Immigration newsletter 09 Apr 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 for further details.

UK Immigration Solicitor needed - Call the UK office on 0344 991 9222

UK Immigration announces changes to Points-Based System

The UK has announced changes to the UK’s Points-Based Visa System. The main changes are:

• There will be a new Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa category for IT workers. A maximum of 200 visas will be granted annually.
• A change to the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa allowing all graduates to apply for all 2,000 available visas. Previously, half the total was reserved for MBA graduates.
• Applicants for Tier 2 skilled worker visas will now be able to apply for a visa lasting five years.

Chinese applicants drive increasing demand for US EB-5 visas

US figures show that over 80% of EB-5 visas are now issued to Chinese nationals. The EB-5 investor visa allows international businesspeople who start a business in the US to acquire permanent residence visas.

To qualify applicants must invest at least $500,000 in a US business and create (or preserve) 10 US jobs. Spouses and dependent children can also gain entry under this scheme.

Demand for the visa has risen sharply recently and experts predict that the 10,000 cap may be reached for the first time this year.

Canadian immigration ministers agree to cooperate on visa reform

Canada's immigration minister has met provincial and territorial ministers to discuss Canada’s immigration policy.

The ministers restated their commitment to ‘actively recruit’ economic immigrants with the skills Canada needs.

They say that they will make sure that economic immigration increases and will in future represent 70% of the total number of immigrants gaining entry to Canada. They will also work to ensure that immigrants settle throughout Canada rather than stay in the larger cities as has traditionally been the case. There is likely to be good demand for workers with skills in construction, mining, medicine and IT.

UK immigration's visa reforms are harming UK's soft power

A UK parliamentary committee has warned that recent changes to the Tier 4 student visa stream have damaged the UK’s international reputation.

The Select Committee on Soft Power says that many global leaders including Bill Clinton, and Manmohan Singh of India studied in the UK. The committee says that changes to the system, and anti-immigration statements from prominent UK politicians make it less likely that future leaders will study in the UK.

UK employs devious means to cut immigration total

The Financial Times reports that UK immigration may change the way that immigrants are counted. This will show that the total number of immigrants in the UK is lower than is actually the case!

The government promised to reduce net immigration substantially by 2015 but statistics show that it is rising.

The Financial Times says the Home Secretary may reduce the maximum length of the Tier 2 (Intra Company Transfer) (Short Term) visa from one year to 11 months. This would mean that 19,000 people annually would no longer be included in the official immigration statistics, which only include people who are in the UK for a year or more.

Australia to issue three year business visas to Chinese applicants

The Australian immigration minister, Scott Morrison, has announced that business visas for Chinese applicants will now last for three years. They will be multiple entry visas allowing applicants to enter and leave the country as many times as they wish.

The intention of the change is to boost trade between the two nations. Until now, business visas have only lasted for one year.

Australian trade minister Andrew Robb said that Australia intends to allow applicants from other countries to apply for the new three-year visa in future.