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The UK Government recently announced a permanent cap on skilled immigration that will drastically reduce the annual number of skilled visas available to potential skilled migrants. The cap, which will be implemented in April 2011, will also include major changes to the UK's points based immigration system. Tier 1 (General) visas or something similar will only be available as an 'exceptionally talented' visa which will be capped at 1,000 visas per year. Currently, Tier 1 (General) Visas are capped at 13,000. Tier 1 (General) visas are running out very quickly. It is very possible that all skilled immigration visas will be used up before January 2011.

The permanent cap affecting skilled immigration which the UK is implementing in April 2011 is causing a lot of controversy and consternation among immigrants and businesses alike. But while Tier 1 (General) is in effect being abolished and will in future only apply...

The UK Government introduced an interim limit on the number of initial Tier 1 (General) visa applications that can be issued overseas on 19 July 2010. The limit does not affect applications from Tier 1 (General) dependents or applications for Tier 1 visas made from within the UK. This limit is in effect until 31 March 2011, after which a permanent cap will be introduced. The UK Border Agency (UKBA) administers the limit on a monthly basis. As of 07 December 2010, all 600 Tier 1 (General) visas available for the month of December have been used up.

Business leaders and industry organisations in Scotland have drafted a joint letter to UK Immigration Minister Damian Green stating that Scotland's economy would suffer under the new immigration cap announced by the Government. Scotland wants to have its own immigration limit more suited to the needs of its labour market. Business...

There is currently a temporary limit on Tier 1 visa applications made from outside the UK. It is very possible that all out of Country Tier 1 visas for the whole year will be fully used up by January 2011. It is already the case that the monthly allocation of 600 visas is fully used up at the beginning of each month. If you are already in the UK you do not come under the temporary limit. However, it is important to apply before April 2011.

UK Employers and other eligible sponsors wishing to request an initial or additional allocation of certificates of sponsorship for consideration at the January panel must do so by 24 December 2010. Due to the Holidays, the panel will meet on 7 January 2011. Sponsors will be notified of the outcome of their application by 14 January 2011.

The UK has proposed stricter...

2010 has been a rocky year for immigration around the world. Aftershocks from the global financial crisis of 2008 can still be felt as evidenced by many countries responding to the economic downturn by bringing in more restrictive immigration policies. However, there is evidence that as the economies of many countries improve and unemployment rates fall, skilled immigration will once again play a key role in filling labour gaps.

One of the biggest stories this year is the UK Government's interim immigration cap that was put into force in June. The temporary cap, designed to prevent a surge in applications ahead of a planned permanent cap to be introduced in April 2011, was pushed through without any Parliamentary vote. Since this summer, a monthly cap of 600 applications for Tier 1 General has been in place, with the...

2010 was a momentous year for immigration around the World. Below we include a few of the most important immigration stories for 2010 :

Unlimited numbers of UK Tier 1 visa applications can still be made from within the UK until the end of March 2010. However, Tier 1 General visa or equivalent will be almost impossible to obtain from April 2011.

Australia immigration skilled occupation list for General Skilled Migration applications was reduced from 400 occupations to 181 occupations on 1 July 2010. Immigration for tradespeople will be more difficult from July 2011.

Canada Immigration in demand occupations was reduced to 29 occupations from 26 June 2010. This means that many prospective immigrants to Canada will now require a job offer to qualify for immigration.

US H-1Bs continue to be available throughout the year. In the booms years H-1Bs were used up the...