Immigration newsletter 20 Dec 2006

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In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to observe International Migrants Day on 18 December each year. Member nations are encouraged to develop programs in support of human rights for migrants worldwide.

Skilled workers from India took more than 43,000 of the 60,000 available H-1B visas for the fiscal year 2007. Extraordinary as it may seem, all visas were allocated for the fiscal year 2007 by the U.S. government prior to September of this year. Over 350,000 temporary visas have been granted so far for 2006, a 14% increase from 2005.

The Diversity Visa (DV-2008), or Green Card Lottery, is now closed. 6.4 million applications were received. Winners will be notified by mail from the Kentucky Consular Center between April and July of 2007.

A report from a conservative-leaning think tank indicates that illegal immigrants do not impose a disproportionate burden upon the U.S. health care system. Adult illegal immigrants tend to be younger and healthier than their legal-resident counterparts, resulting in relatively low use of health care services.

Australia's 457 visa program has caused some controversy this year, and the government is now launching a formal inquiry into it. A Parliamentary Committee will examine eligibility requirements for the scheme, and the monitoring, enforcement and reporting arrangements for immigrants and the companies sponsoring them.

A report from researchers associated with the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England, concludes that immigrants to Britain contribute very significantly to the health of the UK economy. However, the positive economic effects can only be sustained if immigration into the UK continues at current levels.

In the past year, due to the large number of Russian arrivals, the British capital has earned the nicknames "Londongrad" and "Moscow-on-the-Thames" as both dissidents and billionaires flock to the city. Russia's wealthy elite seek business opportunities and are attracted to the very favorable tax laws currently in place. Russian dissidents and artists in exile praise London for its adherence to laws and its political freedoms.

Canada is enhancing many of its immigration programs, with a focus on provinces most impacted by worker shortages. Only this month improvements to the Foreign Worker Program in Ontario were announced.

Ontario is investing $600,000 to assist some adult immigrants with language training. Ontario is also creating a resource and recruitment center to assist immigrants in meeting the licensing requirements to work in the Canadian health care industry.

The Off-Campus Work Permit program has benefited over 8,300 international students across all of Canada and is now being expanded on a pilot basis to 75 private universities. Under the program, students enrolled in post-secondary schools may apply for work visas to take jobs outside of the institution they are attending.