Immigration newsletter 15 May 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

US immigration: Spouses of some H-1B visa holders can work

The US government has announced that the spouses of some H-1B visa holders will be able work while in the US. Currently, spouses are only able to work if they qualify for a US work visa themselves.

The change would only apply to spouses of H-1B visa holders who are skilled in one of the STEM subjects; science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The government says that the changes would benefit 97,000 people this year and 30,000 people a year in future.

Canada bars restaurants from Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Canada has barred restaurants from employing workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program after numerous claims that the system was being abused.

The employment minister Jason Kenney said that the moratorium would remain in place until the completion of a review of the program'.

There have been reports that some restaurants, including several branches of McDonald’s, have employed foreign workers when there have been Canadians or permanent residents willing and able to do the work.

US IT lobby group calls for action on H-1B visa reform

Compete America, a high-tech lobbying organisation, has called on the US Congress to increase the number of H-1B visas available.

Scott Corley of Compete America, has written an article for a Washington newspaper in which he says that the US economy could create an additional new job every 43 seconds if there were more H-1B visas available.

The H-1B visa allows US employers to employ skilled foreign workers in 'specialty occupations'. There are currently 85,000 available annually.

30% of UK population 'will be from ethnic minority by 2050'

According to a new report, 30% of the UK's population will be an ethnic minority by 2050. In England, that figure will be as high as 50%.

The report, by the Policy Exchange think tank, says that ethnic minorities will spread out from the cities to live throughout the country. Previous waves of immigrants have followed similar patterns.

Currently, 14% of the UK population, some 8m people, belong to minorities.

Canadian working holiday visa numbers soar

Canadian immigration says that the number of young foreigners working in Canada with International Experience Canada visas has risen sharply. 20,000 people, aged between 18 and 35, will get one of these visas in 2014.

The scheme allows people from 32 countries to spend a year living and working in Canada. Applicants from the Republic of Ireland can stay for two years. Continuing recession in much of Europe is thought to have led to increased demand.

Canadian unions have complained that the scheme is leading to increased competition for jobs in Canada.

New UK figures to show rise in immigration from EU

Newly released government figures show that the number of Romanians and Bulgarians working in the UK has risen by 28,000 since March 2013. This is likely to increase support for the anti-European Union UK Independence Party at the European elections in May.

EU citizens are currently allowed to live and work in the UK. UKIP has called for the UK to control immigration by leaving the EU. Romania and Bulgaria are the EU’s two newest members. Their citizens gained the right to work in the UK on January 1st this year. Before then only highly skilled workers, the self-employed and some agricultural workers could work in the UK.

Interestingly, the figures show that, since January this year, the number of Romanians and Bulgarians working in the UK has fallen.