US exempts biometric fee for Form I-539: Effective October 1, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has exempted the biometric services fee for Form I-539 (application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant status). The biometric services fee exemption will apply to all applicants filing on or after October 1, including those applicants filing Form I-539 requesting an extension of stay in or change of status to H-4, L-2, or E nonimmigrant for whom USCIS had previously suspended the biometrics requirement through September 30, 2023.
The $85 biometric services fee was part of the application process for Form I-539. In most cases, after October 1 applicants will not be scheduled to attend a biometric services appointment. However, if USCIS determines that biometrics are required, the applicant will receive a notice with information about appearing for their biometric services appointment.
If you mistakenly submit the biometric services fee and the payment is submitted separately from the Form I-539 fee, USCIS will return the biometric services fee and accept the Form I-539. If you mistakenly submit the biometric services fee and the payment is combined with a paper-based Form I-539 filing fee, this is considered an incorrect filing and USCIS will reject the Form I-539.
If you mistakenly authorise a credit card payment that combines the biometric services fee with the Form I-539 application fee, USCIS will accept the application, and only charge the application fee.
New Zealand Care Workforce work to residence visa is open now
New Zealand is now accepting applications for Care Workforce work to residence visa. With this visa, you can live, work and study in New Zealand and also include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in your visa application. You must be 55 years or younger to apply.
Cost: From NZD 4,290
Eligibility
- At the time of application, you must be working for, or have a job offer from, an accredited employer.
- Your employment must be full-time, and permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months.
- You must have worked in New Zealand for 24 months, in a care workforce role that paid you the level 4 support workers’ minimum wage or more.
- If your partner or children have visas to study, work or visit based on their relationship to you, you must include them in your application.
Mexico has introduced a new visa requirement for all internationals transiting through Mexico’s airports. Under the new rule that will come into effect on October 22 this year, all nationals who require a visa and plan to travel through Mexico’s airports must hold a visitor visa without permission to carry out paid activities (tourism), regardless of the duration of your airport transit. There are a few exemptions to this rule, check details before booking tickets.
From October 22 onwards, you will not be allowed to board a flight via Mexico if you do not hold the visitor visa essential for transit.
A Mexico Visitor Visa is required for internationals planning to go to Mexico for tourism, visits, business, cultural/sports events, or any other similar purpose that does not require a person to take up paid employment. The Mexico visa fee for Indians is USD 51, approximately Rs 4,217.
Spain’s Seville bans showing up only in underwear in public
If you are heading to Seville (Spain), popular for stag and hen dos, leave behind all tees printed with sexist slogans, and before stepping out in public, remember to pull over a skirt or pair of trousers over the underwear. If you don’t, you’ll be heavily penalised! Well, you can’t commit ‘acts of obscene exhibitionism’ or ‘violate the moral or sexual integrity of another person’. These are the new rules announced by the mayor of Seville who is pulling the plugs on antisocial behaviour by tourists in public places.
With over-tourism, several countries in Europe are setting rules to end bad behaviour that includes playing loud music on the beach, unauthorised ball games on the beach, wearing phallic tiaras or headbands and walking around with inflatable sex dolls.
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