Immigration news

Young people in South Korea will soon be able to apply for the UK's Tier 5 youth mobility scheme visa. The UK announced that soon 1,000 young South Koreans will be able to come under the scheme each year to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. Additionally, the same number of young people from the UK will be able to live and work in South Korea.

US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced on 5 June the release of the DHS Northern Border Strategy (NBS). The NBS was created to guide the department's policies and operations concerning the US-Canada border.DHS hopes the strategy will provide a framework for enhancing security while expediting lawful travel and trade throughout the the US and Canada border region. According to DHS officials, the NBS is the first Department-wide strategy to guide policy and operations at US-Canada border.

On 11 June 2012 the UK government announced major changes to the Immigration Rules for non-European Economic Area (non-EEA) nationals applying to enter or remain in the UK under the family migration route. Most of these changes will apply to new applicants from 9 July 2012.The changes, part of the Government's response to recommendations made by the Migration Advisory Committee, include:

India's Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai met with his UK counterpart, Simon Fraser, last week asking for the UK to ease visa requirements for businessmen, entrepreneurs, and students. Foreign Secretaries, are senior Government ministers dealing with foreign affairs; Known in most Countries as Foreign Ministers.

Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has announced that temporary residents with a valid study visa or work permit can have their visa renewed from within Canada. Applicants can now apply at the Case Processing Pilot Office in Ottawa.

US Senator Patrick Leahy recently introduced legislation that would give permanent status for the EB-5 Regional Center program, also known as the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program. Additionally, the E-Verify program, "Conrad 30" J-1 program, and the Religious Worker immigrant visa would also be made permanent. In the past, Congress has granted all four programs temporary extensions, however all are set to expire at the end of this fiscal year on 30 September 2012.EB-5 Regional Center Program (Immigrant Investor Pilot Program)