Immigration newsletter 25 Mar 2014

Do you have a professional level contract in the UK paying at least £180 per day? If so, we can help you find a sponsor and obtain a UK Tier 2 (General) skilled worker visa. It is easier to switch if you already have a Tier 1 PSW visa or Tier 4 student visa or Tier 2 Visa. The UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur scheme may also be an option. Why not contact the London office on 0344 991 9222 for further details.

Immigrant entrepreneurs found 14% of UK start-up businesses

14% of start-up businesses in the UK are founded by immigrant entrepreneurs, according to a newly released report. 456,073 immigrant entrepreneurs have founded 464,527 businesses which employ 8.3m people.

The report says that immigrants are more likely to start businesses than native Britons. 17.2% of non-UK nationals have started their own business as opposed to only 10.4% of Britons.

UK PM caught up in immigration row

The UK's new immigration minister, James Brokenshire, used his first speech as minister to claim that mass immigration 'puts pressure on social cohesion'. He said immigration benefited the 'metropolitan elite' but has driven down wages for the working class.

Mr Brokenshire became minister after his predecessor resigned after employing an illegal immigrant as his cleaner.

The speech has caused embarrassment because it has emerged that many ministers in the UK government could be described as being members of the metropolitan elite who employ foreign workers as their cleaners and nannies.

Irish rush for Canadian working holiday visas

Irish citizens rushed to apply for Canadian working holiday visas after Canadian immigration began accepting applications at 8pm on 13th March. 3,850 visas were available. That many applications were received within 11 minutes leaving many applicants disappointed.

The Canadian working holiday visa allows young people aged between 18 and 35 from 32 countries to spend up to two years working in Canada.

Working holidaymakers who spend 12 months or more working in a skilled position may then qualify for a Canadian Experience Class permanent residence visa.

Australian immigration will extend Ukrainian visas

The Australian immigration minister Julie Bishop has announced that Ukrainians in Australia will be able to extend their visas should they expire while the current crisis continues. The situation will be kept under review.

The Ukrainian crisis was triggered in November 2013 when President Yanukovych pulled out of a planned agreement with the European Union and instead signed an agreement with Russia. This led to popular uprisings which forced Yanukovych to flee. Since then, Russia has annexed the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine. There are fears that Russian troops may be sent to annex other parts of the Country.

Singapore is world's most expensive city

A survey by The Economist has found that Singapore is the world’s most expensive city for expatriates. Singapore is a very expensive place to buy clothes, manufactured goods and alcohol. The price of utilities is rising. It also has a strong currency which contributes to the cost of living.

Singapore overtook last year's top city, Tokyo, because of the cost of car ownership. A car costs over three times as much in Singapore as in neighbouring Malaysia. The top three most expensive cities to live in were Singapore, Paris and Oslo, London came 15th and New York 26th.

Australia and New Zealand to cooperate on cricket visas

The Australian and New Zealand prime ministers, Tony Abbott and John Key, have announced that the two countries will cooperate over visas during the cricket world cup in 2015. Fans will be able to travel to both countries during the tournament using an Australian visa.

The Australian and New Zealand tourist boards said they expected the cooperation over visas would lead to benefits for both countries.

The Cricket World Cup will begin in February 2015. 49 matches will be played over 43 days. 26 games will be held in Australia and 23 in New Zealand.

The final will be held on 29th March 2015.