Immigration newsletter 23 February 2011

Firstly I remind everyone in the UK wishing to apply for a Tier 1 visa to apply now!  It will be very, very difficult indeed to come under the replacement Exceptional Talent Visa from 6 April 2011.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has provided further details of the changes that will take place in April 2011 which include a permanent immigration cap on skilled immigration, a new exceptional talent visa, and new criteria for skilled workers with a job offer and intra-company transfers. There will in effect be significant changes in the rules for sponsoring non-EU workers. In addition the Tier 1 General skilled immigration visa will in effect end on 6 April 2011.

From 6 April 2011, there will an annual limit of 20,700 Tier 2 visas and 1,000 visas for the new 'exceptional talent' visa category. The exceptional talent visa will replace the popular Tier 1 (General) highly skilled immigration route.

If you are a UK tradesperson looking to live and work in Australia, now is the time to apply. In July 2011, the Australian Government will implement changes that will make it more difficult for tradespeople to obtain permanent residence under the General Skilled Migraiton program.

Even if you are not a tradesperson, you may want to apply now if you wish to come under the current immigration programme to Australia; There will be major changes to the points test from 1 July 2011.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has proposed changes to the Federal Skilled Worker Program in the hope that these changes will result in immigrants that better meet their economic goals. CIC has begun consulting with key stakeholders as well as the public on the proposed changes.

A recent evaluation of Canada's skilled immigration program found that changes implemented in the last few years have resulted in more immigrants who can fit into and be successful in Canadian society. However, the CIC still feels that there is room for improvement.

Canada welcomed the largest number of immigrants in 50 years in 2010, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). This included applicants under the federal skilled worker program as well as the provincial nominee program.

280,636 gained permanent residence in Canada during this period, six percent more than the Government's planned range of 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents. The Canadian Government adjusted its immigration plan in 2010 to increase skilled immigration.

According to a study commissioned by the Canadian government entitled Economic Impact of International Education in Canada, foreign Student immigration resulted in CAD $6.5 billion of expenditure each year by overseas students in the Canadian economy.

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