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The General Skilled Migration (GSM) program for Australian visas changed, effective 01 September 2007. workpermit.com has re-written the General Skilled Migration section for Australia on our website. We have also updated our points-calculator .

From 01 September, the entire Australian General Skilled Migration (GSM) stream changed. The number of visa categories was reduced from 15 to 9. 5 of the categories can be applied for in-country (Onshore Visas), and 4 categories can be applied for from outside of Australia (Offshore Visas). More stringent English language skills will be required. The minimum score required under the International English Language Testing System is now 6. There is increased emphasis on skilled work experience, with a points bonus for skilled work already performed in Australia.

The Australian Labour Party has unveiled a proposal to allow unskilled and low skilled workers in from the...

The office of the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has announced plans that would require skilled workers immigrating into the United Kingdom from outside of the European Union to have good English. Workers in the "highly skilled" category already need to demonstrate a high level of English to qualify for their visas. The government claims that ~33% of the skilled workers that entered Britain last year would not have been able to show that they could speak English. The proposed plan is that a test will now apply to the "skilled" category - and ministers have indictead that low-skilled workers will also e included. Immigrants will need to meet the equivalent of a GCSE grade A to C.

The Czech Republic has announced a "green card" work visa to be introduced during the first half of 2008. Currently, Czech employers must prove that they cannot find a an EU...

The Australian Citizenship Amendment Bill of 2007 passed in the Australian Parliament last week. From 01 October, people seeking Australian citizenship are required to take a test, which includes a basic grasp of English and a knowledge of Australian culture and history. 20 questions are randomly chosen from a possible 200, and there is no limit to the number of times that the test can be taken before passing it. Special arrangements will be made for those with low levels of literacy and other special needs.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship has published research showing that immigrants who have been in Australia for longer than 18 months experience lower unemployment rates and higher wages. The survey also shows a correlation between higher English language test scores and better employment. Skilled immigrants have an employment rate of 97% after 18 months, and family-stream immigrants have 94% employment. The...

The United States will begin accepting applications for the Diversity Visa 2009 Lottery at 12 noon East Coast time for the U.S. on Wednesday, 03 October 2007. The application period will end at 12 Noon Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, 02 December 2007. All applications must be submitted by electronic Entry Form on the Internet; paper entries will not be accepted. "Up to" 55,000 permanent resident visas (known as "Green Cards") will be approved for people born in eligible countries.

The immigration ministers for Canada and Nova Scotia have signed an 'Agreement for Canada-Nova Scotia Co-operation on Immigration' on 19 September 2007. The agreement is designed to help Nova Scotia's attract skilled immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program by increasing cooperation with the federal government. The federal and provincial governments will collaborate more closely on information sharing, recognition of qualifications and marketing strategies to attract qualified immigrants. Nova Scotia's...