Newsletter archive

The United Kingdom's new International Graduates Scheme (IGS) went into effect 01 May 2007. Students who completed their course prior to May 1st will still need to apply under Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS). You will find detailed information of IGS at http://www.internationalgraduatesscheme.com.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on May 4th that the H-1B exemption quota has been reached. No petitions received after April 30th will be considered. People may be sponsored for an H-1B visa for the 2009 fiscal year beginning on April 1st, 2008.

The United States Senate has begun a bipartisan investigation into alleged abuses of the U.S. H-1B visa program. Senators Richard Durbin and Charles Grassley sent letters to a number of foreign-owned firms requesting that they provide detailed information as to how many H-1B visas they have obtained and the exact use to which they are being put.

A UK tribunal court ruled in favor of an HSMP holder fighting deportation after he was unable to qualify for an HSMP extension under the new rules. The Indian national, who holds a PhD in chemistry, relocated his family to the United Kingdom after obtaining an HSMP visa. Changes applied retrospectively last December prevented him from qualifying for an extension. The court determined that forcing him to leave the country is in violation of his human rights.

Britain's Home Office has removed four health care occupations from the Skills Shortage Occupations List. All applications for these occupations received from May 29th are now subject to the full "resident labour test." Employers wishing to employ non EEA nationals for these positions under the work permit scheme are required to document that all reasonable steps were taken to hire someone from within the European Economic Area.