Immigration newsletter 06 Jul 2005

In the hope of encouraging skilled immigration to low population and low growth areas, Australia will give potential migrants an additional 10 points for those moving to those areas. Successful applicants who have been sponsored by a state or territory government will be granted a three-year temporary visa, with settlement in regional/low growth areas of Australia.

Two visa support centers have opened up this week. The German embassy has opened up a call centre in New Delhi, and the UK has opened a UK visa application center in Bangladesh.

Leaders of the largest EU countries met this week in Geneva, and near the top of their agenda was illegal immigration. They agreed to adopt stricter controls at airports, and work on repatriating illegal immigrants.

This week's immigration news included a real-life version of Tom Hanks' character in the film "The Terminal." Like the film, the real life version had a happy ending, too. A Kenyan man who has lived in an airport for the past year to protest not receiving UK citizenship, has been granted his wish this week.