Immigration newsletter 19 Jan 2012

We remind you yet again that from 1 July 2012 you will have to submit an expression of interest before submitting your Australian skilled immigration application. This may mean fewer people qualifying for skilled immigration and a longer processing time. 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.

The High Court in the UK has dismissed a legal challenge to a new immigration rule requiring people to be able to speak English before coming to the UK to live with their spouse. The law was implemented back in November 2010 and had recently been challenged by three couples who deemed the rules to be unfair and racist. However the UK High Court dismissed the challenges.

The UK Government has announced that its Air Passenger Duty (APD) will increase this April. New Zealand is worried that the tax hike on long haul flights from the UK could harm tourism. The tax, which increases from £85 to £92 for flights to New Zealand, is based on the distance travelled.

Talks between the US and India regarding H-1B and L-1 visas and trade issues have been postponed indefinitely. US officials said that the talks were being held at the wrong time. India is unlikely to agree to its number one priority; Increased market access for US firms to India's consumers.

From 1 January 2012, five states in the US have implemented new laws requiring employers to register for and use the federal E-Verify system to confirm that their immigrant employees are legally allowed to work in the US. In total, seventeen states in the US now have legislation that requires employers to use the E-Verify system in order to cut down on illegal workers.

The US Travel Association is pushing Congress to pass new legislation to ease US visitor visa restrictions in the hope that tourism to the US will increase. International visitors are expected to spend more than $152 billion in the year 2012, but tourists could offer an even larger boost to the US economy if the current bill before Congress passes so that it is easier to obtain visitor visas.

A review of Australian immigration's 457 visa is expected to happen later this year following complaints from the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union that the process used to grant visas is flawed. Australia's manufacturing industry relies heavily on foreign workers, however, the Manufacturing Workers' Union says that some foreign workers are being exploited. It should be noted that the Australian economy is doing well and that in general salary rates are very good.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is encouraging Filipinos to apply for available job opportunities for nurses and for other skilled worker positions in Australia this year. Employment Administrator Carlos Cao Jr. said Filipinos should take advantage of the shortage of Australian workers in the nursing, mining, and manufacturing sectors.