The UK Border Agency has revoked (withdrawn) London Metropolitan University's licence to sponsor students from outside the European Union.
The withdrawal of London Metropolitan University's licence means that it is removed from the register of licensed sponsors, and students from outside the European Union are no longer allowed to study at the university.
We understand that international students at London Metropolitan University may be concerned.
London Metropolitan University students who are already in the UK with a current, valid UK visa do not need to do anything immediately.
A government-led taskforce is being created, which will include the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Universities UK, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the UK Border Agency and the National Union of Students. This will work with London Metropolitan to support those affected and enable appropriately qualified genuine students to find another institution where they can continue their studies in the UK. The taskforce will start work immediately.
If an existing London Metropolitan University student with a current, valid visa is on holiday outside the UK, they can return to the UK.
New students who were planning to travel to the UK to start studying with London Metropolitan University should not travel.
Doctors, dentists, nurses and engineers have dominated the first round of skilled migrants invited to formally apply for visas under the government’s new online SkillSelect service.
Accountants, ICT analysts and programmers were also strongly represented in the 100 invitations in the first round, which drew the highest scoring candidates from the initial expressions of interest (EOI).
“This is an excellent result for the economy, employers, and ultimately for Australia,” a spokesman from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) said today.
“SkillSelect helps to ensure the skilled migration program is based on the economic needs of Australia. It supports the government in managing who can apply for skilled migration, when they can apply and in what numbers.”
More than 10 000 skilled people have completed EOIs through www.skillselect.gov.au since it went live on July 1.
Earlier this month, the first automated invitation round for skilled independent (90 visas) and skilled regional family-sponsored (10 visas) was completed.
The lowest points score invited was 75 points in both the skilled independent and skilled family sponsored visas. This is significantly above the 60 point pass mark, and demonstrates the quality of the skilled people interested in migrating to Australia, and the benefits of selecting only the best.
“The points score varied from 75 up to 85 across the two visa subclasses,” the spokesman said.
“Additionally, almost 400 skilled people have been invited since July 1 following nominations lodged by state and territory governments.
“More than 160 of these invited clients have already lodged their visa applications, and the others have 60 days to lodge their documentation using DIAC’s electronic lodgement system,” he added.
Full details of the first round of SkillSelect visa invitations are available at www.skillselect.gov.au.
For more information on the first round offers and statistics on SkillSelect go to www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/report-2012-08/
Canada Visa Applicants may please be informed that there is a change in the Visa application forms for applying for a Canada visa.
The new and updated forms are available on the VFS website: http://www.vfs-canada.co.in/visaapplication.html
Applicants & Travel agents are strongly advised to use the new forms in order to ensure timely processing of their visa application.
Note: Please ensure that your computer is installed with Adobe version 9.0 in order to view and download the forms.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today marked a significant milestone in its efforts to provide relief to victims of crimes by approving the statutory maximum 10,000 petitions for U nonimmigrant status, also referred to as the U-visa. This is the third straight year USCIS has reached the statutory maximum since it began issuing U-visas in 2008.
Each year, 10,000 U-visas are available for victims of crime who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse and are willing to help law enforcement authorities investigate or prosecute those crimes. A U-visa petition requires law enforcement certification of assistance in the investigation or prosecution of crimes.
"The U-visa is an important tool aiding law enforcement to bring criminals to justice," said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. "At the same time, we are able to provide immigration protection to victims of crime and their families. Both benefits are in the interest of the public we serve."
In recent years, USCIS has greatly expanded its public education and outreach effort through partnerships with law enforcement agencies and service providers. As part of this effort, USCIS officers have traveled to more than 40 cities, including Denver, New York City, Newark, and San Antonio, to train federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and immigrant-serving organizations on immigration protections available to individuals who are victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and other serious crimes.
The program was created by Congress to strengthen the law enforcement community's ability to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes while at the same time offering protection to victims. More than 61,000 victims and their family members have received U-visas since the implementation of this program in 2008.
USCIS will continue to accept new petitions as they are received until the end of the current fiscal year, and will resume issuing U-visas on Oct. 1, 2012, the first day of fiscal year 2013 when new visas are available.