Immigration news

Hungary has introduced the European Union blue card scheme which allows entry of skilled non-EU nationals to Hungary and certain other EU member states.

The EU blue card is issued to highly skilled workers who obtain a job offer and meets the requirements of the scheme. However only certain member states have agreed to take part in the scheme. Hungary will issue a blue card for up to four years to qualifying applicants.

After 18 months of legal employment, a blue card holder can move to another EU member state.

A panel of business leaders, immigration law experts, and city mayors said that the United States needs to realize that immigration is a vital component in spurring American economic growth and increasing its global competitiveness.

The discussion was organized by the Partnership for a New-American Economy and held in El Paso Texas on 5 October 2011.

"Our immigration system is broken," said El Paso mayor John Cook.

"When we have demand for a half-million new workers each year, and no way to bring them in legally, it's an invitation for illegal immigration," he added.

Dow Chemical CEO Andew Liveris says that Australia's manufacturing sector needs more highly skilled migrants; There will need to be changes to the Australian immigration rules to enable more skilled immigrants to stay in the country.

At a job summit on 6 October 2011, Liveris warned that Australia must avoid the fate of the US, where highly skilled migrants are returning home due to burdensome visa rules.

The United States has begun accepting applications for the DV-2013 Green Card Lottery. Applications will continue to be accepted until 5 November 2011.

Each year, the United States makes 55,000 visas available to people born in countries with low levels of immigration into the US. Winners are selected in a random basis; You can then apply for a permanent residence visa for the US.

This is a fantastic opportunity if you and your family would like to start a new life in the US and you come from an eligible country.

Vivek Wadhwa, writing for the Washington Post, says the United States is experiencing its first ever brain drain and should do more to encourage skilled immigration.

"In 1980, when I came to the United States to study, this was the only land of opportunity for skilled immigrants like me," Wadhwa writes.

"If I was arriving today, I would not have taken the same path," he added.

Canada is currently struggling to deal with a backlog of immigration applications.

The backlog of immigration applications is hurting Canada's reputation as a top immigration destination for skilled migrants. In some cases people are choosing Australia as an alternative immigration destination.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said that the situation was a "huge problem". He has spoken frequently about the need to streamline the application process and get the backlog under control.