Global Immigration Immigration News

Foreign specialists living in Russia may soon find it easier to bring in their families if a new immigration bill passes into law. If the changes go ahead Employers will find it easier to hire the workers they need to help fill skills shortages.

The Russian parliament has drafted new legislation which will allow the spouse of a foreign skilled worker to obtain a work visa for the same period of time as the primary visa holder spouse.

The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull on Thursday resulted in a Europe wide ban on air travel that lasted almost a week. It was only on the evening of Tuesday this week that the ban was fully lifted. It has been estimated that 150,000 Britons were stranded overseas waiting to come home to the UK.

Gallup the opinion poll company has done a survey from 2007 to 2009 in 135 Countries to find out what people's intentions are. 16 percent of the World's population would like to, if possible, move permanently to another Country. This is about 700 million people worldwide.

Some of the findings are as follows:

Zimbabwe nationals wishing to emigrate from the UK back to Zimbabwe will be provided enhanced assistance for a voluntary return. Cash payments will be phased in over a six month period instead of "in kind" assistance for business set ups. The scheme will be reviewed again at the end of 2009 when it will also be decided whether the scheme should be continued.

The world's economy took a hit after the global financial meltdown in 2008. Despite this many countries are still maintaining active immigration policies designed to attract skilled overseas talent.

Economic immigration has slowed down for many nations. More people are either staying home or returning from abroad. Nothing highlights this fact more than the United States H-1B program.

Since 2008 the number of people emigrating abroad has overall gone down. With the World economy showing signs of recovery this is likely to change very soon. This is covered in a recent report by Washington based Migration Policy Institute for the BBC World Service.

Changes since 2008 have included the following: