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workpermit.com | Immigration newsletter - 20 December 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.

Latest immigration news

Scores of African migrants perish at sea, scores more risk their lives

A fishing boat crowded with more than 100 African migrants capsized at least twice while sailing to Spain's Canary Islands, spilling passengers and leaving scores dead as survivors drifted for about 10 days without food or water, officials reported on 18 December.more »

Initial statistics in for US Diversity Visa (DV-2008) program

During the two-month electronic registration period for the United States Diversity Visa Lottery (otherwise known as the Green Card Lottery), over 6.4 million entries were received. Taking into account dependents, there are 10 million participants in the 2008 Diversity Visa Lottery. more »

Canada - Ontario creates one-stop shop for health professionals

Ontario is creating a resource and recruitment center to assist foreigners in navigating the registration practices and procedures required to become licensed to work in the Canadian health care industry, according to Ontario Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle and Ontario Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman. more »

300,000 Russians in the UK, "Londongrad" a prime location

It has long been known that London is a magnet for Russian dissidents and billionaires. For that matter, London and the United Kingdom have been the destination of the elite and the wealthy for centuries. more »

International Migrants Day

As of the beginning of this year, at least 191 million people are living and working in a country not of their origin. One person of every 35 in the world is a migrant or an immigrant. more »

US granting larger numbers of H-1B & student visas to Indians in 2006

The U.S. fiscal year 2006 saw an increased number of H-1B visas granted to highly skilled workers from India, while students wishing to study in the United States should have few problems obtaining their visas if they are accepted by an American university, according to authorities. more »

EU announces plans for European driving license

The European Union parliament last week gave final approval for a pan-European driving license scheme. The current plan is to create a database tracking drivers' history throughout Europe, rather than allowing drivers with a bad record in one country to obtain a new license in a different country. more »

Canada begins pilot off-campus work program for private schools

Late last week, Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Monte Solberg announced that the new government will begin discussions with interested provinces and territories to begin a pilot project to expand the Off-Campus Work Permit program to include private institutions. more »

UK immigration flow regulations approved for Romania and Bulgaria

Regulations have been approved by the UK Parliament to manage the flow of new workers into the United Kingdom from Romania and Bulgaria. Both nations are set to join the European Union on 01 January 2007, forming the EU-27. more »

US Judge rules state immigration rules are biased

A Denver District Court judge ruled on 14 December that Colorado Division of Motor Vehicle (DMV) rules requiring driver's license applicants to produce two or more documents to prove legal residence in the United States discriminate against the poor and cause undue harm. more »

US report - illegal immigrants not a burden to health care system

A new report released last month in the United States concludes that illegal immigrants do not pose a disproportionate burden upon the U.S. health care system, contrary to increasingly strong rhetoric on the subject over the past two years. more »

Australia's 457 visa scheme under government inquiry

Australia's premium skilled foreign-worker visa scheme (commonly referred to as the 457 visa) has caused some controversy this year, and the federal government is now launching a formal inquiry into it. The 457 visa scheme is a temporary work visa that can allow a foreign-born worker into Australia for up to four years. more »

EU sets 2007 target for scrapping border controls

Millions of travelers will be able to leave their passports at home after European Union governments agreed at the beginning of this month to begin scrapping border controls for citizens of new entrants like Poland and Malta by the end of 2007. more »

Europe eases Algeria visa rules

French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that visa procedures for Algerians will be speeded up in 15 European countries. more »

Netherlands - Dutch parliament in crisis over immigration policy

The Dutch parliament was holding crisis talks on 13 December after MPs passed a motion condemning its caretaker Immigration Minister for refusing to halt deportations of rejected asylum seekers until a new ruling coalition was formed. more »

Quotas reached for UK Sector Based Scheme

As of October, the quota of 1,110 permits for the Food Manufacturing (Meat) sector and the quota of 203 permits for the Food Manufacturing (Fish) sector have been reached. No further first applications for these sectors will be considered. The plan was to close the programme by 31 December or when all quotas were reached. more »

New report agrees that immigrants are invaluable to the UK economy

While not a new concept, a report released 11 December 2006 from researchers linked to the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England, says that immigrants in the UK contribute very significantly to the health of the UK economy. more »

Ontario to invest $600,000 in job specific language training

Ontario's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle announced a $600,000 investment to help adult immigrants receive language training that will be relevant to their skills and experience. more »

Help announced for bringing foreign workers to Ontario, Canada

Improvements to the delivery of the Foreign Worker Program in Ontario were announced on 08 December by Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, and Michael Colle, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. A Regional List of Occupations Under Pressure for Ontario will make the process easier, faster, and less expensive for Canadian employers in the province to hire foreign workers where there are no qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents available to fill the position. more »

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