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European Union interior ministers met in Brussels on 25 September 2008 to discuss an EU-wide immigration pact. The pact would include endorsing the so-called 'blue card' skilled immigration directive. The blue card would provide a "one-stop shop" for non-European Union nationals with skilled work experience who wish to take employment in any European Union member state. The scheme hopes to help the EU compete with other countries that are attracting many more skilled immigrants. If an agreement is reached, the blue card could become reality by 2011.

Since the United States has come into existence, the makeup of America's newest citizens has changed -- from European pioneers that forged a new nation in its early days to the recent wave of Hispanic and Asian migrants adding their skills and talents to the world's largest economy. Each year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants become U.S. citizens, through family, employment, or...

The United States' 2010 Diversity Visa Lottery (also known as the Green Card Lottery) began at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Savings Time on 02 October 2008. People born in a country with low levels of immigration into the United States may be eligible for entry in the Green Card Lottery . This year, a very significant change is that people born in Russia are eligible again, after being left out for several years. The submission period for the Green Card Lottery will end at 12:00 noon Eastern Standard Time on 01 December 2008. People may submit only one application; duplicate entries for an individual will invalidate all entries for that person.

The United Kingdom's Labour Minister of Parliament for Leicester East stated recently that the number of highly skilled migrants entering the United Kingdom will increase under the new Tier 1...

Phil Woolas, the new Immigration Minister for the United Kingdom, has begun his tenure by advocating a new quota policy for immigrants. He claims that immigration policy 'needs to provide confidence' to the native population that migration is "under control." The announcement comes about 4 weeks after the former Immigration Minister, Liam Byrne, rejected demands for a cap on non-EU immigrants allowed to remain in the UK. In recent years there has been a push from anti-immigration groups within Parliament to provide a "balanced migration" policy that would set a quota on the number of immigrants who are allowed to remain in Britain permanently after they satisfy the 5-year residence requirement.

The United States' Diversity Visa Lottery for 2010 is now open and will close on 01 December 2008. The number of immigrant visas that will be granted under the Green Card Lottery...

The United States' Diversity Visa Lottery for 2010 is now open and will close on December 1st. Only about 5 weeks are left to submit a DV-2010 application. Interested applicants are advised not to wait; Apply now! It is very possible that on the last day for submissions the Government website will not be able cope with demand. The number of immigrant visas that will be granted under the Green Card Lottery is limited to 55,000. This year, a very significant change is that people born in Russia are eligible again, after being left out for several years. In last year's DV-2009 Green Card Lottery, over 9.1 million qualified entries were received.

European businesses have been taking part in an informal debate on the need for skilled workers from outside of the European Union. There doesn't seem any doubt that highly skilled immigration is extremely important. One of the...

The Australian government recently hinted that they may reduce immigration quotas in response to the global economic downturn. But industry experts are warning that reducing immigration levels will hurt businesses in Australia. Both Prime Minster Kevin Rudd and Immigration Minister Chris Evans have stated that migration policies should take into account the current economic situation. However, Evans did state that no decision has yet been made to reduce immigration. Gary Black, executive director of Australia's National Retail Association says that reducing immigration quotas is not the right answer. While he agreed that the government should review current immigration policies, he stated that "it really would be counter- productive to interfere with skill-based programs." Black was referring to immigration schemes such as employer sponsored 457 temporary work visas and the General Skilled Migration program, which allows overseas workers to come to Australia permanently under a points based system.

According to...