Immigration newsletter 03 May 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 is likely to 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.

If you are interested in studying in the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, or Australia we can help. If you complete our student immigration enquiry form one of our representatives will be happy to contact you to let you know about the immigration process and possible colleges in the Country of your choice. 

Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced the department would be discussing the possibility of bringing in changes to the immigrant entrepreneur scheme. Citizenship and Immigration Canada's current immigrant entrepreneur program has been suspended since 1 July 2011.

A UK vice-chancellor has warned that UK universities may be compelled to use swipe cards that monitor foreign student attendance to comply with tough new UK immigration rules. Quintin McKellar, vice-chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire, said the university was considering introducing an electronic registration system that would allow the school to prove that its foreign students on Tier 4 visas were attending lectures.

Canada announced that if businesses are frustrated by red tape and delays in hiring temporary immigrant workers they may be able to fast track their foreign worker visas. They said that businesses with a two-year history of successfully hiring temporary foreign workers will be allowed to apply for fast-tracked hiring. Businesses who violate the rules will have their ability to hire temporary foreign workers suspended for two years.

Australia's Opposition leader, Tony Abbott, announced that he wants to lift the limits on foreigners using 457 work visas to enter Australia. Abbott explained that he wants the government to lift the limits on 457 visas granted to skilled workers for temporary work for up to four years. He says workers on 457 visas are "the best immigrants" who contribute immediately to the economy.

The UK Border Agency has told UK border staff at London’s Heathrow Airport to stop apologising for UK immigration delays. UK immigration staff had been handing out leaflets to passengers waiting in queues apologizing for "very long delays" at immigration checks. In recent weeks, tensions have grown over increasingly long immigration check delays after security had been heightened following last year’s border row when immigration border officials reduced passport and visa checks without ministerial approval. 

Thanks to an increase in U.S. Embassy visa officials in Brazil and China from last November, the U.S. has reported faster processing times. Also, following U.S. President Obama’s announcement on 19 January regarding the importance of tourism, the country has also seen an increase in the numbers of Chinese and Brazilian tourists visiting the US.