Newsletter archive

The United States will not accept any more H-1B visa petitions for this year. 65,000 H-1B visas were available for the 2008 fiscal year. 150,000 petitions were submitted on Monday April 2nd. H-1B visas will be awarded from randomly selected petitions received on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Anyone wishing to live permanently in the United Kingdom now needs to take the new version of the Life in the UK Test. The updated test became mandatory on Monday, April 2nd for persons applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain and for naturalization.

The British Home Office has agreed to examine and reconsider many recent changes in the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. Many of the new rules for HSMP visas have made it more difficult for some people to qualify for an HSMP visa.

The United Kingdom announced a new work program called the International Graduates Scheme (IGS). It...

Last week Eurostat, the European Unions statistics authority, released a report showing the lowest unemployment rate since records began for the 13 countries using the euro. A 0.5% fall in unemployment in Germany, the eurozone's biggest economy, accounted for most of the change; France is also at a 24 year low. Inflation is currently at 1.9%, which is at the current EU target of just under 2%. Interest rates were raised by a quarter percentage point to 3.75% this month to try to keep inflation down. Interest are expected to go up again, perhaps as soon as in June.

Germany has become the 4th Member State to sign an EU directive into law that makes it easier to admit third-country nationals for the purpose of scientific research. Germany spends more on research and development than any other country in the European Union. All EU countries, except the United Kingdom,...

We would like to remind our readers that there has been a major revision to the schedule of fees for most United Kingdom immigration-related services. The current, detailed schedule, effective from April 2nd, has been posted on our website.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is about to release a report showing that the United Kingdom is losing valuable skilled workers. At the same time, the number of low-skilled foreign workers immigrating into the country is rising. Many Britons vacating professional and managerial positions are going to countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The UK national identity card scheme is still on track, but there is a lot of controversy associated with the program. Citizens and long-term residents will be required to obtain a card by 2014 at the latest. According to the government, the scheme will result in reduced levels...

The United Kingdom's Immigration Minister, Liam Byrne, has announced a firm timetable for the introduction of the new five-tiered immigration system for Britain. The UK will use a points-based system for all immigration into the country by 2010. The current 80 plus routes for immigration into the UK will be reduced.

Monday next week is the last day for applications under the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS). The good news is that from May 1st a new program, the International Graduates Scheme (IGS), will come into effect and replace SEGS. Under IGS, all students can apply to remain in the UK and work for up to 12 months after completing their studies.

The Policy Network, an international think tank, has published a pamphlet with numerous articles by researchers, economists, and members of European government. Among them is an article by the United Kingdom's Immigration Minister, Liam Byrne,...