Immigration news

Ireland is seeing a large drop in skilled immigrants entering the country through its work permit program. The number of people entering the country through this route dropped by 19 percent in 2010.

At the close of 2010, only 18,987 foreign nationals held work permits, down from 23,470 in 2009 and 30,556 in 2008. There has been a significant increase in unemployment as a result of the global financial crisis of 2008. Also, stricter immigration requirements imposed by the Government mean it is more difficult to emigrate to Ireland.

Business leaders in Australia are urging the Government to speed up applications for skilled migrant workers as it faces labour gaps resulting from a resurgent economy.

Also, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is warning Immigration Minister Chris Bowen that application processing times need to decrease to avoid possible legal action from skilled migrants awaiting a decision.

London Mayor Boris Johnson says that the UK Government's immigration cap will harm Britain's economy and make the nation uncompetitive. Johnson said that business was having a difficult time finding skilled staff to fill vacant positions.

New Zealand's immigration minister has said that overseas students wishing to study in New Zealand will have less red tape to deal with when obtaining a student visa.

New Zealand is a popular destination for foreign students as it can be a much cheaper option compared to other western countries such as the UK, United States, Canada, or Australia.

Young people from Bangladesh and Australia can now work in each others' countries through a work and holiday arrangement that started on 31 December 2010. If you are aged 18 to 30 with a higher education or you are currently studying for a tertiary qualification you can take a holiday with work rights for up to 12 months.

"This new arrangement is an investment in future relations with Bangladesh and will also help develop links between people in both countries," Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship said in a statement.

The UK Government re-introduced an interim limit on Tier 2 (General) visa sponsorships on 21 December 2010 that will be in effect until 05 April 2011. The total number of certificates of sponsorship that can be issued is 10,832. This includes certificates for initial applications and extensions. The permanent immigration limit comes into place in April 2011.