Immigration newsletter 6 January 2011

We at workpermit.com wish you a Happy and Prosperous 2011!If you are in the UK or will shortly be in the UK and are thinking of obtaining a highly skilled migrant Tier 1 visa to extend your stay, it is important for you to start preparing your application as soon as possible.

Starting in April of 2011 the Tier 1 (General) immigration category will in effect end. This is a highly popular points based immigration route which does not require a job offer from a UK employer.

London Mayor Boris Johnson says that the UK Government's immigration cap will harm Britain's economy and make the nation uncompetitive. Johnson said that business was having a difficult time finding skilled staff to fill vacant positions.

A new study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) says that UK net immigration is unlikely to fall much below 200,000 in 2011 -- roughly the average figure it has remained at for the past decade.

This flies in the face of a Government pledge to reduce immigration "from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands".

The UK Government re-introduced an interim limit on Tier 2 (General) visa sponsorships on 21 December 2010 that will be in effect until 05 April 2011. The total number of certificates of sponsorship that can be issued is 10,382. This includes certificates for initial applications and extensions. The permanent immigration limit comes into place in April 2011.

As of 24 December 2010, all 20,000 Master's exemption H-1B visas were used up. As of 31 December 2010 almost 7,000 regular H1B visas remain. Each year, 65,000 H-1B visas are available for United States companies wishing to hire skilled overseas workers. An additional 20,000 H-1B visas are available for applicants who hold an equivalent of a Master's degree or higher.

Business leaders in Australia are urging the Government to speed up applications for skilled migrant workers as it faces labour gaps resulting from a resurgent economy.

Also, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is warning Immigration Minister Chris Bowen that application processing times need to decrease to avoid possible legal action from skilled migrants awaiting a decision.

The Australian government has signed a state migration agreement with South Australia that will help meet the Australian state's need for skilled migrants.

"State migration plans are part of the government's continued commitment to supporting the Australian economy by attracting skilled migrants who can positively contribute to our workforce," said Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.

Young people from Bangladesh and Australia can now work in each others' countries through a work and holiday arrangement limited to 100 visas a year that started on 31 December 2010. If you are aged 18 to 30 with a higher education or you are currently studying for a tertiary qualification you can take a holiday with work rights for up to 12 months.

Ireland is seeing a large drop in skilled immigrants entering the country through its work permit program. The number of people entering the country through this route dropped by 19 percent in 2010.

At the close of 2010, only 18,987 foreign nationals held work permits, down from 23,470 in 2009 and 30,556 in 2008.

New Zealand's immigration minister has said that overseas students wishing to study in New Zealand will have less red tape to deal with when obtaining a student visa.

New Zealand is a popular destination for foreign students as it can be a much cheaper option compared to other western countries such as the UK, United States, Canada, or Australia.

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