Dr. Seb Rumsby, a researcher at the University of Birmingham, has urged the United Kingdom’s government to provide more visa programs for Vietnamese migrants in order to decrease illegal boat crossings. Rumsby’s current research analyses the political economy of irregular Vietnam workers in the UK, VisaGuide.World reports. According to him, the government’s efforts to limit or prevent economic migration would result in more risky journeys and higher fees that migrants must pay smugglers to facilitate their passage. He further explained that Vietnamese migrants often borrow a lot of money from ..read more

Starting April 29, 2024, Thai citizens applying for Australian visas can now conveniently provide biometrics and other services in Phuket. The Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Dr Angela Macdonald PSM, said that previously, applicants had to travel to Bangkok or Chiang Mai for biometric submissions, VisaGuide.World reports. With this new centre operated by VFS Global, applicants can now streamline the process. As the Australian Embassy in Thailand explains, VFS Global is open for bookings for biometric appointments from April 29, 2024, onwards. Facilities are available at all VFS Global offi ..read more

Tajikistan and Italy have reached an agreement of visa requirement abolishment for holders of diplomatic passports. The announcement has been confirmed through a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. The Ministry notes that the agreement was signed between the governments of Tajikistan and Italy during the visit of Tajikistan’s President, Emomali Rahmon, to this country, VisaGuide.World reports. The agreement notes that nationals from both countries with diplomatic passports are eligible to go in and out of each other’s countries without needing a visa for up to 90 days ..read more

Following Australia’s attempt to reduce immigration numbers, the federal government has said it is looking to reform the points-based system for skilled migrants, which determines who is eligible to come to Australia. In December, a review of Australia’s migration system proposed that the points test should prioritize traits that help migrants successfully find skilled employment, VisaGuide.World reports. According to a report from SBS News, it was also recommended for the test to provide greater certainty for prospective migrants, and prioritize industries with skilled deficits, and recognize ..read more

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is set to open new international field offices in Doha, Qatar, and Ankara, Türkiye. These additions aim to boost capabilities for handling refugee applications, enhance collaborations with global partners, and improve coordination among agencies. On May 7, 2024, the Doha Field Office will be inaugurated, followed by the Ankara Field Office on May 9, 2024, bringing the total number of USCIS international field offices to 11, VisaGuide.World reports. The existing offices are located in Beijing, Guangzhou (China), Guatemala City, Havana, Mexico ..read more

Canada may impose further restrictions on international student visas, the Canadian Minister of Immigration Marc Miller has warned. In a statement issued on April 22, Miller said that higher education institutions play a vital role in recruiting international students, VisaGuide.World reports. Post-secondary institutions have a critical responsibility when recruiting students abroad, as well as supporting them here. We have taken some important steps to strengthen the international student visa system and will not hesitate to do more if need be. Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees ..read more

The US government has slapped visa restrictions on 13 individuals tied to creating and distributing spyware. A recent statement by the government has revealed that these individuals have either directly profited from or enabled the misuse of this technology. The spyware in question has been used to target a wide range of individuals, including journalists, academics, human rights advocates, dissidents, VisaGuide.World reports. The Department is taking steps to impose visa restrictions for 13 individuals involved in the misuse of commercial spyware to target journalists, academics, human right ..read more

Immigration New Zealand is continuing the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category visa programs. The program offers a pathway to permanent residency in New Zealand for individuals from Pacific nations and is facilitated through an annual ballot. According to the same, this year, the program will welcome up to 1,650 residents from Samoa, 250 from Tonga, 250 from Fiji, and 75 from Kiribati and Tuvalu. Interested applicants can easily register for the annual online lottery to participate, VisaGuide.World reports. Registrations will open for the 2024 Samoan Quota and the Pacific Access Category ..read more

Since the beginning of 2024, four migration agents in Australia have been sanctioned by the Office of the Migration Agent Registration Authority (OMARA). According to OMARA, they have violated several obligations related to their duties as registered migration agents. Two of these sanctions have been taken in January, one in February, and the last in April., VisaGuide.World reports. In general, the Authority stated that the agents lacked integrity and were otherwise unsuitable individuals to provide immigration assistance. On April 15, 2024, OMARA barred the Former Agent, Eidy Douglas, from ap ..read more

Kosovo Serbs holding passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate will also be eligible to travel visa-free to the Schengen Zone. The new decision comes after the European Parliament voted to endorse visa-free travel for them, following a visa liberalization agreement with Kosovo that became effective on January 1, 2024, VisaGuide.World reports. Emphasizing that the new changes ensure that the entire Western Balkans region has the same visa regime for travel to the EU, the European Parliament confirmed the decision through a statement. On Wednesday, MEPs voted with 406 votes in fa ..read more