Immigration newsletter 28 June 2010

Please note that since shooting the video further details of the UK immigration cap have been announced. Please see details in the first story below.

Today will see further details of the UK immigration cap announced. There will be a temporary cap from 16 July 2010 ahead of the permanent cap due to start in April 2011.

The number of workers from outside the EU/EEA will be limited to 24,100 between now and April 2011 which represents a 5% reduction in the number of migrant workers. The temporary cap does not represent a significant reduction in current numbers. The intention with the temporary cap is to prevent a rush of applicants before the April 2011 permanent immigration cap.

The immigration cap has been criticised by the Labour Party and by many in the Conservative Party. The Liberal Democrat Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg actually campaigned against the immigration cap during the General Election. However, as part of the agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to form a Coalition Government it was agreed that there would be an immigration cap.

Last week was a momentous week in Australian politics. Julia Gillard the former Deputy Prime Minister has become the first female Prime Minister. Julia Gillard is also the first Prime Minister born overseas since Billy Hughes, who served from 1915 to 1923. Kevin Rudd the former Prime Minister stepped down as Labor Party leader to avoid a leadership election that he would almost certainly lose.

Julia Gillard was originally from Wales in the UK and emigrated to Australia under the “Ten Pound Pom” scheme in 1966. This was an Australian immigration initiative to encourage British workers to emigrate to Australia. As a child Julia Gillard suffered from chronic pneumonia. Following doctor’s advice to her parents that she should move to a warmer climate the Gillard family decided to move to Australia.

Australian immigration has released the full skilled occupation list to be introduced from 1 July 2010. This provides full details of the points awarded for the General Skilled Migration visas and 457 visas from 1 July 2010.

Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, will from 1 July 2010 replace ASCO Australian Standard Classification of Occupations and “is a system developed to collect, publish and analyse occupation statistics across government agencies.”  This will be used to provide data for all visa, immigration and citizenship programs.

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