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UK offers same-day ‘super priority’ business visa in India

Written by lisa on May 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment

THE UK has debuted same-day visa application services at its high commissions in India, with plans to make the facility available in a handful of other countries in the near future.

Now in operation at the UK embassies in New Delhi, Mumbai and soon, Chennai, the same-day visa costs 600 pounds (US$912) more than that of a regular visa.

Applicants who complete an online application by 09.30 and receive approval can collect their visas by 17.30 the same day in New Delhi and 18.30 in Mumbai.

The UK government revealed that the service would also be available to travellers applying for a six-month or two-year multiple-entry visitor visa (excluding student visas) and who have previously travelled to the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or a Schengen country within the last five years. Read more »

Categories: Business Visas - Tags: ,

Visa fraud: Students stranded in UK

Written by lisa on May 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment

More than a dozen students from the state are stranded in the UK after they were duped with visa extension offers. According to some of their friends there, they had paid a few lakhs to one Abhilash Asokan who ran an overseas recruiting agency in Thrissur for getting their student visa term extended. The state police on the basis of complaints from a few students has registered a few cases and also issued a warrant against Abhilash.

A student who has been supporting some of the students whose passports are with the agent said the Indian government should urgently intervene and save the lives of these students. Abhilash had been running a visa firm in Thrissur from where he offered students visa to study in Reading, London and Croydon and also promised extension of their visa term for a big fee.

Things first came to light when a few students were arrested from Kent last year and deported. They lodged complaints against him at police stations in Thrissur, Kodungaloor and Angamaly. Read more »

Categories: Visa Fraud - Tags: ,

‘Be dead honest at visa interview’

Written by lisa on May 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Just days ahead of the much-awaited admission season to prestigious American universities, a top US consulate officer on Thursday cautioned aspiring Indian students to be dead honest about their intent during the visa interview.

“We look at three aspects,” said vice-consul at US consulate in Chennai, Adam Kotkin, at an interaction here. “These are your admission proof to a school in the US along with registration with the department of homeland security (done by your college), your ability to pay your fees and your real purpose of going to the US, in this case for studies,” he said. “If we find you have lied to us, you could be barred from going to the US,” he added.

In 2012, the US consulate processed around 8,000 student visas. “We’re getting ready for the new student visa procedure,” Kotkin said. Read more »

Categories: H-1B Visas - Tags: ,

Britain starts one-day visa for Indians

Written by lisa on May 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Britain has launched a new ‘superpriority’ same-day visa service for urgent travellers from India, the first-of-of-its-kind service to be launched by the UK anywhere in the world.

The new visa is open for bookings in Delhi and Mumbai from today, but comes with an additional fee of £600 (nearly Rs. 51,000).

If an application is successful and submitted before 9.30am, the visa will be ready for collection by 5.30pm the same day in New Delhi or by 6.30pm the same day in Mumbai.

The service had been announced by British Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit to the country in February this year. Read more »

Categories: Visa Process - Tags: ,

UK finally launches same-day visas for Indians

Written by lisa on May 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Britain on Tuesday rolled out a same-day visa facility for Indians. The first-of-of-its-kind service to be launched by the UK anywhere in the world, it comes at a fat price: £600 (nearly Rs 50,000) in addition to the price of the visa.
To begin with, those in Delhi and Mumbai will be able to apply for the service. The UK home ministry said there were plans to expand the scheme to Chennai in the next few weeks.

The service was announced by British Prime Minister David Cameron during his recent visit to India.

“This government is committed to encouraging international business to invest in Britain,” immigration minister Mark Harper said. “India and Britain have a long history of trade and we run our largest visa operation in the world there. We are delighted to be able to launch our first same-day visa service in Delhi and Mumbai, and make our world-class visa service even better.” Read more »

Categories: Country:UK - Tags: ,

Saudi Arabia eases visa rules to promote religious visits

Written by lisa on May 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to relax its strict visa rules and allow foreigners to make religious pilgrimages to holy sites within the Gulf kingdom beyond the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.

Announced out of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and

Antiquities, the government said it will issue ‘’Umrah-Plus’ visas to foreigners living outside the Gulf Cooperation Council as long as they participate in supervised tours of Islamic holy sites, reports HotelierMiddleEast.com.

Member states belonging to the GCC include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Read more »

Categories: Visa Rules - Tags: ,

Visa fees to double for 457 applicants

Written by lisa on May 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s budget will also be increased by $3.4m to enforce employer compliance with 457 visa conditions, following a vocal union campaign.

The application charge for a 457 visa will increase from $400 to $900 from July, bringing in $46.8m next financial year and $52.8m in 2014-15.

The increased charge will raise a further $98.4m in the subsequent two financial years.

As announced in March, the government will provide the Fair Work Ombudsman with extra funding to stop alleged abuse of the 457 visa program. The amount, less than $1m annually over four years, aims to “monitor and enforce employer compliance” with the program.

The migration intake will be maintained at 190,000 places next financial year, with the government arguing the places were required to fill skill shortages and reunite Australian families. Read more »

Categories: Visa Fee - Tags: ,

Tech City growth damaged by lack of talent, says report

Written by lisa on May 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Some 77% of businesses based at Tech City in East London said a lack of skilled workers is restricting their growth, according to the Tech City Futures report.

The survey found coders, developers and user experience experts are the hardest skilled workers to find, whereas marketing and PR workers are the easiest to recruit.

Difficulties in finding skilled workers was cited by 44% of respondents as the biggest challenge their business faces, while a third believe a lack of access to capital is hindering their business.

Steve Leith, the head of Grant Thornton’s early stage technology team, said: “We see a growing gap for businesses requiring investment of £500,000 to £2m. Read more »

Categories: Country:UK - Tags: , , ,

UK launches ‘super priority’ visas for Indians

Written by lisa on May 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Britain has launched a new “super priority” same-day visa service for urgent travellers from India, the first-of-its-kind service to be launched by the UK anywhere in the world.

The Super Priority Visa Service had been announced by the British Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit to the country in February this year.

The first-of-its-kind service to be launched anywhere in the world by the UK Home Office is open for appointment bookings in India from today.

“I am delighted to see the Super Priority Visa service being launched in India before any other country,” said Sir James Bevan, the British High Commissioner to India. Read more »

Categories: Country:UK - Tags: , ,

Visa fees to double for 457 applicants

Written by lisa on May 17, 2013 · Leave a Comment

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s budget will also be increased by $3.4m to enforce employer compliance with 457 visa conditions, following a vocal union campaign.

The application charge for a 457 visa will increase from $400 to $900 from July, bringing in $46.8m next financial year and $52.8m in 2014-15.

The increased charge will raise a further $98.4m in the subsequent two financial years.

As announced in March, the government will provide the Fair Work Ombudsman with extra funding to stop alleged abuse of the 457 visa program. The amount, less than $1m annually over four years, aims to “monitor and enforce employer compliance” with the program. Read more »

Categories: Australia Visa - Tags: ,

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