Immigration newsletter 23 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. Even if you are unable to submit your application to meet the deadline you should seriously consider contacting us now to review your options.

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.

US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, as of 11 May 2012, it has already received 36,700 H-1B cap-subject petitions out of the 65,000 available visas. Additionally, they have already received 14,800 H-1B visa petitions for foreigners with US advanced degrees out of the 20,000 available visas. If you are considering filing a cap-subject H-1B petition as part of the FY2013 quota, we highly recommend you apply as soon as possible. Workpermit.com can help you submit your application, please feel free to contact us for further details.

US Republican Senator John Cornyn has proposed legislation to increase the number of H-1B visas that are issued to foreigners who have graduated with a master's and doctoral degree from a US university. The bill that would make an additional 55,000 visas available each year for graduates with master's and doctoral degrees from US universities. Cornyn noted that the bill would not add to the overall number of US visas available. The bill, if enacted, would mean the end of the popular Green Card Lottery program. The 55,000 diversity visas from the Green Card lottery visa scheme would instead be allocated to the H-1B visa scheme. Ending the popular Green Card Lottery visa scheme could prove to be highly controversial.

Earlier this month the Canadian province of Saskatchewan introduced changes to their Immigrant Nominee Program. Among the changes, family category nominees will now only be able to submit one application per household until the principal applicant and family have settled in the Canadian province. Additionally, students who graduate from a university in Canada outside of the province will now be required to have been employed in Saskatchewan for one full year before applying for a visa in the program. Finally, Entrepreneur category applicants will be required to have their net worth and evidence of funds verified by an independent third party before submitting an application and receiving a visa.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced that they believe easier visa processes are important and integral to stimulating economic growth and job creation throughout the tourism industry. The WTTC argued that the G20 Countries, which consists of many of the major economies in the world, has an important duty to help boost their international tourist numbers. Research by the WTTC stated that the G20 could boost tourism numbers by an additional 122 million, generating an extra USD$206 billion in tourism exports and creating over five million additional jobs by 2015. If you would like to apply for a visa WorkPermit.com can help.

Under new immigration rules, the UK Border Agency is planning to remove the full right of appeal for all immigrants applying to enter the UK on a family visitor visa in July 2012. However, due to interim measures the change will not affect immediate family members who will retain the full right of appeal until 2014. In all refused visa cases, applicants will still be able to appeal on limited grounds such as human rights or race discrimination grounds. The UKBA's interim measures will ensure that the full right of appeal will be limited to only those applying to visit an immediate family member.

Ireland's Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar is urging Ireland and the UK to create a joint UK-Ireland visa. He said tourists and business visitors should not need to apply for two separate visas for the UK and Ireland. Under current immigration rules, overseas visitors traveling to the UK on a UK visitor visa can also travel to Ireland without needing to apply for a separate Irish visa. However, this is only available until October 2016. If you are interested in Irish travel you can fill out our Ireland immigration enquiry form.