Immigration news

British Ambassador to Kuwait Frank Baker announced on Sunday the launch of the 2011 British Council UK Education Exhibition, which aims to help Kuwaiti students learn more about the UK education system's range of courses available and student visa requirements.

The European Union unveiled a new immigration strategy last week that outlines plans to attract more foreign workers in the coming years to deal with skills shortages and make it easier for immigrants to obtain visas.Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom announced several programs that she said would make it easier for legal immigrants to enter the EU; There will be a stronger focus on mobility and visa policy.

Currently registered nurses are in great demand in Australia and those looking to emigrate can apply under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program. Applicants will need to meet the basic requirements for GSM, pass the Australian immigration Points Test and pass an occupation skills assessment to qualify for an Australian visa.

Canada has a large demand for tradespeople and those looking to emigrate can apply under the Federal Skilled Worker program. The program is for tradespeople, professionals and other skilled migrants who are not sponsored by an employer and have skills in occupations listed on the Priority Occupation List for the Canadian skilled worker visa category.

The US Department of State may add Taiwan as a candidate for the United States Visa-Waiver Program (VWP) by next month, according to Taiwan's Foreign Minister Timothy Yang.Senior US officials have recently expressed "positive" messages that Taiwan may qualify as a VWP candidate by the end of this year."In recent dialogue with us, their high-level officials have been very positive about Taiwan becoming a VWP candidate this year," said Yang.

The United States and Russia moved one step closer to easing visa regimes between the two countries this past weekend when diplomats met to discuss a new visa agreement.Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov exchanged diplomatic notes during their 19 November meeting in Bali on the new visa agreement, according to a US Department of State press release.Under the new rules, businessmen and tourists from both countries will receive three year multi-entry visas, while government officials will receive one year multi-entry visas.