POLICY REPORT ON IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM IN LATVIA ...

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cancel a visa of third-country nationals not only at the state border but also in the territory of
the state. Until such provisions entered into force, such rights were exercised only by the Office
of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. 94
To facilitate the prevention of illegal immigration, the State Border Guard actively
cooperates with countries of origin and transit of illegal immigrants.
Officials of the State Border Guard and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
participated in experience exchange activities organised by the Riga Office of the International
Organization for Migration in 2010 in Austria, Georgia and Armenia.
The State Border Guard, in cooperation with representatives of the Border Guard of the
Republic of Estonia performs joint patrol on the internal borders, as well as in the
administrative territories of the Latvian and Estonian frontier.
In 2010, the State Border Guard continued to develop new draft agreements and
protocols in order to promote the return of illegal immigrants to their country of origin, namely,
draft readmission agreements and fulfilment protocols with the Republic of Kazakhstan and the
Republic of Kosovo, which have been sent for agreement. Draft protocols have been developed
for the fulfilment of the readmission agreements signed by the European Community, the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fulfilment protocol has
been signed between the Republic of Latvia and Moldova for readmission agreements signed
by the European Community.
According to the initiative of the State Border Guard, the Amendments to the
Immigration Law were made with the aim to reduce misuse of residence permits and
opportunities to receive a visa.
The State Border Guard as the responsible institution for the adoption of Directive
2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 (henceforth
– Directive 2008/115/EC) on common standards and procedures in Member States for
returning illegally staying third-country nationals 95 , has prepared draft law "Amendments to the
Immigration Law" and continues its work in development of subordinated Cabinet of Ministers
regulations 96 . The draft law "Amendments to the Immigration Law" was reviewed in the
94
Apstiprina jaunu vīzu izsniegšanas kārtību (New Procedure for Visa Issuance Confirmed).//
http://www.rs.gov.lv//id=35&sa=&top=-1&rel=1479 – [see: 15.10.2010]
95 Published: The Official Journal, L 348/98, 24.12.2008.
96 Information provided by officials of the State Border Guard.