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The Australian government made up of the Liberal-National coalition has announced that it will cut the amount of time foreign workers on 457 visas can remain in the country once their employment term comes to an end. This makes it more difficult for overseas workers on 457 visas to find another job in Australia. The move comes with a view to making the job market more favourable towards Australian jobseekers.
President Trump won the elections despite what many people may be surprised to hear is a pro immigrant bias amongst the electorate. A new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center - a non-partisan American ‘fact tank’ (as referred to by them) - has found that Americans are ‘more positive about US immigration than they have been in decades.’ Equally, US citizens are concerned about discrimination toward Muslims. Many survey participants also said they want an America that’s ‘engaged with the world.’
Comments made by incoming US president, Donald Trump, during his ‘Person of the Year’ interview with Time Magazine over illegal immigrants have left US immigration hardliners bewildered. A rare show of compassion from the controversial real estate tycoon towards “Dreamers” (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) has caught anti-immigration supporters by surprise.
Despite pressure from a host of MPs, at the end of October 2016 the UK government rejected proposals for London-only and Scotland only visa schemes. An official report signed by newly installed UK immigration minister, Robert Goodwill, determined that ‘such a system would not be conducive for UK employers.’
However MPs have not given up and are still pushing for regional UK visa schemes. This year the all-party group on social integration has renewed calls for a regional UK visa scheme. They feel that local quotas would help increase confidence in the UK immigration system.
Canadian investors applying for a US E2 treaty investor visa or US E1 Treaty Trader visa are benefitting from a streamlined visa process. Since March 2016 US Visas has had a streamlined E2 and E1 registration and visa process for Canadian investors and employees.
British curry houses said that they have been betrayed by the Brexit Leave campaign over UK visas and tier 2 visas, days before UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, went to India for her first significant trade mission as Prime Minister. Mrs May visited India on Sunday, 6 November for a two-day visit.