planned to come into effect in April.

“Based on the law, it should be implemented on a reciprocal basis, but the government has decided to waive visa requirements, even though it is not in accordance to our law,” Tengku said. “There are no specific instructions for us yet.” - See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/03/23/free-visas-30-nations-violates-law-may-not-fly.html#sthash.0laRtIy5.dpuf