Immigration news

On May 4, 2016, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) gave notice via the Federal Register - the Daily Journal of the United States Government – of its intent to increase certain government filing fees for non-immigrant visas, as well as creating a new fee.

The average increase in fees is 21 percent, however, visas used by US companies to bring skilled workers into the country, immigrant investors creating jobs for US workers and immigrants with extraordinary ability are those that will see the highest increases in visa fees.

Due to a fear (however unlikely it might be) that Donald Trump will become the next US President, tens of thousands of immigrants are racing to become US citizens, according to a report published by the New York Post. Compared with the final months of 2014, US citizenship applications increased by 14 percent in the final six months of 2015, according to data published by the Associated Press.

The Association of Independent Professionals (IPSE) that campaigns for more restrictions on immigrant workers has welcomed recent changes to the UK's Tier 2 visa system. IPSE said that it is 'pleased' the government decided to act on recommendations made by the anti-immigration, Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

UK rock band, The Rolling Stones, have warned Donald Trump who has made numerous anti-immigration remarks (and some pro-immigration remarks as well!) to stop using their music during his Presidential campaign events. Trump - who is now the only runner for the Republican Presidential nomination after the only other candidate for the position remaining, Ohio Governor, John Kaisch dropped out - is understood to be a massive fan of Rolling Stones music.

Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce based in Ontario, Canada has urged the Canadian government to expand the country's temporary worker program by creating a special visa that would enable high-growth companies to attract international management talent more easily. Executive director of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, Rory Ring, said: "We need to import the special skills needed to manage companies that are growing 10 times faster than normal."

Australia's Labor Party is being warned that offshore oil rigs could be at risk should changes to foreign worker visas, such as the 400 and 457 visas, go ahead. In Parliament on May 2nd, 2016, the Labor Party put forward proposals to cancel the visas of foreign workers in the oil and gas industry.