Immigration newsletter 14 May 2008

The United Kingdom's Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) has published details about the Tier 2 visa for skilled workers, intended to replace the current UK Work Permits scheme sometime during "the Autumn of 2008." Applicants will need to score a minimum of 70 points in three areas: Attributes, Maintenance, and English Language Ability. An employer must be approved by the BIA to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship, which individuals must submit with an application. Vacancies must come under the Skills Shortage Occupations List or the requirements of a Resident Labour Market test must be met.

The United Kingdom published updated information about Tier 5 visas under the new five-tiered, points-based system. Tier 5 visas cover so-called "youth-mobility workers" - people between the ages of 18 and 30 coming to Britain to work for up to 2 years. The visa is not renewable, and people may not switch to another category without firstly leaving the country.

Several immigration categories will be discontinued, including the au pair scheme, the Japan: Youth Exchange, and the Working Holidaymaker scheme. Transitional arrangements will be available for individuals in these categories when Tier 5 is implemented during the third quarter of 2008.

Indian nationals are expected to take advantage of growing job opportunities in the West, according to the Indian Minister of Overseas Affairs. Many highly skilled Indian workers immigrate to the United States, the UK and Canada. This trend is now expected to continue to continental Europe, where the easing of migration for professionals and skilled workers will become one component of an upcoming free trade pact between India and the European Union.

Global immigration rates are rising around the world as nations deal with aging populations and impending labor shortages. In response, many governments are implementing major changes to their immigration policies, or are developing plans to do so in the near future.

Britain is consolidating over 80 entry routes into one "five-tier" points-based system. Australia is changing its temporary skilled migration strategy to help employers bring workers into Australia faster and with less bureaucracy.

The European Union's Blue Card proposal, if implemented, would allow skilled migrants to live and work in the EU. Canada continues to fund and develop services for immigrants throughout its provinces and territories. In the United States, an increase in H-1B visa quotas and/or less stringent permanent visa requirements seem likely after the Presidential election in November.

The Australian government has announced an increase of 31,000 places under its permanent skilled migration program. According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the move is to help employers struggling with skills shortages. The increase for permanent skilled migration is about a 30% increase over 2007-2008, and sets a new record of 133,500 available skilled migration visas. Family-based visas are also increased, bringing the total for all migration streams to about 190,000 for 2008-2009.

Australia will now allow all successful asylum applicants to be granted permanent residence visas immediately. Until now, asylum applicants landing in Australia by illegal means were only eligible for a Temporary Protection Visa (TPV). There were many more restrictions under a TPV than those under a Permanent Protection Visa.

The change fulfils an election commitment by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to remove the "unjust" Temporary Protection Visa. Beginning this year, successful asylum applicants will receive a permanent visa, regardless of their mode of arrival.

As of 31 March 2008, the population of New Zealand reached 4.26 million, according to Statistics New Zealand. However, the U.S. CIA estimates 4.17 million as of July this year. Statistics New Zealand says that the population increased by 40,200 for the year ending March 2008, nearly a 15% decline from the same period for the previous year. The lower population growth is being attributed to a slowdown in net migration. Net migration gain was only 4,700 for 2007-2008, compared to 12,100 for the previous year. The population is also aging, increasing pressure on teh country to attract new immigrants.