Immigration news

Most Canadians disagree with the Canadian government's May 2005 decision to allow people to regain the citizenship they lost as children without actually moving back to Canada, a newly released poll suggests.

Under legislation passed in 1947, tens of thousands of children lost their Canadian citizenship over the years when their parents moved abroad and became citizens of another country.

A 1977 amendment meant children would no longer lose their Canadian status in such cases, but the change did not apply to the many thousands whose citizenship had disappeared during the preceding 30 years.

The New Zealand Immigration Service is worsening the country's IT skills shortage by refusing to acknowledge industry qualifications, according to the Information Technology Association. Jim O'Neill, the association's executive director, says he gets "two to three people a day inquiring from all over the world" having difficulty immigrating because their industry qualifications aren't recognised.

He says many skilled IT workers face significant difficulties gaining enough points to qualify for the skilled migrant pool.

Although the New Zealand government denies claims that Iraqi citizens are being denied re-entry visas, it does warn that processing is taking longer. The government says that anyone holding New Zealand residency should apply early for re-entry visas, as immigration procedures are tightened.Iraqi New Zealanders claim they are being refused re-entry visas, as a result of Winston Peters naming people in Parliament that he claims were supporters of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

After school and summer jobs traditionally dominated by teenagers in the US are more frequently being given to immigrants, according to employment figures.

Last year, 36% of those ages 16 to 19 held some sort of job, be it a newspaper delivery route or a full-time position in lieu of high school or college. That is down from 45% in 2000 and is the lowest level since 1947.

Germany's DIW Institute estimates that up to 150,000 people from the ten newest EU member states have immigrated to the older members since May 2004. Economic research group DIW found that more than 50,000 people had made their way to the UK over the past 12 months. A previous report in May issued by the Home Office also said that 176,000 workers from eight of the new member states had registered in the UK.

Explanation of differences

A new Immigration Agreement has been signed between Canada and Saskatchewan, central Canadian province.

The Agreement defines the respective roles and responsibilities of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan related to immigrants, temporary workers, students and others who want to come to Saskatchewan under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.