International Roundup

According to a report in The Times (UK), many new British citizens cite VIP treatment when traveling as one of the country’s major draws. Immigrants, in particular Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, "told Home Office researchers that [British citizenship] allowed them VIP travel as they could rely on support and resources from British embassies abroad."

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Senior Filipino officials are calling for an extension of the overseas voter registration period, which ends September 30. Since registration started August 1, fewer than 90,000 voters of the 7.5 million Filipino citizens working abroad filed for voting rights at one of the country's 81 embassies and consular offices worldwide.

"We are short by 94.72 percent and we have only 28 days for the registration period," said Presidential adviser Heherson Alvarez. "We must make this extension to make the Overseas Absentee Voting Law a historic, meaningful and significant democratic process for our country and people."

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Australia's Opposition Labor Party revealed figures that are potential embarrassing for Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock, during the first public hearing of the Senate's inquiry into the use of ministerial discretion to grant immigration visas. According to Immigration Department statistics cited by the Opposition, Karim Kisrwani, a Liberal Party donor and self-described close friend of Mr Ruddock, made a list of the top 10 law firms, agents and individuals requesting Ruddock's intervention in immigration matters over the past three years. Kisrwani's success rate was higher than the Refugee Review Tribunal, and may have been as high as 50 percent, compared to the Tribunal's 18 percent success rate. The Opposition has alleged that Ruddock has been influenced by political donations, such as those from Kisrwani, when intervening to grant visas. Ruddock has denied the allegations.

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Dutch Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk said recently that the 40 percent failure rate for foreigners taking the new naturalization exams is appropriate. Since April immigrants have needed to take exams testing their knowledge of Dutch government and society in order to be considered for citizenship and to obtain a passport in the Netherlands. Around 600 people have applied to take the exam so far, a number that includes only those who meet the requirements of having lived in the country for five years or more and having obtained a residence permit. Those who fail the test are free to re-take it.