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British journalist and Brazilian indigenous expert missing in remote part of Amazon

Two people have been arrested in connection with their disappearance.

A BRITISH JOURNALIST and a Brazilian indigenous expert have gone missing in a remote region of the Amazon rainforest after receiving threats, authorities and indigenous-rights groups said, raising fears for their safety.

Veteran foreign correspondent Dom Phillips, 57, went missing while researching a book in the Brazilian Amazon’s Javari Valley with respected indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, said The Guardian newspaper, where Phillips has been a longtime contributor.

The pair had travelled by boat to Jaburu lake, in the northern state of Amazonas near Brazil’s border with Peru, and were expected to return to the city of Atalaia do Norte by around 9am Sunday, two rights groups said in a statement.

The men had “received threats in the field” last week, said the groups, the Union of Indigenous Organizations of the Javari Valley (UNIVAJA) and the Observatory for the Human Rights of Isolated and Recently Contacted Indigenous Peoples (OPI).

They did not give further details, but Pereira, an expert at Brazil’s indigenous affairs agency FUNAI with deep knowledge of the region, has regularly received threats from loggers and miners trying to invade isolated indigenous groups’ land.

FUNAI told AFP it was collaborating with local authorities on the search effort. It added that Pereira was on leave from the agency “to pursue personal interests.”

Phillips and Pereira had travelled to the region around a FUNAI monitoring base, and reached Jaburu lake Friday evening, UNIVAJA and OPI said.

They started the return trip early Sunday, stopping in the community of Sao Rafael, where Pereira had scheduled a meeting with a local leader to discuss indigenous patrols to fight the “intense invasions” that have been taking place on their lands, the groups said.

When the community leader did not arrive, the men decided to continue to Atalaia do Norte, about a two-hour trip, they said.

They were last sighted shortly after near the community of Sao Gabriel, just downstream from Sao Rafael.

The pair were traveling in a new boat with 70 litres of gasoline — “sufficient for the trip” — and were using satellite communications equipment, the groups said.

The federal prosecutors’ office said it had dispatched police to investigate and activated a search operation, to be led by the Brazilian navy.

Two initial searches by indigenous locals “with extremely good knowledge of the region” have found no trace of the men, said UNIVAJA and OPI.

According to the newspaper O Globo, two fishermen were arrested by the police on Monday night, including a person with whom the two men had an appointment. The paper did not specify if it was the local leader in Sao Rafael who never showed.

‘Time of the essence’

The missing men’s families voiced alarm, along with high-profile organisations and figures including Brazilian ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

“We implore the Brazilian authorities to send the national guard, federal police and all the powers at their disposal to find our cherished Dom,” Phillips’s sister’s partner, Paul Sherwood, wrote on Twitter.

“He loves Brazil and has committed his career to coverage of the Amazon rainforest. We understand that time is of the essence.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists and Brazil’s Foreign Press Correspondents’ Association (ACIE) also voiced their concern and urged the authorities to act “immediately.”

“I hope they are fine, safe and will be found quickly,” tweeted Lula, the front-runner for Brazil’s October presidential elections against far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro — who has faced accusations of fuelling invasions of indigenous lands in the Amazon with his pro-mining and -agribusiness policies.

The Guardian said in a statement it was “very concerned” about Phillips, whose work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and other leading media.

We condemn all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers. We are hopeful that Dom and those he was traveling with are safe and will be found soon.

Phillips, who is married and based in the northeastern city of Salvador, had previously accompanied Pereira in 2018 to the Javari Valley for a story in The Guardian.

The 85,000-square-kilometre reservation is home to around 6,300 indigenous people from 26 groups, including a large number with virtually no contact with the outside world.

FUNAI’s base there, set up to protect indigenous inhabitants, has come under attack several times in recent years. In 2019, a FUNAI officer there was shot dead.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sequoia
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    Nov 29th 2018, 7:21 AM

    That’s good news.

    Hopefully there’ll be enough left from Australia. To make it worthwhile.

    109
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    Mute Aoife Dooley
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    Nov 29th 2018, 7:52 AM

    Sounds better than it is. This will only benefit current undocumented Irish, if they’re lucky enough to get the visas. Unfortunately to get this through, Ireland will now have loads of retired Americans, who didn’t previously qualify to live here due to lack of an Irish connection and not having the minimum funds to support themselves financially, now retiring in Ireland. The Australians don’t want the visas for a good reason. They can have a better and safer life elsewhere. The Irish still look at the US with rose-tinted glasses. This article is very one sided.

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    Mute Ciaran O Reilly
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    Nov 29th 2018, 8:05 AM

    @Aoife Dooley: I

    2
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    Mute Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa
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    Nov 29th 2018, 8:06 AM

    @Aoife Dooley: It encourages highly qualified Irish citizens who have had their education paid for by our taxes to leave the country and help build the economy of Trumpistan. Now why is this good?

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Nov 29th 2018, 8:16 AM

    @Aoife Dooley: actually you’re wrong it only applies to people who aren’t undocumented irish. You can only apply if you aren’t living in America already. Also why would be the problem with retired Americans coming here exactly? They’ll come live here and contribute to the economy by spending money here. Also the US is safe , it’s actually one of the countries I’ve visited where I’ve felt most safe and I would love to live there. I’ve felt safer walking around New York at night than I would on O Connell street

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Nov 29th 2018, 9:06 AM

    @Sam Harms: sorry need to correct myself, you can apply if you’re living in America but only if you’re livng there legally.

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    Mute dublincomments
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    Nov 29th 2018, 9:40 AM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: I agree. We need to triple our own population so that our cities are sustainable. Encouraging our best and brightest to emigrate makes it worse for those who stay resulting in a downwards spiral

    11
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    Mute Diaspora'd
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    Nov 29th 2018, 10:48 AM

    @Aoife Dooley: Could you please send a link or give some background on where you read or saw this thing about retired Americans with no means having the right to emigrate to Ireland?

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Nov 29th 2018, 10:48 AM

    @Aoife Dooley:
    I’d say the house prices here will keep retiree numbers to quite a managable number.

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    Mute Sarah
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    Nov 29th 2018, 2:35 PM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: And to enable American citizens who have no health insurance and/or can’t afford the absurd cost of healthcare in the states to come here and avail of our already overburdened healthcare system in their twilight years.

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    Mute Chris Linehan
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    Nov 29th 2018, 2:59 PM

    @Sarah: do you really think these retiring Americans are going be those barely scraping by and without medical insurance and healthy pensions, yet can still afford to upsticks and move to ireland where they have no entitlement to social welfare etc.

    They’ll be the middle class level buying up aran jumpers like their going out of fashion.

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    Mute David Lacey
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    Nov 29th 2018, 2:59 PM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: People in that bracket just use the l1 anyway.

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    Mute prop joe
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    Nov 29th 2018, 4:24 PM

    @Aoife Dooley: if you dont own property whats the point in staying in Ireland? At least people can have a chioce of countries to live in. The US is worth trying, to work and live there, Legally.

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    Mute pearse
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    Nov 30th 2018, 3:33 PM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: because Ireland is a dump

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    Mute Shaner Mac
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    Nov 29th 2018, 8:24 AM

    I’m curious, why are the Irish Government so keen for this to happen? Shouldn’t they be encouraging people to stay and work here?! There is a skill shortage after all

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Nov 29th 2018, 8:55 AM

    @Shaner Mac: because living and working in another country is a very valuable experience. And also keep strong connections with the US is important.

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    Mute Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa
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    Nov 29th 2018, 9:51 AM

    @Sam Harms: It is a valuable experience but most of them won’t move back. These are renewable two years visas and once you have been there for 5 years legally you can start the process of applying for citizenship. We are paying to educate doctors and nurses who then go and provide their skills in other countries then we have to import them from other countries who probably need their own doctors and nurses.
    If it weren’t for the immigrants our health service would collapse completely.

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    Mute Shaner Mac
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    Nov 29th 2018, 10:37 AM

    @Sam Harms: that’s enough but that’s the individuals choice, the Government shouldn’t be actively encouraging it. As for keeping strong connections with the US, then they should be encouraging our diaspora there to come here.

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    Mute Diaspora'd
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    Nov 29th 2018, 11:11 AM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: it’s not that easy..you need to have “permanent residency” for at least 5 years before being eligible to apply for naturalization The E3 visa is not equivalent to a green card / permanent residency.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Nov 29th 2018, 11:40 AM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: maybe they will come back maybe they won’t, thats up to them, but I stand by my point that living and working abroad is a very valuable experience. Do you really think that just because someone is educated in one country they shouldn’t be allowed to go and travel the world and work elsewhere? Our doctors go work in other countries and doctors from other countries come to work here, thats just how the world works, people move to countries that they want to experience.

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    Mute ForeverFeel1ng
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    Nov 29th 2018, 10:41 AM

    This is quite a big deal. Will give a real edge to Irish job applicants for companies across the world. Hope it passes the senate

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    Mute Bob Earner
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    Nov 29th 2018, 9:41 AM

    I’d not bother to be honest

    Lived there legally for some years.

    Had the opportunity to go back and had zero interest.

    The last place ya wanna get ill is the US……and don’t think Insurance will save you.

    Large numbers of people declared bankrupt due to medical costs had Insurance when they were injured / fell ill. But if you can’t work you lose your insurance.

    Not to mention the ridiculous deductibles.

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    Mute Bob Earner
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    Nov 29th 2018, 9:42 AM

    That being said, if you’re under 30 it’s a great experience…. I suppose I can at least admit that :)

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    Mute worldpeace
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    Nov 29th 2018, 10:27 AM

    @Bob Earner: You’re right if you work you have health insurance that employer and you pay. They dont take it out of our taxes. It makes people work and not just rely on govt funds. Deductibles usually cost $10-25 per visit, makes you think twice to abuse going to DR for no reason. If at any reason you are medically disable, you can qualify for long term disability insurance if youre under 65, after that obviously MEDICARE will kick in (for retired SR). People know the loophole, trust me a lot gets MEDICAL (govt insurance for <65) that is suppose to be for really poor incapable citizen. They will treat you first in life threatening situation if you are capable or payment arrangement, why not. If you really cant pay they wouldnt take out your transplant. Nothing is free.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 29th 2018, 11:17 AM

    @worldpeace: some of that is true and some isn’t. But mostly I’ll correct you on treatme t of poor people in hospitals. In emergency situations the hospital is required to deal with the emergency regardless of your ability to pay. They then have 7 years after that to pursue payment. Prices are insane though look at the bill in the first answer here https://www.quora.com/Is-it-possible-to-go-to-hospital-for-free-in-the-United-States-without-health-insurance

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    Mute Bob Earner
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    Nov 29th 2018, 12:13 PM

    @worldpeace: All that sounds so “logical”.

    My US colleagues have $2000 deductible.

    A friend who was legal but couldn’t afford health insurance got a bill for $35,000 for 4 days in hospital (4 days in IC because there was no room in the ward leading to THAT Bill. She was discharged from which is almost unheard of!)

    Then you’ve the huge cost of healthcare compared to Single Payer schemes, you missed that bit out. When the Govt is the majority client there is less price gouging.

    And the “you only go to the Doctor when you need”? Who determines that then? Your bank balance.

    I had insurance, my deductible about $150 and I worked for a European Bank! I think I went twice the entire time I was there.

    So do me a favour and take your “For Profit” healthcare and stick it where the sun don’t shine.

    Access to healthcare should be a human right. People shouldn’t go bankrupt in the THOUSANDS like they do in the US. I notice you missed that bit out in your ridiculous praise of the US Healthcare con!

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    Mute worldpeace
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    Nov 29th 2018, 12:40 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: agree with the price, no doubt. That is why we have insurance. I’ve worked in hospital here for 25 years. I’ve seen a lot of different pts. I even took care of a lovely Irish flight attendant once. Old lady from Canada I once ask why is she here if its free there. She told me she’ll be dead by the time they fix her. RN here in CA out of school starts at almost $40ph. They will try very hard to recup the money somehow. But really, if theres nothing to take,they can not put you to jail for that. Nowadays I’ve been seeing tourist having major surgery like open heart. It’s becoming a trend that really sick people comes here straight to ER. How can they recup then? Soon that would cost some cutbacks. It is really hard to start Univ insurance now. People dont like to get taxed.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 29th 2018, 12:56 PM

    @worldpeace: the majority want universal healthcare. That Canadian lady, please do tell which elective surgery she was in for, as in your info light anecdote she could have been in to get a wisdom tooth out and you leaving that out but including her saying she’d be dead before it was fixed in Canada could lead people to believe that she had a very serious life threatening issue. Provide all facts or don’t bring it up. Considering the average RN hourly rate in America is $33.66 and you’re saying a newly qualified CA RN gets $40ph that means that pretty much every other RN must be below that rate for most of their career and also considering only 10% earn more than $45.54ph it also means no pay rises ever for a RN in CA. Either that or you’re not being entirely honest.

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    Mute worldpeace
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    Nov 29th 2018, 12:59 PM

    @Bob Earner: not praising at all. Simply saying how it works. Yes even if you have insurance it is very expensive, the deductable depends on the kind of insurance you have. I dont knw what hosp your friend went but normally there’s limited nmber of ICU rooms vs med floors so icu are harder to get. He should’ve fight it. The health system here is very expensive. We dont have a choice tho. But you know even universal ins has prob.My friend in Dublin said she has to pay €50 for GP every time she goes, and she goes often. Why if you get taxed? There are diff health insurance PPO and HMO are the biggest. Sure they are expensive to buy, less deductable=more on monthly fee so it evens out. You are right tho it is expensive and like I said RN in CA makes abt $40ph no experience.

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    Mute worldpeace
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    Nov 29th 2018, 1:34 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: sorry, it allows 800 spaces. The old lady had a hip surgery, i’m sure that was just her ranting, her point was it was a long wait. The flight attendant had influenza I’m sure she has a travel insurance. The salary even in CA depends on living expense. I live in LA county so people in SF makes more than us cz its expensive to live there. If you know people here please ask them. I dont make the rule.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 29th 2018, 1:59 PM

    @worldpeace: like I said, I went for averages as one person is not evidence. The average pay for a RN in CA is $48.68 which makes your day one, no experience rate of $40ph implausible.

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    Mute Diaspora'd
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    Nov 29th 2018, 2:57 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: that seems too low especially for CA even if you’re starting straight from college

    https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/registered-nurse/salary

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 29th 2018, 5:15 PM

    @Diaspora’d: in your article the mean hourly rate is $34.70

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    Mute Diaspora'd
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    Nov 29th 2018, 7:27 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: California’s RN average salary which was mentioned above is $101,750.

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    Mute Diaspora'd
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    Nov 29th 2018, 7:32 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: also $34.70 x 40hours/week x 52 weeks = $72,176.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 29th 2018, 8:12 PM

    @Diaspora’d: read your link, they do far more than a 40 hour week

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    Mute Diaspora'd
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    Nov 29th 2018, 8:56 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: you’re right they do, I am married to an RN

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    Mute Rory Toner
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    Nov 29th 2018, 8:15 AM

    Let the Whinging and sniveling begin. Wha, wha, wha.

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Nov 29th 2018, 9:09 AM

    Going to need them for the next downturn

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    Mute Tanks a Minion
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    Nov 29th 2018, 8:08 AM

    This is good news, mainly because the Aussie ambassador (a failed politician)
    didn’t want it to happen: https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/the-irish-are-muscling-in-on-our-special-us-visa-so-we-ve-gone-nuts-20181115-p50g8j.html

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    Mute Aptech Global
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    Mar 9th 2019, 6:30 AM

    @Tanks a Minion: ok, it’s big topic to discuss, get the latest Australian immigration news here https://www.aptechvisa.com/latest-news?idaus=australia

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Nov 29th 2018, 6:22 PM

    I live in Oz and have citizenship, and I did a stint in the States and considered the E3. After living there for a while there’s no way I’d choose the US over Oz. I’m sure most Aussie’s would feel the same.

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    Mute AptechVisa Global Immigration Pvt Ltd-Reviews
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    Dec 11th 2019, 10:17 AM

    Thanks for sharing the updated news of Australian immigration

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    Mute Aptech Global
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    Apr 4th 2019, 1:03 PM

    Ho to get New Zealand Citizenship from any where legal process visit aptech visa global immigration.Keep in touch for latest update and news https://www.aptechvisa.com/new-zealand-immigration/new-zealand-permanent-residency-visa

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