Immigration news

Applicants for the UK's Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) are able to claim up to a maximum of 50 points for their earnings during the 12 month period prior to the application being made. Applications from individuals who have been sent overseas during the past 12 months, but their salary has continued to be paid in another country, are currently assessed against the country where they actually worked. This practice will change with immediate effect.

BBC News website readers can see an immigration map of Britain based on the most comprehensive set of figures ever assembled about people born outside the British Isles, where they come from, where they live and how they're doing. Readers can find out what proportion of the population where they live was born abroad, and where they are most likely to come from. Information is also available for each country of birth, plus there are economic figures for different immigrant groups.

Earlier this year, the US announced a new visa called the E-3, for Australians only. workpermit.com has received additional information on this visa from the US State Department, and we are pleased to announce that you may now start applying for the E-3 visa. This information should come as great news to any Australian who has been thinking of moving to the US; in the past, Australians had to battle for an H1B visa. Now they have a category all to themselves.

A Work and Holiday (W&H) Visa arrangement between Australia and Thailand came into effect on 31 Aug.

The new arrangement means that 18 to 30 year-old Thai and Australian nationals who have already completed their university education will be eligible to apply for W&H visas for stays of up to 12 months in Australia or Thailand.

The UK Home Office has announced that an updated version of the FLR(IED) application form is now available. This version of the form (Version 09/2005) is only valid for applications submitted on or after 15 September 2005. This means that applications that are either posted on 15 September or applied in person at Croydon Public Enquiry Office should use the new form.