Published by Admin on December 2nd, 2011 in Canadian Immigration, Global Visas
Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced last week that federal funding of immigrant settlement services in most Canadian provinces and territories will be increased for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. The funding goes towards services that help new immigrants settle in Canada.
Some of the largest immigration settlement funding increases will be for Prince Edward Island, Yukon and Saskatchewan; Ontario is the only province to receive a decrease in funding. Quebec is not included in these figures as they handle their own immigration program.
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Published by Admin on December 1st, 2011 in Global Visas, US immigration, USA Immigration and work visas
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced they have received enough petitions for graduate level skilled workers under the H-1B visa program to meet the cap of 65,000 for fiscal year 2012. This is the earliest the visa cap has been reached in the past three years, signifying renewed demand for this visa program.
Each year on April 1 the USCIS begins accepting H-1B petitions for the new fiscal year; USCIS announced the cap for H-1B visa applications was officially reached on 22 November, two months ahead of last year.
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Published by Admin on November 30th, 2011 in Global Visas
Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, announced today that the immigration department will implement a new visa fee system starting in 2012. Student visas will see a decrease in visa costs while other visas will see an increase in visa application fees
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said that the new visa fee system will be put in place to ensure taxpayers are no longer subsidising visa applications as the current fees do not cover the entire cost of processing the applications. The new visa fees will go into effect from 1 January 2012.
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Published by Admin on November 29th, 2011 in Australian Immigration, Global Visas
Canada has a large demand for doctors and dentists and those looking to emigrate can apply under the Federal Skilled Worker program. The program is for tradespeople, professionals and other skilled migrants who are not sponsored by an employer and have skills in occupations listed on the Priority Occupation List for the Canadian skilled worker visa category.
The government uses a Priority Occupation List with occupations deemed in demand by the Canadian Government; There is an ongoing national skills shortage in a number of areas. Skilled workers are people who are selected as permanent residents based on their ability to become economically established in Canada.
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Published by Admin on November 28th, 2011 in Global Visas, UK immigration
The UK government is recruiting staff from embassies abroad and civil servants to replace immigration officials at ports and airports who will join a nationwide public sector strike next week, UK immigration officials announced today. The strike could cause long queues at passport and UK visa controls.
More than two million workers, including as many as 18,000 UK immigration officials, are expected to strike over pensions in what unions say will be the biggest walkout of state workers for a generation.
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Published by Admin on November 25th, 2011 in Australian Immigration, Global Visas
Currently registered nurses are in great demand in Australia and those looking to emigrate can apply under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program. Applicants will need to meet the basic requirements for GSM, pass the Australian immigration Points Test and pass an occupation skills assessment to qualify for an Australian visa.
GSM is for professionals and other skilled migrants who have skills in particular occupations required in Australia and who are not sponsored by an employer. Australian Immigration uses a Skilled Occupation List (SOL) as part of their points system. In order to qualify for skilled migration to Australia, you must nominate an occupation from the SOL.
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Published by Admin on November 24th, 2011 in Global Visas, US immigration
The US H-1B visa program is about to reach its maximum cap of 65,000 visas. As of 18 November, 61,800 visas have been granted leaving only a small number left for employers looking to employ graduate level foreign workers in the US under this program.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant work visa that allows US businesses to hire foreign workers with a bachelors degree or higher to come work in the US in specialty occupations that require theoretical expertise and practical application such as in the education, finance, IT, and medical fields. The visa is valid for up to three years from issuance and applicants can reapply for another three years for a total of six years.
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Published by Admin on November 23rd, 2011 in Australian Immigration, Global Visas
The first stage of a series of changes in Australian student visa laws is being implemented as part of the government’s response to the Knight Review, including changes in financial requirements and the admission process.
The Knight Review is a government appointed strategic review of the student visa program to help reform the Australian immigration student visa program.
From 5 November, student visa applicants will need to include a confirmation of enrolment, issued by their intended education provider, as part of their student visa applications, the statement said.
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Published by Admin on November 22nd, 2011 in Global Visas, UK immigration
The UK government’s advisors on UK immigration policy the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended an increase in minimum salary requirements to bring a spouse to the UK. If approved, the changes could cut the number of family visa applications by up to two-thirds.
MAC has recommended in their report released Wednesday, that those wishing to bring a spouse or child to live in the UK under the family migration route should have a minimum salary of between £18,600 and £25,700 before tax. It estimates that the lower figure would cut settlement through the family route by 45%. The higher figure would reduce family immigration by 63%.
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Published by Admin on November 21st, 2011 in Global Immigration, Global Visas
Tens of thousands of skilled workers are needed in New Zealand to work on reconstruction projects in Christchurch following the earthquake that hit the city earlier this year.
The Canterbury Employment and Skills Board (CESB) went to the UK to recruit more skilled workers and present at two job expos organised by Opportunities New Zealand in London and Manchester.
New Zealand has been struck by several earthquakes over the past year. On June 13, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Christchurch on the South Island, injuring 46 people. Prior to this, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake occurred on February 22 near the same city, killing 181 people and injuring more than 1,500 others and was the country’s deadliest disaster since 1931.
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