Immigration newsletter 24 Aug 2011

Firstly workpermit.com reminds everyone that if you wish to come under the Canada Skilled worker visa scheme you should apply sooner rather than later.  The visa cap for the most popular occupation group Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management has already been reached.  The visa cap for some of the other occupations may be used up quite quickly.

One of Australia's biggest contractors is refusing to bid on new contracts until it can find enough workers to deal with skilled labour shortages. Demand for labour in Australia is at an all time high; Firms desperately need to hire overseas workers.

Despite the recent huge increase in the number of accountants obtaining skilled immigration visas to Australia there is still unfulfilled demand for accountants in Australia. Skills Australia intends to keep the occupation on its list of occupations in demand.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was created after the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks as part of a strategy to improve security in the US. As the country nears the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, USCIS director Alejandro Mayorkas has detailed the progress his department has made in implementing recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission Report of 24 July 2004.

At a meeting in May at Stanford Law School, academics, executives, and lawyers were asked by US Federal chief technology officer Aneesh Chopra and USCIS director Alejandro Mayorkas what they could do to help Silicon Valley; The leading hub for high-tech innovation and development in the United states . The overwhelming answer was to ask for changes to the immigration regulations to enable high tech companies to hire top talent from around the world.

Less than 1,000 United States H-1B visa applications are lodged every week, highlighting what is still a somewhat lackluster job market in the US. At the same time it should be noted that the US remains the biggest economy in the World. If you have the right skills and qualifications you may still be able to find work in the US. If you do find work and have at least a bachelors degree, the current availability of H-1B visas means that you will probably be able to come under the H-1B visa.

Slovakian immigration law has been updated to include a new directive from the European Union for a blue card scheme for non-EU workers.

From 20 July 2011, the blue card has been available for non-EU nationals who wish to work and gain residence rights in Slovakia.

Since the 2008 global financial crisis, out of all OECD countries the Czech Republic has seen the largest drop in immigration levels.

In 2007, prior to the financial crisis, over 100,000 people immigrated to the Czech Republic to find work. By 2009, that figure had dropped to 40,000, a larger percentage drop than Europe's worst hit economies.

Unlike some European countries, people in Switzerland are not worried about immigration. The Swiss feel that foreigners are good for the economy.

An overwhelming 80 percent of those surveyed said that the Swiss economy benefits from their foreign workforce.

For five months in a row more migrants left New Zealand than arrived; The devastating earthquake of 22 February 2011 prompted people to move to Australia and elsewhere.