Immigration newsletter 13 Feb 2008

The Chinese Lunar New Year began on February 7th, marking the Year of the Rat for 2008. Called the "Spring Festival" in China, it is considered the most important of traditional Chinese holidays. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month, and it is an important holiday throughout East Asia. This Year of the Rat will last until January 25th, 2009, and will be controlled under the elemental sign of Earth.

The United Kingdom's Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) announced that the new points-based system will start from February 29th. The first immigrants required to use the Tier 1 points system are those currently in the UK under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) who wish to extend their leave to remain.

From April, hopeful immigrants applying from India will be required to come under the new Tier 1 rules for highly skilled migrants. The rest of the world will come under Tier 1 rules "sometime during the summer." Current HSMP visa holders and new applicants may find the Tier 1 rules more difficult: the rule allowing MBAs from select schools to automatically qualify has been removed, English language requirements will be more stringent, and fees are due to increase sharply.

Medical doctors wishing to take up training positions in the United Kingdom from outside of the European Union/European Economic Area will be barred from entering the United Kingdom under Tier 1 as General Highly Skilled Migrants. The decision is expected to reduce the number of training applicants to a total of about 5000 for 2009.

The government announced the change as part of an effort to open up more places for British-trained medical graduates. Doctors in training already in the UK under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) will be excluded from the new rules. They will need to qualify under the rules for a Tier 1 visa if they wish to remain.

From March 18th, 38 healthcare-related jobs will be removed from the United Kingdom's National Shortage Occupation List (NOSL). It is easier to come under the work permit scheme if you are on NSOL. All work permit applications received on and after 18 March for these healthcare positions will need to pass the full Resident Labor Market Needs test. A wide-range of healthcare positions are affected, from dieticians to nurses. However, a number of nursing-related occupations will remain on the list.

The Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) has published a report stating that Australia's growing labor requirements cannot be met by the native workforce and current levels of immigration. As of 2006, Australia's labor force growth has fallen to a 1.2% annual average, compared to the previous 1.9% annual growth average reported from 1980 to 2005. The report stated that Australia will need to depend on more immigration to meet its future labor requirements.

The Australian government will review its community relations program, called "Living in Harmony." For 10 years is has been celebrated every March 21st with "Harmony Day." The celebration event is an effort to raise awareness of multiculturalism and will also come under review. Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Laurie Ferguson, would like to consider changing the Harmony Day celebration into something that is more engaging and relevant to a wider range of Australians.

Sweden is indicating that it may require immigrants to have a job and housing before being allowed to bring family members into the country. The Swedish Prime Minister and the Migration Minister released a joint statement announcing the intention to solicit recommendations for a new legislative proposal. The proposal would bring Sweden more in line with the immigration policies of most other EU-member nations. Sweden has some of the most liberal immigration policies of the 27-member bloc.

The Canadian government will be supplying additional services to the Ontario and Atlantic Canada regions to assist employers in hiring temporary foreign workers. These service providers will advise employers who want to hire foreign workers. The services are mainly directed toward people who do not require a visa to enter Canada, or those who will work in occupations that don't require an employer to prove that a Canadian resident could not be found to fill a position.

Referred to as "temporary foreign worker units," the services are in addition to several other centers that are part of the same program. The centers will provide guidance to employers for all other temporary foreign workers, as well.