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Statistics New Zealand released a report on 18 May 2007 showing that arrivals to New Zealand exceeded departures during April.
Permanent and long-term (PLT) arrivals exceeded departures by 11,200 during the year ending in April, a slight increase over same period in 2006. The total PLT arrival rate was 82,400 and the total PLT departure rate was 71,200.
Late last week the United States Senate announced it had reached an immigration reform "deal" with the White House. The Bush administration and the United States Congress have been locked in a highly volatile debate over reforming immigration laws in the U.S. for over a year.
A recent survey by Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship found that skilled migrants arriving in the country are finding employment quickly and enjoying their new life down under.
Immigration has played a major role in boosting Spain's growing economy. However, the country still faces problems with illegal immigration along its southern border.
According to a study by Caixa Catalunya, one the country's largest banks, the economy of Spain has grown at a rate of 2.6 percent a year over the period between 1995 and 2005.
An appeal by a gentleman who was served a deportation order by the British government has been upheld. His application for extension under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) was rejected by the government after changes to the program were applied retrospectively. The gentlemen then challenged the order under human rights laws.
The federal government of Australia announced a three-year labor agreement for the temporary entry of skilled meatworkers (the 457 visa) to Western Australia. Kevin Andrews, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, and Margaret Quirk, West Australian Minister for Small Business, finalized the agreement on 16 May 2007.