Australia granted 5,200 immigration visas in the 12 months that ended June 30, compared with 4,460 in the same period a year earlier.

Legal immigration visas should not be confused with temporary work permits.

There he obtained immigration visas to go to the United States.

Nevertheless, he took the precaution to acquire immigration visas for his family and a group of friends.

Along with the tourist applicants, the consulate considered 1,499 applications for permanent immigration visas from Palestinians during the first six months of this year.

He arrived without an immigration visa and was detained.

Reduction of waiting periods for immigration visas to no more than six months.

That month, he crossed the US border into Canada and returned within days on an immigration visa.

The United States Embassy here gave out 13,000 immigration visas in 1988.

But in recent years, it has been granting immigration visas only in high technology fields.