Topical:
A newly published labour force study, funded by Australia's federal government, has found that the Australian skilled immigration system is failing skilled migrant women who have emigrated as the spouse of an Australian visa holder. According to the study, thousands of female skilled migrants struggle to join the Australian workforce or see their careers grind to a halt because they're forced into low-income jobs.
The so called "independent" Migration Advisory Committee's (MAC) long-awaited review of Tier 2 immigration was released on 19 January 2016; It recommends that the UK government impose even tighter immigration controls for Tier 2 Visas. The MAC recommendations have been greeted with criticism from many UK employers, who say that the measures will lead to increased costs and make recruiting more difficult.
It has previously been reported by Workpermit.com - that the Tier 1 Post-Study Work Visa would not be re-introduced. However, the Scottish Secretary of State now says that the UK government has 'not shut the door' on the introduction of new, post-study work visas in Scotland.
Recent amendments to regulations - that apply to the H-1B1, E-3 and CW-1 non-immigrant classifications and the EB-1 immigrant classification – by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will improve the programs currently in place according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
US Immigration says that the amendments will remove any unnecessary barriers that put workers in these categories at a disadvantage to other workers in similar circumstances in other US visa classifications.
The US Visa Bulletin for January 2016, issued by the Department of State (DoS), showed movement in dates to allow for earlier processing of employment based immigrant visas in some cases. These dates are used to determine when certain immigrants may file employment-based visa petitions, other immigrant visas, and when an immigration visa can be approved by adjustment of status or visa consular processing from outside the US. Indians are the main beneficiary in the most recent visa bulletin with movement of eight months in the application final action date for EB-2 employment based immigrant visa petitions.
Australian business groups are reigniting the campaign for 457 visa reform, stating that the time has come to 'dispel misinformation about the 457 visa scheme....' In a move likely to create friction with unions over the 457 visa for temporary skilled migrants, business groups are demanding that the government abolishes 'Labor-era market testing arrangements in the scheme.'