Immigration news

The Australian High Court has upheld the Australian Government’s decision in September to prevent 433 asylum seekers rescued by a Norwegian cargo ship, from entering Australia. This verdict involves Australia’s Executive and Judiciary both turning their back on hundreds of years of international maritime law. In centuries past such treatment was not even meted out to soldiers and sailors of hostile powers in time of war.

The British Government is set to anounce sweeping changes to employment andimmigration laws in a move designed to flush out up to 500,000 illegal foreignworkers.

Immigration "hit squads" will concentrate on industries such as:

hotel and catering, construction, clothes manufacturing, agricultural; and information technology industries

as part of a programme to treble the rate of removal of illegal immigrantsand failed asylum-seekers to 2,500 a week.

Recently, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in Australia (DIMA) have made some significant changes to the procedures for migration and temporary work permits for ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Professionals who wish to live and/or work in Australia.

In early February 2001, Australian authorities have issued specific instructions to immigration decision makers in recognition of the shortage of ICT Professionals in Australia. They have been instructed to give priority to all applications involving ICT professionals over applications relating to other occupations.

The working holidays that thousands of young Commonwealth citizens enjoy in Britain every year are likely to be restricted.

British officials are expected to cut the traditional two-year stretch to one year, although the range of jobs travellers can do may be expanded. One change that is being considered is lifting the ban on people working in their profession.

The proposed new rules, which would apply to all Commonwealth citizens, are still being worked on in London. The changes are expected to be announced in early February 2002.

BRUSSELS - Poland has taken a big step towards joining the European Union by wrapping up negotiations on the politically sensitive issue of free movement of workers.

"We have some big obstacles ahead [in the enlargement negotiations] to overcome, but we have made incontestable progress," said Eneko Landaburu of the European Commission, which is leading the negotiations.

Poland, by far the largest candidate country, reluctantly accepted a deal allowing present EU members to bar Polish workers from the labour market for up to seven years.

The Workpermit.com web-site one of the longest established sites on theinternet covering immigration and visa issues around the World is now rated asone of the top25 legal web-sites in the UK. It is the only web-site covering immigrationissues on the Legal Hit list, and the only web-site of a private consulting firmon the list.