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In July 2011, Australia will implement significant changes to its points based Australian immigration system. One important change is that people up to the age of 49 will now be able to apply for skilled immigration to Australia.
According to the Daily Telegraph, UK Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to significantly increase the number of non-EU immigrant skilled workers allowed to enter the United Kingdom each month.
Businesses have been among the groups criticizing the UK Government for imposing the cap, which they say prevents badly needed highly skilled immigrants from working in the UK.
An Australian Treasury warning has been issued which states that increased immigration in Australia is 'inescapable'.
During Prime Minister Julia Gillard's election campaign, she said that Australia should not "hurtle" towards a big population. She thought that the 36 million people by 2050 as forecast by the Treasury was excessive.
However, a recent Treasury briefing warns that the 36-million people projection factored in a significant reduction in migration to an annual average of 180,000. Immigration recently peaked at 300,000.
Starting on 1 December 2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will again start accepting applications under the federal Immigration Investor Program.
Applicants under the Immigration Investor Program will need to have a personal net worth of $1.6 million CAD, which doubles the previous net worth requirement of $800,000. Moreover, applicants will be required to make an investment of $800,000. Under the previous rules, only a $400,000 investment was needed.
According to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, changes to the criteria for the immigration investor program were overdue.
Australia has announced changes to its independent skilled migration points test which will go into effect on 1 July 2011. The new immigration points system will put increased emphasis on work experience and high level educational qualifications. For a complete overview of points awarded under the new points test, please see this page.
UK Immigration has announced that they have already reached the immigration limit on the total number of overseas initial visa applications that can be issued under the Tier 1 (General) Visa category of the points-based system for the month of November 2010.