Immigration newsletter 23 May 2007

A UK tribunal court ruled in favor of an HSMP holder fighting deportation after he was unable to qualify for an HSMP extension under the new rules. The Indian national, who holds a PhD in chemistry, relocated his family to the United Kingdom after obtaining an HSMP visa. Changes applied retrospectively last December prevented him from qualifying for an extension. The court determined that forcing him to leave the country is in violation of his human rights.

Last week the United States Senate reached an agreement on an immigration reform proposal. There are heated negotiations between all the various political interest groups to pass a new immigration law before the end of this summer. The topic is politically charged with strongly divided opinions on all sides. Developing a points-based immigration system is one of many of the complex and highly controversial items on the agenda.

Immigration reform is being debated in the U.S. Senate, with more than 20 specific areas targeted for changes. Four broad categories are: what to do about illegal immigrants already in the country, what to do about enforcement of laws relating to work visas in the U.S., what to do about over-all border security, and what changes future immigrants will face. 

A shift away from family-based immigration criteria toward a points-based system that emphasizes education and workplace skills is virtually certain.

Britain's Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released a report on immigration from Eastern European EU nations into the United Kingdom. A little over 2000 Romanians and Bulgarians are obtaining work permission each month to enter the country. Overall, the total number of migrants from all Eastern European EU nations staying long-term in the UK has risen from 570,000 in 2006 to 638,000 now. These numbers are being disputed by some pressure groups.

Spain has experienced a large economic turn-around since 1995, which is being attributed in large part to immigration, both legal and illegal. About three million immigrants have come into the country since then. Spain had high unemployment and a poor performing economy during the 1990's. Unemployment has dropped from over 20% to near euro zone levels, and the economy has picked up, sustaining a strong performance of 3.1% over the past five years.

Emigration from New Zealand is falling, according to recent government statistics. Top destinations are Australia and Britain. However, more immigrants are coming into the country than people leaving, with Japan, the Philippines, India and Fiji being the top source countries. The country of 4.1 million has a net increase in population from births of about 30,000 per year. However, the fertility rate of 1.8 births per woman is below the 2.1 births per woman generally required to sustain a population in the long term. Net immigration into the country adds about 12,000 more residents per year.

Skilled migrants coming to Australia are finding employment quickly and enjoying their new life down under, according to a government survey. After 18 months in Australia, employment rates for skilled migrants are above the national average of 97%. 72% of spouses who come to Australia are in work, with fewer than 5% being unemployed after 18 months.

The federal government of Australia announced a three-year labor agreement for the temporary entry of skilled meatworkers to Western Australia under the 457 visa program. The program for this sector in Western Australia had been halted last year over concerns related to abuse of the visa system. Employers are required to train Australian workers to help "guarantee a future workforce for the industry." A minimum salary level of $41,850 AUD must be maintained for the employee, or "the relevant industrial instrument, whichever is higher."

Canada has introduced proposed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that would deny work permits to those entering the country as exotic dancers. The government is citing concerns over exploitation, prostitution and human trafficking. The amendments would give authority for immigration officers to deny work permits to those who they believe will take up employment as strippers.