Immigration Digest

The United Kingdom and Spain to implement and support an educational bilateral cooperation agreement

A bilateral agreement was signed between the UK and Spain on 3^rd July 2023 to foster cooperation and strengthen both countries’ relations in matters of education, access to university, and other higher education institutions.

The joint agreement signed allows students with UK credentials (A-levels and equivalents) who are based in the UK and wish to study in Spain to do so, without sitting the Spanish general university entrance exam, except in competitive subjects which require an additional assessment and evaluation.  Correspondingly, Spanish students wishing to study in the UK may do so, with additional legal certainty.

The agreement will come into effect on 2^nd August 2023.

New Zealand – The reimbursement of new health screening costs to 2021 Resident Visa applicants

New Zealand has announced that it will offer reimbursement to visa applicants who were incorrectly requested to provide unnecessary documentation.  New Zealand has acknowledged that due to a technical issue, the new enhanced Immigration Online platform requested 2021 Resident Visa applicants to provide new health screening evidence despite having previously applied and submitted their still valid paperwork.

The applicants who have been affected and identified will be contacted and have until 23:59, 30th September 2023, New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT) to submit their reimbursement request.  However, New Zealand concedes that due to the complexity of the error, all affected applicants may not have been contacted.

More information on the error and the reimbursement request form here.

United States of America – Online Biometric Appointment Rescheduling

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the launching of an online biometric appointment rescheduling option which eliminates the need to contact the USCIS Contact Centre.  The service hopes to increase efficiency and customer service.

For more information and an outline of the rescheduling tool limitations, click here.

Netherlands – Dutch passport and ID applications in Dunedin, New Zealand on 1st August 2023

The Dutch embassy in Wellington, New Zealand, has announced that representatives will be present in Dunedin city on 1st August to accept and process Dutch passport and ID applications.  Online appointment scheduling is available for this date here.

Additionally, a service will be made accessible for requesting the activation of the DigiD (Digital Identification), an online administration service for accessing government websites in the Netherlands, including personal pension and tax information.  For more information, click here.

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The information provided has been checked for accuracy as of the date of publication, and is intended as a general guide and for information purposes. It is subject to unanticipated and unexpected changes and does not constitute legal advice.