Immigration newsletter 09 Oct 2012

Some UK visas can take months to be processed by UK Immigration. Or you may have to attend in person at the public enquiry office. 

We are OISC registered and, if you are already in the UK, we can submit your visa application and get it processed on the same day!

Please note that we only have a limited number of slots each week, so it is advisable to apply as early as possible. Call our London Office on 0344 991 9222 for further details. 

The registration period for this year’s US Green Card Lottery began on October 2nd. It will run until November 3rd. After, a draw, The United States will issue 50,000 permanent residency visas to applicants from countries with low levels of immigration to the US.

In order to be eligible, you must have completed secondary education or two years' work in a job that requires at least two years training. For a small fee, workpermit.com can help you with your application. We also have an US Attorney who can assist

We would like to remind UK employers who have licences to sponsor foreign nationals for tier 2 skilled worker visas or tier 5 working holiday visas that some of these licences will expire on November 26th 2012.

Employers must ensure they renew their licence before the old one expires. If they do not, they will lose their licence and their foreign employees will have to leave the UK.

We can help employers apply for renewal. If you would like help with your application, call our London office on 0344 991 9222 for further details. 

The United Kingdom Border Agency has issued guidance for non-EU students at London Metropolitan University after the UKBA revoked its licence to teach students from outside the European Economic Area. 

The government has established a task force to help them find courses at other UK universities. UKBA staff have set up a help centre at London Metropolitan. The guidance states that international students can continue studying at LMU until their course ends or until the end of the academic year, whichever is sooner.

A report published by the The Center for American Progress says that passing the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, known as the DREAM Act, would add US$329bn to the US economy by 2030 and create 1.4m jobs. The report was funded by New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Rupert Murdoch, both advocates of greater migration into the US. 

The DREAM Act would allow some illegal immigrants, who arrived in the US as children, to apply for permanent residency.

There are 2.1m people who could benefit from the passing of the DREAM Act. Legal resident status would allow them to take higher paid jobs.  Their earnings would increase by an average 19% creating a benefit to the US economy of US$329bn. 

A new report says that the number of businesses set up by immigrants in the US is falling. The problem is most severe in Silicon Valley

The Kaufman Foundation, which funded the report, said that the US’s unwelcoming immigration system has created a 'reverse brain drain'. 
The report says the US should establish a start-up visa for entrepreneurs and grant more green cards for skilled immigrants. 

From November 1st 2012 most applicants for Canadian citizenship must provide proof of competence in English or French.

Acceptable proof will be
 

• A certificate proving that the applicant has passed an approved exam
• Evidence that the applicant has completed secondary education in English or French
• Evidence that the applicant has completed a Canadian government language programme. 

Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney said that research has shown that language skills are vital for new citizens.