Global Immigration Immigration News

Two-thirds of college students plan to emigrate after graduating from school in Ireland, according to a new survey released last month by Student Marketing Network. The survey cites better job opportunities as one of the main reasons for leaving Ireland.The results from the online survey, taken by more than 1,200 university students across the country, found that 91 percent of students were worried about their future in Ireland, with the majority agreeing that they would need to immigrate in order to succeed in their career.

From 1 January 2012, all short term visitors and transit passengers to Sri Lanka must apply for their visas online. Sri Lanka closed their visa on arrival facility for citizens of all but two countries, replacing it with an online application system where visitors will have to apply before arriving to the country.

Chinese legislators are considering introducing new visa rules that would require fingerprinting of foreigners wanting to work or study in China. The draft law, which proposes to give the public security authority power to fingerprint foreigners "whenever they deem it necessary", has been submitted to legislators in Beijing.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry announced that more than 300,000 citizens have applied for their first-time biometric passports in person this year; Now a requirement in Taiwan for all first time passport applicants. Millions of Taiwanese citizens have now obtained the new biometric passports.

This spring, Japan is set to begin grading skilled foreign workers. Those immigrants with higher grades will receive preferential treatment from the Japanese government.The government will break working professions into three distinct categories: academic research, specialised skills, and management/administration.

Requests have been made to the South Korean government to sign the international migration convention that would provide greater protection for migrants.An event was held in Seoul by the International Conference on Foreigners Welfare (ICFW) on December 18; this is the same day as International Migrants Day. The attendees urged the government to sign the International Migration Convention; a United Nations article whose primary objective is the protection of migrant workers and their families (through the enforcement of basic human rights).