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Immigration news

When is the last time you heard about a country aiming an advertising campaign at its own citizens? That's exactly what New Zealand has been doing for the past few months - and it's not just propaganda. With labor shortages across several industries, the country has an urgent need to lure back the 10 percent to 15 percent of its citizens who live abroad. The International Herald Tribune's Daniel Altman reports.

Millions of British citizens will be required to hold an identity card and have their biometric details placed on a central database, after the government blocked an effort to stop the plan on Feb. 13.

Anyone applying for passports or immigration documents will in two years time be required to apply for an ID card.

The main assault on the bill came over claims that the government was covertly introducing identity cards by making it a requirement that the British public and foreign residents living in the UK for more than three months apply for an ID card when they seek a new passport with the new biometric data.

The United Kingdom has changed immigration rules to safeguard children below 18 who wish to travel to the UK. Now, all applicants below the age of 18 must show that they had a parent or guardian who was responsible for their care in the UK and in their home country and that this person consented to their travel. Also, they should prove that they had suitable travel, that someone will meet them at the airport and that they have a place to stay in the UK.

President Bush's recent call for more visas for skilled foreign workers increases the likelihood that relief is on the way for U.S. technology firms that say they are struggling to fill key positions.

This article appeared in the Washington Post, and is an opinion piece written by two lawyers. Stacy Caplow is a professor and director of the Safe Harbor Project at Brooklyn Law School. Lauren Kosseff is a third-year student there.

We recently learned that U.S. immigration policy is, in fact, capable of fast action and flexibility. It just depends on who the immigrant is.

A team of Croatian tradesmen brought to Adelaide, Australia to work on short-term contracts has sparked a row over the use of foreign labour in Australia. The 35 workers have been employed by a German company subcontracted by GM Holden to install a new paint line at the car maker's Adelaide assembly operations.

Australian unions fear the men are being exploited by being paid lower wages, and are angry the jobs did not go to local workers in an area of 19 percent unemployment.