U.S. Embassy in Kyiv begins processing immigration visas
Starting Wednesday, May 4, 2005, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv will begin processing immigration visas for Ukrainian citizens that they previously received at the American Embassy in Warsaw (Poland).
The American Embassy in Ukraine told the Interfax-Ukraine agency, noting that it had received more than 600 pending immigration visa cases from the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, which were at various stages of processing. In the near future, the embassy will send these people information packages with instructions on scheduling immigration visa interviews.
Persons who have informed the embassy that they have gathered all necessary documents and are ready for an interview will receive interview document packages containing information about the interview date, visa application forms, and additional instructions. Meanwhile, persons who underwent interviews in Warsaw and must provide additional documents will have to complete processing of their immigration cases in the Polish capital.
As noted at the embassy, most immigration visas are issued to Ukrainian citizens on the basis of their family ties in the United States. However, cases of persons participating in the diversity visa program (DV visa lottery) will still be processed in Warsaw; and applications for refugee status will be processed in Moscow.
The diplomatic mission stressed that, in order to ensure transparency and efficiency of the process, immigration visa interviews are conducted only by appointment. Additional information can be obtained on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.
EU membership triggered a wave of emigration in Lithuania
A year ago, Lithuania became a member of the European Union. On that day, many residents of the country woke up with packed suitcases and rushed to take advantage of the opportunity to seek work in wealthy Western Europe. After all, in Lithuania, compared to the older EU member states, pay for unskilled labor is about six times lower.
As reported by IA Rosbalt, Lithuanians are especially eager to settle in the UK, where multi-thousand immigrant communities have already formed. However, many people from Lithuania have been bitterly disappointed there: it is very difficult to find work without connections and contacts, and they have to live in appalling conditions.
According to statistics, last year one and a half times more people left Lithuania for abroad than in 2003. Emigration reduced unemployment in the country, but at the same time caused a shortage not only of unskilled labor, but also of modern specialists. According to the sociological research company Baltios Tyrimai, 63% of the country's residents consider Lithuania's entry into the EU a positive step. However, only 8% of respondents believe that membership in this union improved their personal lives.
Many experts warn that the demographic situation in Lithuania is constantly deteriorating - the population is shrinking and aging. However, in April, research commissioned by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour showed that almost three quarters of residents (73%) do not intend to live and work abroad. 15% of respondents would like to leave for a period of time to study or work, and only 1.3% of respondents said they intend to leave their homeland forever.
Foreigners queue up for Saudi Arabian citizenship
Thousands of foreigners living in Saudi Arabia have begun applying for Saudi citizenship. The reason for the queues at immigration departments was a recently adopted law allowing a person who has lived in the country for at least 10 years to become a citizen of the kingdom. In some departments, immigration forms ran out almost immediately, and people were forced to buy photocopies of applications.
According to the BBC, for many people Saudi Arabian citizenship is an opportunity to obtain well-paid work that they cannot find in their own countries. This primarily applies to people from Southeast Asia or West Africa. However, a number of vacancies are closed to non-citizens, as the government seeks to reduce its dependence on the immigrant workforce and attract the kingdom's subjects to work. Citizenship also provides certain privileges in terms of property ownership and obtaining loans and credits.
Since Saudi Arabia does not recognize dual citizenship, persons receiving a Saudi passport are required to renounce their previous one. Under the new law, citizenship will be granted on a points-based system, taking into account professional skills, education, and family ties with Saudi Arabia.