The Conservative Party is calling for annual refugee and immigrant quotas and offshore asylum processing centres. The Labour Party says it will create an electronic register of all border crossings and wants a skills-based points system for permanent immigrants (which, as workpermit.com readers know, already exists). The Liberal Democrats would allow asylum seekers to work so they don't have to rely on benefits and they back a quota for immigrant workers from outside the EU based on skills.
We will announce on our news section the results of the General Election as soon as we have the details on 6 May.
Many Eastern European Countries joined the EU on 1 May 2004 which enabled citizens from these Countries to travel freely in the EU. Some Countries in Europe who are not in the EU have been voicing their desire for visa-free visits to the EU this week. The Ukraine asked the EU to consider granting its citizens visa-free visits to EU member states. As a show of good will, the Ukraine is offering limited visa-free travel for EU citizens to the Ukraine. Russia has also made it clear that it wants fewer visa restrictions for its citizens who want to travel to the EU. The EU wants Russia, however, to take back Russian citizens who are currently illegal immigrants in the EU – something which Russia so far has been reluctant to do.
The UK's new Immigration and Asylum Bill will create a new points-based system for migrants who want to work in the UK. There will also be a new system of entry that will mean that various regions of the UK will be able to accept immigrants who have skills included on the regional skills shortage lists .
New Zealand has announced changes to both its citizenship and immigration laws this week. Children born in New Zealand will only become citizens automatically if at least one parent is a permanent resident or citizen. The...