Immigration newsletter 28 Aug 2013

This year, workpermit.com celebrates 25 years in business. We have helped thousands of people to move to the UK and around the world. We can help with many UK applications including Tier 2 visas, Tier 1 visas forentrepreneurs and investors, citizenship and Indefinite Leave to Remain.  

If you are in the UK with a Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) visa, we can help switch to a Tier 2 (General) skilled worker visa. We can even help you to find a Tier 2 sponsor. We also help with sponsorship licences for Tier 2 and Tier 5 employers and for Tier 4 student visas.  

We can also help with applications for Canada, Australia, the US and many other countries. Our expert staff are ready to help so why not give us a call now for a free consultation?

Canadian immigration issues first Federal Skilled Trade visas

Canada has announced that the first visas have been issued under the new Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

The FSTP opened in January and is for skilled tradespeople. 3,000 permanent resident visas can be issued this year.

Previously, tradespeople had difficulty qualifying for Canadian residence because of a bias towards academic qualifications. The FSTP focuses on work experience and trade qualifications. In order to be successful, you must have

• An offer of employment or a 'certificate of qualification' from a province or territory
• Basic language skills
• Two years' recent work experience in your trade

UK Directors say immigration is good for economy

Simon Walker, head of the UK’s Institute of Directors, says that the UK's economy needs migrant workers. The Institute of Directors represents 36,000 directors of UK businesses. Mr Walker was responding to a speech by a Labour politician calling for employers to favour British workers.

He said that foreign workers are more likely to apply for jobs than British ones and added that foreign-born workers tend to be better educated than their British counterparts. Mr Walker said that to discriminate against EU workers, who are entitled to work in the UK, would be contrary to UK anti-discrimination law and would also damage Britain's growth prospects.

Inspector says UK immigration is making 'good progress' on visas

The UK's independent chief inspector of immigration, John Vine, has congratulated UK immigration for improvements to the service it offers to applicants for UK visas. Inspectors carried out spot checks at the Croydon Public Enquiry Office in 2012 to follow up on earlier inspections in 2010. 

In 2010, inspectors found that UK immigration promised a 'same day' service on its website but usually dealt with applications on the day after applications were made.Mr Vine notes that by 2013, 91.5% of customers were now receiving a same day decision.

UK Immigration opportunities as 1.3m graduates emigrate

Figures released by the UK's Office for National Statistics show that UK government figures show that there are now 1.3m British graduates living and working overseas. This is more than any other developed country.

10% of graduates from leading UK universities in 2011 now work overseas. Conservative MP Nick de Bois said that the UK should encourage more graduates to stay in the UK. Over the same period, more immigrants settled in the UK than in any other country in Europe.

Sweden joins EU Blue Card scheme

Sweden has joined the EU's Blue Card scheme. The Blue Card is a European work permit which now covers 24 of the 27 EU countries. Only the UK, Ireland and Denmark are not involved. To qualify for a Swedish Blue Card, you must have

• a degree
• at least five years' professional work experience and
• The offer of a job at least 1.5 times the Swedish national average salary.

Your Blue Card will last for two years unless you lose your job when it will be cancelled immediately. You can apply to bring your family with you.

Matt Damon's new film is 'a metaphor for immigration'

Matt Damon has told the BBC that his new film, Elysium, is about immigration. The film was written and directed by Neill Blomkamp, a South African who emigrated to Canada at 18. The film is set in 2154AD. The earth is poor and violent while the super-rich live on a luxurious space station called Elysium.  

The plot follows a group of 'illegal immigrants', including Damon, as they attempt to reach Elysium while the Elysian government tries to stop them. Blomkamp told a newspaper 'this isn't science fiction. This is today’.