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According to technology entrepreneurs David Cleevely, Hermann Hauser and Mike Lynch, making it even more difficult for skilled workers to come under the tier 2 immigration scheme is likely to put Britain's digital economy at risk. They're urging UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, not to shut out talented tech workers coming to Britain from overseas.
There are continuing concerns about the difficulties in obtaining L-1B intracompany transfer visas for specialized knowledge level employees. It has been difficult at times to be able to meet the requirements for the L-1B because of uncertainties about what actually qualifies as a specialized knowledge level employee. Another popular type of visa the H-1B non-immigrant visa for graduate level specialty workers run out almost as soon as they become available at the beginning of April each year. It is therefore important to consider alternatives.
Due to skills shortages in Australia British and Irish dairy farmers are especially in demand by Australian immigration as reported by David McCullough of the Scottish Farmer website. Dairy farming is listed on the country's Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List; the government is urging British and Irish dairy farmers to apply for Australian temporary skilled immigration 457 visas.
L-2 non-immigrant dependent visa holders who are traveling to the US without their L-1A or L-1B visa spouse/parent are reportedly being placed in 'secondary inspection' by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Secondary inspection is the process whereby a CBP officer will direct a person, or persons, to an interview area if they wish to carry out further checks. The CBP officer may ask additional questions and ask for more documentation from the L-2 dependent visa holder.
US immigration has scrapped the additional fee of $2,250 for an L-1 visa and the $2,000 fee for an H-1B visa paid by larger employers with a high percentage of overseas workers; this fee was considered discriminatory as it mainly affected Indian IT companies. Commonly referred to as an 'outsourcing fee', Indian businesses were particularly vocal in their opposition about the charges saying it had a major impact on their ability to do business in the US.
In response to the Migration Advisory Committee's review of tier 2 immigration, a survey carried out by the Permits Foundation showed overwhelming support for the right of partners of highly skilled workers from outside the European Union to be able to work in the UK.