Dear Visitor

The United States' 2010 Diversity Visa Lottery (also known as the Green Card Lottery) began at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Savings Time on 02 October 2008. People born in a country with low levels of immigration into the United States may be eligible for entry in the Green Card Lottery.

This year, a very significant change is that people born in Russia are eligible again, after being left out for several years.

The submission period for the Green Card Lottery will end at 12:00 noon Eastern Standard Time on 01 December 2008. People may submit only one application; duplicate entries for an individual will invalidate all entries for that person.

The United Kingdom's Labour Minister of Parliament for Leicester East stated recently that the number of highly skilled migrants entering the United Kingdom will increase under the new Tier 1 (General) visa, contrary to public perceptions. He said that the new tier system needs to be open and fair, and that the government should not "change the rules unexpectedly." Mr. Keith Vaz was in India leading an inquiry committee on how Tier 1 (General) was working since being introduced on 01 April 2008.

The United Kingdom's Border & Immigration Agency (BIA) is urging employers to apply now for a sponsorship license ahead of the introduction of Tiers 2 and 5 in November. Potential immigrants in these categories must have a Certificate of Sponsorship, to be submitted with their visa application.

At the end of November this year, Tier 2 for skilled workers and Tier 5 for temporary workers will be implemented. UK employers must be licensed by the UK government to issue Certificates of Sponsorship for potential immigrants coming from outside of the European Economic Area and Switzerland under Tier 2 and Tier 5.

Chinese students at University of London	Accountants/musicians from India in London	from Sudan living in London	Americans in Cool London

Australia is experiencing its biggest annual decline in skilled workers in its history, according to a new report. About 77 thousand people left the country permanently during the 2007-08 fiscal year. About half of those who emigrated were in skilled jobs, with nearly two-thirds aged between 25 and 54.

According to Chris Evans, Australia's Immigration Minister, the latest figures reflect the current global demand for skills and the internationalization of the labor market as part of the broader process of globalization. Of those leaving, approximately half were born overseas, and 51% of emigrants were men.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released new details on how certain children of overseas military personnel can obtain U.S. citizenship without being in the United States. The provisions are only available to biological and adopted children of U.S. military personnel -- not to stepchildren.

The provision was made possible by changes to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 was signed into law in late January. Section 322 of the INA was amended to allow certain eligible children of members of the U.S. military to become naturalized U.S. citizens without having to travel to the United States during any part of the process.

Work for us in India

Vacancies in our New Delhi office for:

• a manager
• experienced migration consultants
• admininstrative assistants

Apply Now! workdelhi@workpermit.com. Please send a CV with a covering letter.

The European Union held an opening ceremony for a new 'job center' in the Mali capital of Bamako on 06 October 2008. The intention is to create a number of job centers to help people in Africa find legal work in the EU. This particular job center is also expected to encourage development in Mali, which lies at the center of key migration routes.

The job centers are not currently recruitment offices, so no specific job vacancies are on offer. However, European countries may recruit via the Bamako office in the future. Spain is already offering seasonal contracts in Senegal, such as hotel work and fruit picking jobs. Demand is so high that it is, in effect, a lottery.

ANNOUNCING - Vacancies for Australian & Canadian Immigration Experts

We are looking for immigration consultants experienced in Australian and Canadian immigration. This is an exciting opportunity to join our Migration Team in the workpermit.com Head Office in Central London.

If interested please send email to worklondon@workpermit.com with a covering letter and CV.

• UK skilled immigration to increase under new system

  According to the Economic Times of India, a UK Minister of Parliament stated that the number of highly skilled migrants entering the United Kingdom will increase under the new Tier 1 (General) points based system, contrary to public perceptions. more  »

• USCIS details overseas naturalization requirements for children

  United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released details on how certain children of overseas military personnel can obtain US citizenship without being in the United States. The provision was made possible by recent changes to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). more  »

• Australian skills shortage increases as workers emigrate

  Australia is experiencing its biggest annual decline in skilled workers in its history, according to a new report. 76,923 people left the country permanently in the 2007-08 financial year. more  »

• EU opens immigration 'job center' in Africa

  The European Union has opened a job center in the Mali capital of Bamako to help people in Africa find legal work in the EU, according to the BBC. Each year, thousands of people illegally migrate to the EU from Africa and many die trying. more  »

• UK reminds employers to apply for sponsor license

  The UK Border Agency is reminding employers to make their application for a sponsor license as soon as possible to minimise delays in their recruitment process. more  »

• US: Green Card Lottery starts Thursday, Russians eligible

  Starting at noon EDT, 08 October 2008, citizens from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States will have a chance to receive a permanent residence visa through the 2010 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2010), otherwise know as the Green Card Lottery. As is the case every fiscal year, 55,000 Diversity Visas will be made available. more  »

• United States: Obama would make immigration a 'top priority'

  In a questionnaire to both US Presidential candidates from online immigrant-rights group The Sanctuary, Barack Obama, US Senator and Democratic candidate for President of the United States, stated that he would make immigration one of his 'top priorities' during the first month of his presidency. more  »

• Spotlight: The changing face of U.S. immigration

  The United States has always been known to be the world's 'melting pot' of cultures. Since the dawn of its history, America has been a nation of immigrants. Over the course of its existence, the makeup of America's newest citizens has changed -- from European pioneers that forged a new nation in its early days to the recent wave of Hispanic and Asian migrants adding their skills and talents to the world's largest economy. more  »

• Canada should focus on permanent skilled migration

  Naomi Alboim, vice-chairperson of the Policy Forum at the Queen's University School of Policy Studies, said that Canada's immigration policy focuses too much on temporary labor migration policies and short-changes the economic benefits of permanent skilled migration. more  »