Immigration newsletter 05 Jan 2012

Firstly, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you again that Australian immigration from 1 July 2012 will be introducing significant changes to their skilled migration program. If you wish to come under the current skilled immigration programme you should apply for a skills assessment as soon as possible.  You need to be ready with your skills assessment and, have passed the English language test before you can submit your immigration application.  It could take many months for you to be ready to submit your immigration application.

Canada’s cap for Biologists under the skilled worker category has now been reached but there are still visas available for a number of other occupations. Those looking to emigrate can apply under the Canada immigration Federal Skilled Worker program. You can still apply without a job offer for this skilled immigration program if you are a physician, architect, social worker, etc. It is important to note that there are only 500 visas per occupation under the Canadian Federal skilled worker category.

A recent report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, an independent think-tank, predicted that the number of migrants coming to the UK from outside the EU will fall by about 10 per cent in 2012. The continuing financial crisis, in addition to the government's attempts to reduce the number of immigrants coming into the UK, is expected to lead to the decrease in immigrant numbers.

The UK and Irish governments have now signed an agreement to continue with the Common Travel Area, a passport-free zone that comprises Ireland, Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. According to UK immigration authorities, the agreement will help reduce illegal immigration. Although the stricter controls may make it more difficult to gain entry into the area, once you are in you can travel freely between the participating countries.

The number of international students on F-1 student visas enrolled in post-graduate business schools in the US has been rapidly increasing.The average international student enrollment in the top 20 full-time US MBA programs "is now 33.4 percent, up from 30.2 percent at the height of the economic crisis, when visa and financing issues prevented many international applicants from enrolling."

A recent report from Australian Immigration and Citizenship indicates that there has been an overall annual growth of 8.3 percent in the immigration department's Working Holiday Visa program. The Working Holiday Visa program allows foreigners aged 18 to 30 years of age to take a working holiday of up to 12 months in Australia.

The US Consulate General in Shanghai is increasing in size in order to deal with the rapidly increasing number of US visa applications it processes. In 2011, US consular officers in China had processed more than 1 million non-immigrant visa applications, 30 percent of them in Shanghai. These visa applications are mainly from Chinese citizens wishing to visit the US on B-1/B-2 visit visas.