1. QUOTE from:
    Visa fee increase will hit tourism, Chinese travel agents say
    View quote in context »
    "Application fees have not changed, but visa applicants are, or will be, required to pay facilitation fees for the facilitation of visa application lodgement at the visa application centres," said Immigration head Nigel Bickle. "Facilitation fees are a common practice. Several countries, including Canada, France and the United Kingdom, operate similar centres in China and also charge facilitation fees of between $42 and $50." The centres collect applications, passports, fees and other documents on behalf of Immigration, which concentrates on assessment and decisions on applications. Full Article at New Zealand Herald
    Facilitation fees are a common practice. Several countries, including Canada, France and the United Kingdom, operate similar centres in China and also charge facilitation fees of between $42 and $50.
    SOURCE: New Zealand Herald 8 months ago

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Greece's President Carolos Papoulias (L) and Greece's new caretaker Prime Minister, 67-year-old Panagiotis Pikrammenos, the head of Greece's top administrative court, attend a swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed caretaker cabinet at the Presidential Palace in Athens on May 17, 2012. Greece today named a caretaker cabinet of technocrats, headed by a senior judge, tasked with organising fresh elections in June after an inconclusive ballot on May 6 that has raised eurozone concern.
  2. Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer (C) holds a rally to protest against the Chinese governoment in Tokyo on May 17, 2012. Kadeer closed a four-day conference during which she had claimed her people were in a fight for their survival because of increasing repression in China.
  3. KOROLEV, RUSSIA - MAY 17: In this handout image provided by NASA, Russian flight controllers at the Russian Mission Control Center monitor the Soyuz TMA-04M as it docks to the International Space Station on May 17, 2012 in Korolev, Russia. Onboard the soyuz spacecraft are Expedition 31 Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka, Flight Engineer Sergei Revin, and NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba. The crew of three launched at 9:01 a.m. Kazakhstan time on Tuesday, May 15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
  4. PORT VILA, VANUATU - MAY 17: Varoi Igo Morea of Papua New Guinea cover drives during the semi final match between Papua New Guinea and Samoa played at Independence park during the ICC East Asia Pacific Women's Championship on May 17, 2012 in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
  5. PORT VILA, VANUATU - MAY 17: Locals watch the action as Marion Larsen of the Cook Islands bats during the 5th v 6th match between Fiji and Cook Islands played at Club Hippique during the ICC East Asia Pacific Women's Championship on May 17, 2012 in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
  6. PORT VILA, VANUATU - MAY 17: Tekura Kaukura of the Cook Islands cuts with Alicia Dean of Fiji looking on as heavy rain falls during the 5th v 6th match between Fiji and Cook Islands played at Club Hippique during the ICC East Asia Pacific Women's Championship on May 17, 2012 in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
  7. Sri Lankan Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa (2R), Navy chief Somathilake Dissanayake (L), Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Roshan Gunetileke (2L) and army chief Jagath Jayasuriya watch a Victory Day parade rehearsal in Colombo on May 17, 2012. Sri Lanka celebrates War Heroes Week with a military parade scheduled for May 19. The parade celebrates the third anniversary of the military defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009, ending a 37-year long separatist conflict.
  8. FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - MAY 17: The present for each player a watch is pictured during the U17 Germany National Footballteam arrival at Airport Frankfurt on May 17, 2012 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Germany lost the final of U17 European Championship in Slovenja after penalty kicking against the Netherlands.
  9. LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Englebert Humperdinck poses at his home for photographs before he travels to Baku for Eurovision on May 8, 2012 in Leicester, England. Englebert Humperdinck is representing the UK with his song 'Love Will Set You Free' in the 57th annual Eurovision Song Contest on May 26 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
  10. FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - MAY 17: Helmut Sandrock (R) general secretary of German Football Association (DFB) smiles with goalkeeper Oliver Schnitzler (L) during the U17 Germany National Footballteam arrival at Airport Frankfurt on May 17, 2012 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Germany lost the final of U17 European Championship in Slovenja after penalty kicking against the Netherlands.
  11. A veterinarian of the Mulhouse zoo holds on her knees 'Argoun', a one-month-old Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) on May 16, 2012 at the zoo in Mulhouse, eastern France. Amur leopards population is estimated to about fifty in nature around the world.
  12. FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - MAY 17: Players of Germany looks dejected during the U17 Germany National Footballteam arrival at Airport Frankfurt on May 17, 2012 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Germany lost the final of U17 European Championship in Slovenja after penalty kicking against the Netherlands.
  13. Stephanie Foray's family (L-R) father Joen, sister Vanessa and mother Irene attend the trial of murder suspect Asni Omar at the high court in Kuantan on May, 17 2012. The trial opened with the prosecution telling the High Court that the French tourist had died from a probable blunt force trauma to the head. Stephanie Foray, a 30-year-old civil servant, went missing in Malaysia in May 2011 and her remains were found on Aug 8 last year buried in a cave on the resort island of Tioman, off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia.
  14. Asni Omar (C), accused of murdering French tourist Stephanie Foray, is escorted by Malaysian police as he arrives for trial at the High Court in Kuantan on May, 17 2012. The trial opened with the prosecution telling the High Court that the French tourist had died from a probable blunt force trauma to the head. Stephanie Foray, a 30-year-old civil servant, went missing in Malaysia in May 2011 and her remains were found on Aug 8 last year buried in a cave on the resort island of Tioman, off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia.
  15. ASKER, NORWAY - MAY 17: . General View of the Norwegian Royal Residence Skaugum on May 17, 2012 in Asker, Norway.
  16. FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - MAY 17: Head coach Stefan Boeger (L) and generaly secretary of German Football Association (DFB) shake hands during the U17 Germany National Footballteam arrival at Airport Frankfurt on May 17, 2012 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Germany lost the final of U17 European Championship in Slovenja after penalty kicking against the Netherlands.
  17. Sri Lankan Air Force aircraft fly in formation during a Victory Day parade rehearsal in Colombo on May 17, 2012. Sri Lanka celebrates War Heroes Week with a military parade scheduled for May 19. The parade celebrates the third anniversary of the military defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009, ending a 37-year long separatist conflict.
  18. The newly appointed caretaker cabinet is sworn in during a ceremony at the Presidental palace on May 17, 2012. Greece today named a caretaker cabinet of technocrats, headed by a senior judge, tasked with organising fresh elections in June after an inconclusive ballot on May 6 that has raised eurozone concern.