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Immigration news

Slovakian immigration law has been updated to include a new directive from the European Union for a blue card scheme for non-EU workers. From 20 July 2011, the blue card has been available for non-EU nationals who wish to work and gain residence rights in Slovakia.

The blue card scheme is an initiative created by the European Commission to help attract highly skilled workers to the EU.

For five months in a row more migrants left New Zealand than arrived; The devastating earthquake of 22 February 2011 prompted people to move to Australia and elsewhere.

Permanent migration departures exceeded arrivals by 220 in July of 2011. This five month continuous period of net emigration out of New Zealand is the longest since 2001.

According to Statistics New Zealand, arrivals exceeded departures for the year to July 2011 by only 2,867, the lowest level since the year to October of 2001.

Since the 2008 global financial crisis, out of all OECD countries the Czech Republic has seen the largest drop in immigration levels.

In 2007, prior to the financial crisis, over 100,000 people immigrated to the Czech Republic to find work. By 2009, that figure had dropped to 40,000, a larger percentage drop than Europe's worst hit economies.

An OECD report, 2011 International Migration Outlook, stated that migration into OECD countries in general fell by about 7 percent in 2009, to 4.3 million people.

Less than 1,000 United States H-1B visa applications are lodged every week, highlighting what is still a somewhat lackluster job market in the US. At the same time it should be noted that the US remains the biggest economy in the World. If you have the right skills and qualifications you may still be able to find work in the US. If you do find work and have at least a bachelors degree, the current availability of H-1B visas means that you will probably be able to come under the H-1B visa.

At a meeting in May at Stanford Law School, academics, executives, and lawyers were asked by US Federal chief technology officer Aneesh Chopra and USCIS director Alejandro Mayorkas what they could do to help Silicon Valley; The leading hub for high-tech innovation and development in the United states . The overwhelming answer was to ask for changes to the immigration regulations to enable high tech companies to hire top talent from around the world.

Despite the recent huge increase in the number of accountants obtaining skilled immigration visas to Australia there is still unfulfilled demand for accountants in Australia. Skills Australia intends to keep the occupation on its list of occupations in demand.

"We are keeping a watch on accountants but at the moment the data, and the advice that were getting from the professional associations, is that they should still be on the Skilled Occupation List," said Robin Shreeve, Skills Australia CEO.