Immigration newsletter 17 Oct 2007

A new study released by the British Council ranks 25 European Union states, plus Norway, Switzerland, and Canada, according to how well they integrate immigrants. The UK ranks 5th in several key categories, and ranks overall 9th as "most favorable" toward immigrants. The only category Britain didn't score in the top half was in "Political rights," where it came in 15 out of 28 countries. The study also notes that the UK could improve family reunification.

According to new figures from the United Kingdom's Office of National Statistics, migrant workers from the eight Central and Eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004 (the 'A8' countries) are more spread out across the UK than traditional migrant groups. The report is based upon a 508,000 registration records of employers and breaks down by percentage the occupations Eastern European migrants have taken up.

Most of the European Union States have missed a deadline to comply with European Council Directive 2005/71/EC, also known as the so-called "Researchers' Visa." The Directive is part of the Lisbon Agenda, intended to make the 27-member bloc a more competitive and knowledge-based economy. 

The Researchers' Visas would provide a fast-track procedure to admit scientific researchers on projects throughout the EU. Only six EU States have complied so far, and only four more have partially complied. The Directive encourages Member States to allow potential immigrants to submit their application from within the country, rather than being required to return to their country of origin first. 

A collaborative survey between consulting firm Heidrick and Struggles (H&E) and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), entitled 'Global Talent Index' (GTI), predicts that the United States will continue to be the world leader in developing and importing talent over the next five years, but it faces increasing competition from the United Kingdom and China. By 2012, the U.S. is expected to rank 9th, just above China, in the openness of its labor market.

Projections are that China will leverage its enormous population by improving its compulsory education system and "developing a much better environment for producing and nurturing talent." The United Kingdom's programs for attracting skilled immigration have been enormously successful and are expected to continue to do well.

Statistics Sweden reports that emigration has increased during the first six months of 2007, compared to the same time period for 2006. 52% of those who leave are Swedish citizens, about half of whom are relocating to Norway. However, immigration to Sweden, notably from new European Union States, is steadily increasing. Immigration to Sweden has reached record levels, with 96,000 people coming into the country during 2006, compared with 77,000 in 1970. The largest source country is Iraq, which has seen a record number of asylum seekers fleeing to more stable countries.

The Spanish government will increase its immigration budget by ?321 million for 2008, ?8.58 million of which are earmarked for border control. Spain's immigrant population has increased from 500,000 in 1996 to just under 4.5 million in 2006, according to Spain's National Statistics Bureau. Spain and neighboring Portugal, which holds the rotating EU Presidency for the remainder of 2007, are calling for a common immigration policy across the European Union.

The French Senate has approved a controversial law that would allow voluntary DNA tests for immigrants seeking to join family members in France. The new legislation is intended to speed up the process for genuine applicants. Critics of the law characterize it as being racist in nature. Supporters of the bill argue that 12 other European countries have similar policies. 

The test would be paid for by the French government - part of a last minute change to the bill by the Immigration Minister just prior to the Senate vote. To prevent the test from being used as a basis for paternity suits, only examination of maternal DNA will be required.

New Zealand's Immigration Minister has announced new immigration policies intended to make it easier for citizens to bring family members into the country for visits. From November, quotas will be increased and there will be a new multiple-entry visit visa for parents and grandparents visiting family in New Zealand. The visa will allow travel in and out of the country for a three-year period. Changes were also announced for the sponsorship of parents, adult children, and siblings in the Family Residence Immigration categories.