Immigration newsletter 08 Dec 2010

The UK Government introduced an interim limit on the number of initial Tier 1 (General) visa applications that can be issued overseas on 19 July 2010. The limit does not affect applications from Tier 1 (General) dependents or applications for Tier 1 visas made from within the UK. This limit is in effect until 31 March 2011, after which a permanent cap will be introduced.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) administers the limit on a monthly basis. As of 07 December 2010, all 600 Tier 1 (General) visas available for the month of December have been used up.

Business leaders and industry organisations in Scotland have drafted a joint letter to UK Immigration Minister Damian Green stating that Scotland's economy would suffer under the new immigration cap announced by the Government. 

Scotland wants to have its own immigration limit more suited to the needs of its labour market. Business leaders say that the Scottish financial services sectors will be hit the hardest by the immigration cap.

Senior figures in the UK education sector are warning that indecision within the Government on changes to the Tier 4 student immigration program will harm the UK universities sector and the UK as a whole. The coalition government has delayed an eight-week consultation on planned changes to the UK student visa system.

The recent announcement of numbers for the permanent immigration cap on skilled immigration has the UK's education industry worried that a similar cap on student immigration below degree level will severely damage the UK's education sector and so the country's ability to remain globally competitive in the education sector.

Australia's mining industry is pushing for more immigration as unemployment rates fall across the country. They state that more skilled immigration is crucial to support the planned $140 billion investment in mining-related projects to be located mostly in northern Australia.

Sam Walsh, Rio Tinto iron ore executive director, told The Australian that the industry has to be careful not to create a situation where tradespeople across many occupations all head north at once to fill labour shortages.

Australia's rate of net immigration continues to fall as more people leave Australia and fewer people arrive. 

The number of permanent and long-term arrivals still outnumbers departures. However immigration numbers fell to 210,400 people this year, compared to 324,700 the previous year. 

In October, there were only 9,370 immigrants who settled in Australia, the lowest since March of 2004.

If you would like to immigrate to Australia, the Australian Capital Territory may be interested in nominating you for a skilled independent migration visa under the Australian Skilled Sponsored Visa (Subclass 176) or the Skilled Sponsored Residence Visa (Subclass 886).

These are Australian permanent residence visas. The Subclass 176 Visa is for people with good English language skills and experience in an occupation on Australia's Skilled Occupation List (SOL) who successfully pass the points-based test

A new study finds that skilled migrants are increasingly attracted to Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand is an increasingly popular destination for people looking to live and work abroad. 

The study, commissioned by the Department of Labour, found that migrants who came to Wellington chose the city for its beauty, compactness, and because of good job opportunities. They also liked Wellington's education system.