Immigration news

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is proposing an electronic registration system which businesses can use to file H-1B petitions. USCIS says the new system would save firms more than $23 million dollars over the next decade.

"The proposed electronic system would minimize administrative burdens and expenses related to the H-1B petition process including reducing the need for employers to submit petitions for which visas would not be available under the statutory visa cap," USCIS said in a statement.

The EU has stated that visas are a member-state issue, one which the 27-member bloc has little control over as a whole; therefore, Brussels cannot negotiate immigration matters under the free trade agreement.

Businesses in Western Australia (WA) have recorded a sharp increase in the number of Dutch, Malaysian and Irish workers being sponsored to fill skilled job vacancies.

Close to 4000 skilled migrants were granted temporary 457 visas in WA in the second half of last year, an increase of more than 44 percent over the same period in 2009.

Certain scientists and people earning over £150,000 will be exempt from the UK's immigration cap that will take effect in April 2011.

The exemption for scientists follows lobbying from the UK research industry; They felt that a cap on scientists would hurt UK Universities and British scientific research.

The Australian mining industry has had some good news recently; Recent reports suggest that the government may increase levels of skilled migration to Australia. As the Australian economy picks up the only way in which employers will be able to deal with expected labour shortages is by hiring overseas workers

Canada is expected to update its points based skilled immigration scheme; There will be new English language requirements and higher points thresholds. If you think you may be affected by the changes, it may be best to apply now for skilled immigration to Canada.