Immigration newsletter 13 Jun 2007

On June 14th & 15th, there will be a judicial review by the High Court of the United Kingdom regarding changes to British immigration law that were applied retrospectively. The Court will specifically examine a change that means that people will have to reside in Britain for five years instead of four to gain Indefinite Leave to Remain. 

The question to be decided upon is the legality of making changes to the law and then applying those changes retrospectively to people who obtained visas under the previous rules. The determination may affect other changes, such as those to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP).

Russia and Norway have signed an agreement to ease visa and travel procedures between the countries. Russia has begun adjusting visa and travel requirements with European nations, with a number of agreements coming into effect from June 1st of this year. Norway's prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, said that he believes a visa-free regime should exist between both nations, as well as other Schengen Agreement members. The Schengen Agreement sets standards by which countries share information between law enforcement and government agencies.

Immediately in the wake of the May Day festivities last month, German Chancellor Angela Merkel strongly denied that she would allow Germany to set a federally mandated minimum wage. However, intense pressure is building on the government to set a minimum wage for the first time in Germany's history. 

Some business interests and labor interests are trying to force a vote on a minimum wage this month. They are hoping to get ?7.50/hour after a decade of bottom wages between Ђ3 and Ђ4.

Millions of workers from such countries as Poland and Romania have been lured to other nations for higher wages but, now that the economies of Eastern EU nations are picking up, they are facing a desperate shortage of qualified workers. Employers are looking further east for workers, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States and China. Ђ32.5 billion were invested by businesses in 2006 in East EU nations. The boom in construction especially is driving the need for labor to sustain the economic growth.

Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship granted a record number of 457 visas for IT professionals for the nine month's prior to March 31st. About 4300 of the temporary skilled worker visas were given to IT companies alone in that time, indicating a potential rise by 35% in this category for the year. 

With a booming economy, Australia has increased the quotas for some visas, and other changes to adjust the rules are being examined. Australia faces an aging workforce and a low birth rate, meaning that the country requires several million permanent immigrants in the upcoming years.

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) for New Zealand immigration is getting a significant facelift. Effective from July 30th, changes to the SMC points system will be implemented. Numerous other changes to New Zealand immigration will be phased in gradually. 

A "more transparent and appropriate definition" of skilled employment will become effective from November 2007. More significant changes will begin after that, such as an update to the List of Recognized Qualifications. Immigration Minister David Cunliffe also announced that "more fundamental" reviews of the SMC are scheduled for 2008.