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New HSMP Points Calculator with latest changes - Apply from 5 December 2006
The US DV-2008 (Greencard) Lottery - apply by 3rd December 2006

Please accept our apologies for the newsletter being late this week! This is due to a national holiday.

From Sunday, 03 December at 12:00 p.m. noon, United States Eastern Standard Time, no further applications for the United States Green Card Lottery will be accepted. The only method of entry is by electronic application using the web-based Internet submission process. You should also note that there are very specific requirements for the photographs of yourself and family which also need to be submitted online, and that if you submit more than one application you will be disqualified.

HSMP applications under the new rules will be accepted from Tuesday, 05 December. The Immigration Law Practitioner's Association (ILPA) has written to the UK Minister of Immigration Liam Byrne, detailing the potential hardship faced by many individuals due to the changes. The Minister in his response has said that giving more notice of the changes would have resulted in a sudden rush of applications leading to "significant operational difficulties". He also did not accept that people already granted HSMP had a legitimate expectation that any extension applications would be considered under rules in place at the time that they were granted HSMP.

While in Estonia, President Bush announced on Tuesday that a number of Eastern and Central European nations are likely to be added to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. The United States will be making several changes to the program. Currently, there is an agreement with 27 countries that allow citizens of those countries to travel to the US without the need to apply for a visit visa.

A joint study released this month analyses businesses founded or co-founded by immigrants in the U.S. It found that about half a trillion dollars in wealth had been generated by such companies over the past 35 years. These are successful, profitable businesses that currently employ over 400,000 people around the world.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the U.S. naturalization exam. The voluntary program will continue through 2007, and will become the basis for the new mandatory test in 2008. A substantial hike in the $400 citizenship application fees is also planned.

There has been a significant loss in value of the U.S. dollar in the past several months, with a new 5-month low against the euro this month. The dollar has lost approximately 10-12% of its value against most world currencies in the past two years, most of it this year. The trend is expected to continue.

The UK Home Secretary, John Reid, has put a Border and Immigration Bill before Parliament. It seeks to deal with several loopholes through which illegal immigrants enter and stay in the country. There are also several provisions to reform the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, especially with respect toward strengthening enforcement measures to prevent illegal immigration.

Latest immigration news

US President Bush calls for expanded visa waiver program

During remarks in Tallinn, Estonia on 28 November, American President Bush announced that the United States would be making changes to its visa waiver program, indicating that one of the changes would be to add several countries to the program. more »

US venture capitalists investing in immigrant businesses

The entrepreneurial skills of U.S. immigrants are gaining the attention of venture capitalists, who have taken notice of the $500 billion in shareholder wealth generated by foreign-born business owners in the past three and a half decades. more »

US unveils new citizenship test

Sometime "during this winter", ten cities across the United States will begin to administer the new format of the citizenship examination for volunteers seeking naturalization. more »

Reminder: US Green Card lottery ends in less than ten days

People who are interested in applying for the United States Green Card Lottery, officially known as the Diversity Visa Lottery Program (DV-2008) are reminded that time has almost run out to prepare. more »

UK Home Secretary outlines immigration plans

The Queen's Speech includes a new Border and Immigration Bill. What will it contain? more »

US dollar falls to 5-month low against euro

On Wednesday, 21 November 2006 the Bush administration released revised economic numbers and projections for the upcoming year. Reaction in the world market was for a loss of the U.S. dollar purchasing power against 14 of the 16 major world currencies, with a spike to a new 5-month low against the euro. more »

US announces new passport requirement date

Beginning on 23 January 2007, all persons entering the United States by air will be required to show a passport. Even U.S. citizens who left the country prior to 23 January and are returning will require passports. Very few exceptions will be made. more »

UK immigration statistics for past two years

According to official UK government estimates, approximately 1,500 migrants arrived to live in the UK every day during 2005. The same figures suggest that 185,000 more people immigrated into the UK than emigrated to another country, yielding a net population gain of 500 per day. more »

UK Home Office announces illegal immigration crackdown

Home Secretary for the United Kingdom, John Reid, revealed this week a renewed effort as part of on-going plans to arrest Britons involved in people-smuggling and to identify and assess fines against companies that hire illegal immigrants. Efforts to encourage and assist the public in reporting suspects and to provide other resources are also underway. more »

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