Immigration newsletter 4 October 2006

Call us for visa advice at our London office: +44 (0) 20 7842 0800.

The US DV-2008 (Greencard) Lottery is about to begin

The United States Green Card Lottery began October 4th at 12 noon, Eastern Daylight Time. Electronic submissions on the Internet are the only way to enter. No entry may be submitted after 12 noon Eastern Standard Time) on Sunday, 03 December 2006. 

Absolutely no duplicate entries are allowed. Photo requirements are specific and detailed.

Census figures released this summer indicate that Canada needs a large influx of immigrants in addition to a higher birth rate to maintain its economy and social structure. Canada is the second largest country in the world, being slightly larger than the United States and about half the size of Russia.

Canada continues to be an attractive destination for skilled immigrants. An increase in the annual visa quota from 200,000 to 300,000 is proposed. Canada needs immigrants to respond to demographic factors such as its low birth-rate.

EU Ministers from southern Europe met in Madrid on September 29 to discuss strategy on reducing and eliminating illegal immigration into the EU. Frontex, a sea-based patrol program for the EU, is overwhelmed and under-funded; illegal immigration from Africa has increased by more then ten-fold in the past decade.

France proposed a ban on massive amnesties for illegal immigrants on September 30, in direct reaction to the huge Spanish amnesty for 600,000 people offered last year. Strong rhetoric was exchanged, with Spain protesting that they have received 10,000 more illegal immigrants than any other EU nation this year. 

France complained that amnesties such, as the Spanish one offered last year and the Italian one for 330,000 this year, are encouraging further illegal immigration. On October 20th, an informal EU summit in Finland will be held where all nations are encouraged to propose solutions to the illegal immigrant problem.

Many skilled professionals have moved abroad to seek a better life. A "brain drain" on poorer countries has generally been considered bad. However, the United Nations report considers that this negative effect can largely be off-set by the economic benefits of remittances sent back to home countries.

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