Immigration newsletter 04 Jan 2006

workpermit.com would like to wish all of its readers and visitors a very happy, prosperous and joyful 2006. We hope that we can help you fulfil your immigration dreams, and we look forward to continuing to bring you the top immigration stories from around the world to keep you up-to-date in the New Year.

This week, workpermit.com brings you a summary of what we consider to be the most monumental immigration news of 2005.

• Australia launches biggest immigration drive in 40 years: As a result of a desperate need for new skilled immigrants, Australia's Department of Immigration decided to admit an extra 20,000 skilled migrants this year, taking the 2005/2006 intake to almost 100,000 (please note that this figure does not include family immigration, unskilled workers, etc., but refers to skilled immigrants only).
• Eastern European immigrants transforming the UK: Although there were fears that low cost workers from the East would steal jobs, Britain has absorbed these workers from the new European Union member states with hardly a ripple.
• Scotland's Fresh Talent Initiative a huge success, to be copied by England soon: In 2005, Scotland launched its Fresh Talent Initiative, which allows foreign graduates to live and work in Scotland for two years.
• UK announces a new managed migration program: The UK announced a new migration scheme, to be introduced in spring 2006, including a five-tier point system for migrants, which will include easy access and full residence rights for the most highly skilled and those with large sums to invest. The scheme also calls for temporary entry permits for low-skilled workers.
• European Union considers work permit scheme: In the final days of 2005, the European Commission unveiled new plans on economic migration to the European Union aimed at creating legal alternatives to illegal immigration.
• 2005 sees US torn over immigration policy: At the end of 2005, the US's most recent decision has been to build a fence along the border with Mexico, and not to increase the number of H1B visas.
• Rioting breaks out in France, Australia: Riots spread all over France as second and third generations of Islamic immigrants, who are experiencing social discrimination, vented their frustrations