Immigration newsletter 12 Aug 2010

UK immigration has announced another review of the UK Tier 4 student visa scheme. There has been a one third increase in student numbers in the twelve months to March 2010:
 

• For the period to March 2009 there were 235,295 student visas and 24,780 dependants.
• For the period to March 2010 there were 313,011 student visas and 31,385 dependants.  This is an increase of 75,000 compared to the previous year.

The Australian Government is holding an employment expo in London on 11 and 12 September 2010 to match Australian employers with skilled workers from the UK.   The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) had the following to say:

“Are you skilled in engineering, medical services, or trades? If so, Australia needs you.”

“There is still a critical need for skilled workers across a range of Australian industries. The Skills Australia Needs Expo in London will target the industries most in need of skilled workers, such as the mining, health and construction industries.”

If you are a national of a Country on the US visa waiver scheme you will from 8 September 2010 have to pay a fee of $14 under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).  From January 2009 everyone entering the US under the visa waiver scheme needs to apply under ESTA.  So far there has been no fee for applying under ESTA.

ESTA takes up to 72 hours (3 days) to process and is valid for up to two years.  So you should make sure that you leave enough time for the processing of your application.  If you are thinking of visiting the US in the next two years and are a national of a visa waiver Country you should consider applying now and so avoid the new fee.