Immigration newsletter 21 May 2013

Sanwar Ali, director of workpermit.com, is in India this week. Sanwar is an expert on global immigration with 25 years’ experience in immigration consultancy.

If you have any immigration questions, Sanwar can help you with queries about emigration to Australia, Canada, the UK or the US. Call our Indian office now on +91 011 45660800 or email us at indiaoffices@workpermit.com for a private consultation.

A recent poll showed that Canada is the third most popular migration destination in the world after the USA and the UK. 42m people told the GALLUP polling company that they would like to settle there. Canada is actively encouraging skilled workers from around the world. The government says that Canada needs to encourage immigration because the native population is aging.

On May 4th 2013, The Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canada’s main skilled worker immigration program re-opened, creating further opportunities for skilled migrants. The average yearly salary in December 2012 was around CAN$47,200; equivalent to about GB£30,000)

If you need your UK immigration application processed fast, why not let us do it for you? We can get applications processed on the same day. 

We have 25 years’ experience and we can help with, tier 1 extensions, indefinite leave to remain and many other applications. Why not call our London Office on 0344 991 9222. Our slots are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis so call today.

Australian immigration minister Brendan O'Connor has announced that Australia will keep its immigration target for 2014 at 190,000; the same as for 2013. Of these 128,500 permanent resident visas will go to skilled migrants and 60,885 to family members.

Mr O'Connor said ‘Our migration program ensures skilled migrants will continue to fill critical gaps in regions and sectors with genuine skills shortages'. He said 'skilled migration continues to make up two thirds of the program because of its obvious benefits to our economy and society’.

A new report has found that the US, the UK and Australia are the three preferred destinations for professionals around the world seeking to relocate for work. 2,000 people were questioned for a survey prepared for the Hydrogen recruitment company. 72% of respondents said that they had earned more as a result of moving and 77% said it had enhanced their careers. 98% said they would recommend the experience to others.

A Canadian government study shows that over 20% of Canadians were born in other countries, more than any other country on earth. The National Household Survey was carried out in 2011 and showed that, between 2006 and 2011, 1.2m people settled in Canada. 57% of these came from Asia. 

152,000 people, or 13.2% of the total, people came from the Philippines alone. 122,000 people came from China and 121,000 came from India. About 13% of the total came from Europe and about 12% came from Africa.The survey found that there are now over one million Canadian citizens from 13 different ethnic groupings.

The Australian finance minister Wayne Swan has announced that the fee for Australian temporary work '457' visas will rise from AUS$455 to AUS$900 on 1st July 2013.

The 457 visa is the main visa for skilled workers to work in Australia on a temporary basis. 457 holders can work in Australia for up to four years. Australian firms can employ overseas workers to work in occupations which are on Australia's Consolidated Shortage Occupation List (CSOL) using the 457 visa.

Duncan Fraser, president of the Australian National Farmers Federation has said that the increase is likely to make it harder for Australian agriculture to 'get skills out to country areas where we can't source those skills locally’ and that the higher fees were likely to be a 'disincentive for employers'