Dear Visitor

workpermit.com has opened an office in New Delhi, India. Please feel free to make an appointment now and discuss how we may help you with work permits, residency and other immigration-related issues. Visit the "Contact Us" section of our website for details.

The United Kingdom's new "Tiered" immigration system covers all employment, study, and training-based immigration into the country. Tier 1 for General Highly Skilled Migrants specifically replaces the old Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). Tier 1 has already come into effect for people already in Britain and people applying from India.

During the second half of this year the UK will finish implementing Tier 1. Once fully implemented, eight previously existing immigration categories will be removed. Transitional arrangements are being put into place for immigrants already in the UK under these schemes.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that "more than enough" H-1B visa petitions have been received to fully satisfy all available quotas for the 2009 fiscal year. This includes 20,000 H-1B visas for foreign graduates of U.S. universities at a Master's degree or higher level that are exempted from the standard cap of 65,000.

The USCIS will perform a "computer-generated random selection process" on all petitions received during the filing period (01 April through 07 April this year) to determine who will get H-1B visas. Due to the large number, the USCIS has stated that it is "unknown" when this will take place. Lucky winners of the lottery may begin working as early as October 1st, 2008, the first day of the 2009 fiscal year.

ANNOUNCING - Meet us in our new office in New Delhi!

If you would like to meet us in India to discuss immigration to the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the United States,

make an appointment now: indiaoffices@workpermit.com.

Tel: +91 11 4223 5361 or Mob: +91 97 1100 1174
Eros Corporate Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi 110 019, India

The Australian government is adopting a new visa policy for people they determine to be "Locally Engaged Employees" (LLEs) who have been helping the Australian military in Iraq. The new policy to include Iraqi support personnel such as translators and interpreters and their families. Because of their association with Australian troops they are considered to be at risk in Iraq.

The new humanitarian policy only applies to those specifically designated by the Australian government as being eligible. Immigration authorities expect to grant up to 600 humanitarian visas under the new policy. No specific time-period has yet been announced regarding when LLEs can apply for permanent residence.

A new free trade agreement was signed between New Zealand and China on 07 April 2008. Visiting and immigrating to New Zealand will become much easier now for Chinese citizens. The agreement liberalizes and facilitates trade in goods and services. It is also meant to improve the business environment and promote cooperation across a broad range of economic interests.

Temporary skilled migration, intra-company transfers, and Working Holiday visas are among the immigration and travel policies that will be affected. Skilled migrants from all countries can get permission to live and work in New Zealand without a previous job offer.

• UK to remove immigration categories

  The United Kingdom is in the process of introducing its new five-tier points-based system that covers all employment, study, and training based immigration into the country. Eight existing schemes will be removed this year as Tier 1 comes fully into effect.more  »

• Permanent residence for Iraqis who aided Australian troops

  As Australia gets set to withdraw its troops from southern Iraq, the government is extending its thanks to Iraqi employees who provided support services by allowing them to apply for permanent residence. more  »

• United States reaches FY2009 H-1B cap

  The United States H-1B program has proven incredibly popular again, exceeding the Congressionally mandated cap of 65,000 visa applications by 08 April 2008. "More than enough" petitions for all the 20,000 H-1B visas exempted from the quota for foreign graduates of U.S. universities were also received. more  »

• NZ - China free trade agreement simplifies immigration

  A free trade agreement signed between New Zealand and China on 07 April 2008 will make visiting and immigrating to New Zealand easier for Chinese citizens. more  »

• New workpermit.com office in India!

  workpermit.com has opened a new office in New Delhi for the convenience of those living in India who wish to live and work abroad and to make communication easier with Indian companies who wish to send their staff abroad. more  »

• HSMP changes ruled illegal by UK High Court

  Changes to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) which affected individuals who wished to remain in the United Kingdom under the immigration scheme have been ruled illegal by a UK High Court ruling. more  »

• Update to UK Tier 1 Maintenance requirements

  The United Kingdom's new five-tier points based system requires individuals applying under Tier 1 for General Highly Skilled Migrants (Tier 1 (General)) to prove that they have enough funds at their disposal to support themselves and their families. more  »

• US gives H-1B related assistance to foreign students

  The United States has extended the time a foreign student can work under a program which grants a student permission to be employed in a job closely related to his or her studies. more  »

• NZ extends pre-purchased English courses for migrants

  New Zealand immigration authorities were requiring some migrants to pre-pay English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition as a condition for acceptance of their application. The pre-paid tuition previously allowed migrants to take their ESOL courses anytime during the initial 3.5 years since they entered the country. more  »