Immigration newsletter 21 January 2009

UK Immigration and new advertising requirements

New UK immigration policy means that employers will first need to advertise jobs within the UK before advertising abroad. Employers will need to first advertise jobs for two weeks in the Government’s Job Centre Plus network in the UK. These changes will mainly affect applications under the Tier 2 visa scheme the replacement for the previous work permit scheme.

UK Border Agency guide to visa processing times and service standards

The UK Border Agency on 15 January 2009 published their first guide to visa processing standards and service standards. 

Those applying for a visa will be able to find out information on likely processing times for their visa application. This information is updated every month based on the latest information on processing times for each visa application.

The UK Border Agency is also publishing standards for visa customer service processing times. This provides information on targets for processing each application from when it is submitted to completion.

New Australian Online Visa System

The new Australian online visa system makes it possible to lodge, check the status and check visa entitlements online at any time through the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service. Visa holders no longer longer need a visa label attached to their passport to travel to or work in Australia.

“VEVO enables visa holders to view their visa details online,” a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) spokesman said. “The system is also for employers, who can use it to ensure their workers have the entitlement to work in Australia.”

South Australia growth to continue 

Access Economics says that the South Australian economy is likely to continue to grow. However, Australia overall may see a downturn after what has in recent years been significant growth based on a commodities boom.

The report predicts that the state's economy will grow 2.3 per cent this financial year, 2.9 per cent next year and 3.8 per cent in 2010-11.

UK Visas and trade with India 

India is becoming an increasingly important economic power in the World and is now ranked as number twelve in the World by Gross Domestic Product. There are excellent opportunities for trade between the UK and India in areas such as manufacturing and financial services.

Yesterday, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath raised the issue of visa problems with UK Secretary of State for Business Peter Mandelson. "We need to have clarity, uniformity and transparency in visa/work permit procedures" said Mr Kamal Nath. A significant proportion of overseas workers in the UK are from India.

Funding to help UK Immigrants 

The UK Border Agency has announced a call for tender for the European Integration Fund 2007-2008. Applications to the fund which has a value of approximately five million pounds have to be submitted by 6 March 2009. The European Integration Fund is for legal migrants who have arrived in the last five years and who are not asylum seekers or refugees. It also excludes European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and those who are in the United Kingdom under visa categories such as students.

UK Visas and trade with India

India is becoming an increasingly important economic power in the World and is now ranked as number twelve in the World by Gross Domestic Product. There are excellent opportunities for trade between the UK and India in areas such as manufacturing and financial services.

Yesterday, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath raised the issue of visa problems with UK Secretary of State for Business Peter Mandelson. "We need to have clarity, uniformity and transparency in visa/work permit procedures" said Mr Kamal Nath. A significant proportion of overseas workers in the UK are from India.

Workpermit.com in the News

We are pleased to announce that workpermit.com was mentioned prominently in a recent story in the Toronto Star. The story refers to workpermit.com's "comprehensive knowledge about how to get into Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States".

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