Topical:
Immigration measures brought in to help victims of Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines has led to priority processing for over 400 applications from close family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. On 26 September 2009 Typhoon Ketsana struck Manila the capital of the Philippines and other areas of the Northern Philippines which resulted in the worst flooding in this area for over 40 years.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed recently that a number of immigration programs will be extended at least until 30 September 2012. This is following the signing of the Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act of 2010 by the President on 28 October 2009. This covers the following programs:
Health Departments can continue to request waivers to the two year foreign residence requirements for J-1 nonimmigrant exchange visitors
There have been suggestions that the Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) visa provides a loophole to enable Indian IT companies to bring overseas workers to the UK. It has been claimed that this enables employers to employ people at a lower salary than resident workers. The UK Government says that this is not true and that to come under Tier 2 overseas workers must be paid the going rate for the job.
Recently the Migration Advisory Committee completed its review of the Tier 1 visa scheme.
UKBA has announced that they are now accepting applications from arts festivals for the permit free list. This means that entertainers and their support staff may gain entry on entertainment visitor visas for major arts festivals on the list.
The Entertainer Visitor Visa is also useful for example, if you wish to take part in music competitions, as an amateur entertainer or part of an amateur group.
Canadian immigrant s will find it quicker in future to have their qualifications assessed. The new Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications will mean that Canadian immigrants will find out within one year whether they can be licensed or registered to work in certain fields. This was announced recently by the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Co-Chair of the Forum of Labour Market Ministers, and the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.