Immigration newsletter 24 Oct 2007

workpermit.com has introduced a convenient new online visa service for those wishing to travel to Australia. If you hold a passport from an eligible country, you can apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa using an electronic form on our website. 

An ETA is a multiple-entry visa that allows you to visit Australia for up to three months during a 12-month period for the purpose of short holidays, tourism, recreation, business trips, and informal studies or training. We can submit your application for you for a very reasonable service fee.

The European Commission this week is unveiling its "Blue Card" plans for a skilled immigration scheme to attract workers into the European Union. Under the proposal, skilled professionals may work in an EU nation for two years, after which the permit would become renewable and allow a person to live and work throughout the European Union. 

The EU requires an estimated 20 million workers during the next 20 years to meet economic growth needs. Britain, Denmark and Ireland would be allowed to opt out of the scheme, and other Member States have expressed reservations about the current proposal. All 27 EU nations need to ratify the agreement before it can come into effect.

The United Kingdom's Immigration Minister, Liam Byrne, outlined a 12-month program of "sweeping changes" to Britain's immigration system in a speech on 16 October. The new points-based immigration system is planned to go into effect during 2008, which will introduce a tiered system based upon the skill level of a potential immigrant. 

Fingerprint visas and ID cards for foreign nationals will become mandatory, and increased powers for Britain's border security force are also planned. Mr. Byrne promised to attack the "root cause of illegal journeys," which he characterized as illegal jobs in the UK. 

The Russian government is tightening the rules for foreigners working in the country under multiple-entry business visas. People may only stay in Russia for a maximum of 90 days at a time now, and for a maximum of 180 days during a given calendar year. Someone staying for 90 consecutive days will have to leave for 90 days before becoming eligible to return. Foreigners will now have to apply for their Russian business visa from their home country, rather than from any country outside of Russia. Regular work visas are NOT affected by the decree.

New figures from Statistics New Zealand show that migration flows into New Zealand are continuing to slow down, as of the year ending in September 2007. However, visitor arrivals increased 4% from 2006 levels, exceeding 9 million total arrivals and departures for the first time in one year. Fifty years ago, total passenger movement totaled 145,000 people annually, about the same figure for just under six days today.

According to a new study just published in Washington D.C. by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), migrants working abroad in industrialized nations around the world sent up to $300 billion U.S. dollars (~?240 bln at 2006 exchange rates) back to their home countries during 2006. This is nearly three times more than the total foreign aid to developing nations. 

More than one-third of the money sent home by 150 million migrants working in such countries as the United States, Australia, and Canada was remitted to their families in rural areas where poverty tends to be the worst. According to available records, most transfers were between $100 and $300 per transfer.

Diane Finley, the Immigration Minister for Canada, is traveling to India next week to assess Canada's immigration operations. During an interview, she announced the opening of "referral offices" in New Delhi and Beijing that will allow people to test their qualifications against Canadian standards for various regulated professions. More details of the new initiatives will be announced during her trip to India. 

Canada has experienced some problems recognizing foreign credentials, which she promises are being addressed. Some employers have also insisted that migrant workers have Canadian work experience, resulting in many immigrants being forced to take any job they can get once they arrive in Canada, whether or not it's related to their profession.

Bangladesh has announced that it will no longer issue work permits to any foreign citizen for more than five years. No unskilled foreign national with monthly earnings less than $500 will be allowed to work for commercial or industrial firms that are under foreign ownership or set up as a joint venture. 

A recent taskforce investigation found many workers who were over-staying their permits and avoiding taxes. It estimated that nine of every ten foreign workers for commercial firms and industries did not have legal work permits. The restriction will not apply to foreigners working in diplomatic or other non-commercial posts.