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Foreign students are attending Canadian universities in record numbers, more than doubling their enrolment in the last decade, says a new report. Statistics Canada says foreign students accounted for 70,000 students, or about 7 percent of overall enrolment in 2003-4. That's an almost 17 percent increase over the previous year. About half of all international students come from Asia.

The UK has released a managed migration consultation document, the full text of which is available on our website. The new immigration scheme, to be introduced next spring, includes a five-tier point system for migrants, creating easy access and full residence rights for the most highly skilled and those with large sums to invest. Only the top two tiers of workers will be allowed to bring families or have the chance to settle in Britain after five years. The scheme calls for temporary entry permits for low-skilled workers without their families, although this is similar to what already exists, and biometric residence permits for all foreign migrant workers without which they cannot work or access government services. We encourage all of our readers to become familiar with the document, and provide your comments on our website.

Immigrants wanting to make the UK their permanent home will have to answer questions such as, "when were 18 year olds given the right to vote in the UK?" in order to prove they are suitable citizens. As of November 1, anyone wanting to apply for British citizenship will have to answer a new quiz drawn up by the Government. Based on the 150-page Life in the United Kingdom guide, the test questions would-be citizens on history, law, society and manners in the UK. It is hoped the test will encourage people to take a greater interest in their community, and help them to settle in better.

The Canadian government has announced a number of new measures to quicken the immigration process for family members of Canadian citizens seriously affected by the earthquake. Priority is being given to spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children. New applications under the Family Class act would be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

US President George W. Bush sought support for his guest worker plan for foreigners, hoping to persuade conservatives by promising to fight illegal immigration. "If an employer has a job that no American is willing to take, we need to find a way to fill that demand by matching willing employers with willing workers from foreign countries on a temporary and legal basis," he said.

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