CANADA,UNITED KINGDOM,AUTRALIA,USA,IMMIGRATION NEWS

Immigration policies and conditions are constantly changing, and some of these changes may affect your eligibility to immigrate to Canada, the UK, Australia or the United States. We would like to advise you of some important changes that have happened over the past month:

The Canadian Government has announced new rules designed to protect the rights of overseas temporary workers from exploitation. The added security and monitoring makes Canada a perfect location for temporary workers.

The UK Border Agency ('UKBA') has announced a range of enhancements to their Tier 2 skilled worker or work permit scheme.

Australia has recovered extremely well from the financial crisis, and still needs skilled workers. However, the Government has made immigration rules more strict to ensure that people with the right skills and experience required are able to immigrate.

United States Immigration is bracing for the holiday season, and have advised that U.S. migrants wishing to travel internationally and return to the United States, need to get their Advance Parole application in early so it can be processed in time.

If you have taken our free Visa Eligibility Assessment and passed, we recommend that you start your application now while you still meet the criteria. If you took our assessment previously and did not meet the criteria, we recommend you retake the assessment, as many things have changed and you may now qualify

Canada

Celebrates Citizenship Week 2009

The week of October 19-23 is Canadian Citizenship week - this week in ceremonies across the country Canada will welcome hundreds of new citizens and hundreds more will reaffirm their commitment to Canada.

Canada is taking action to help protect foreign temporary workers

In the near future companies seeking to bring temporary foreign workers into Canada will be more closely watched and those not following the rules will be 'named and shamed' Citizenship and Immigration Canada has promised.

Small Towns in Canada benefiting from Immigration

A report issued by the Conference Board of Canada reports that many Canadian small towns have found new life due to an increase in immigration to Canada.

UNITED KINGDOM

Enhancement of Tier 2 eligibility criteria The UK Border Agency ('UKBA') has announced a range of enhancements to their Tier 2 skilled worker or work permit scheme.

Migrant Baby boom prompts call for new schools A report released by a cross-party group on UK migration has suggested that up to 96,000 new school places would be required by 2013 to manage a migrant related baby boom.

New UK Visa route for Turkish business people The UK Border Agency ('UKBA') has announced a new visa route for Turkish nationals applying to establish a business in the UK under the European Community Association Agreement ('ECAA')

AUSTRALIA

DIAC Recommends Visa Applications to be Lodged by November 6

The Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) has advised that people intending to lodge applications for overseas family members to visit Australia over Christmas should do so before November 6, 2009.

DIAC Changes Re-Use Health Check Policy

On November 9, 2009, The Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) will suspend arrangements that allow some visa applicants to re-use previous health examination reports.

Australia Commences New Citizenship Test

On Monday, October 19, the new Australian Citizenship test commenced. The test assesses prospective Australian citizens on their understanding of Australian civics, and the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship.

USCIS Offers Free Naturalization Information Sessions

The USCIS is offering free naturalization information sessions to the general public at various locations around the country.

USCIS Reminds Advance Parole Applicants to Apply Early

With the holiday season fast approaching the United States and Immigration Service (USCIS) issued a reminder to applicants for Advance Parole to apply early.

Agent Filing Requirements Clarified for O and P Visas

Recently the United States and Immigration Service (USCIS) clarified the requirements for agents interested in filing as petitioners for the O and P nonimmigrant visa classifications.

International Graduates Scheme(UK),Graduate scheme in uk

Introduction :

The International Graduates Scheme (IGS) is a way for non-European Economic Area students of higher education institutes within the United Kingdom to remain in the country for one year after graduation and gain valuable work experience. Less restrictive than earlier student immigration routes, the International Graduates Scheme allows a student of any discipline to apply.

 
If the graduate wishes to remain in the UK after one year, they must switch over to another immigration category such as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). The intention is to encourage graduates to take up a career in the UK by giving them a transitional route into another immigration category.This scheme supersedes the Science and Engineering Graduates Students (SEGS) scheme, which was a similar but more restrictive category that was discontinued for anyone who has graduated on or after 01 May 2007. Anyone who graduated before 01 May 2007 must still come under the previous SEGS scheme, which places restrictions on which courses are eligible.

Please note that an amendment to SEGS allows those who commenced a Master's or PhD course of study on or after 01 May 2006 to be eligible for SEGS with with any course, while still being subject to all other requirements of the previous SEGS scheme.Besides the exception noted above, SEGS was only allowed for graduates of science and engineering disciplines, while the International Graduates Scheme is open to anyone who attains a degree from a recognised or listed UK educational institution. Other improvements include accepting any degree class (grade) except fail, instead of the previous SEGS requirement of a 2.2.One advantage students who wish to stay in the UK have with this scheme is by gaining valuable UK work experience after graduation. For example, a student can use UK work experience to score points towards the requirements of HSMP.A graduate can apply for IGS before they are issued with their degree certificate. If they do not have a degree certificate, a letter from their institution confirming that they have completed the course at the required level will be accepted as proof.

 
Who can qualify

For a student to successfully come under the International Graduates Scheme, they must:
have completed a relevant course at a recognized institute of higher learning within the UK such as a bachelor's degree, Master's degree, PhD, or postgraduate certificate or diploma, including those who have completed a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education).have completed the course within the last twelve months. This is calculated from the date of expiry of leave as a Student to complete the course.
intend to work during the period of one year granted by the scheme.be able to support and accomodate themselves and any dependents without resorting to the use of public funds.intend to leave the UK after the period of one year unless they transfer to another scheme as a highly skilled migrant, business owner, student, or innovator.get permission before applying for IGS if their studies were sponsored by a government or international scholarship agency.Recognized and Listed Institutions

The government of the United Kingdom recognizes institutions who grant degrees by virtue of their own power, called 'recognized' bodies, or those institutions who grant degrees under the power of another institution, called 'listed' bodies.

 
Employment

 
Anyone coming under the International Graduates Scheme can take any kind of employment they want. They are also allowed to switch to other schemes such as HSMP, business owner, or innovator while in the UK.

Dependants

 
If spouses, unmarried partners, civil partners and children are already in the UK during the applicant's stay as a student, they can switch along with the applicant and remain in the UK. Entry clearance is required if the dependants are applying from abroad.

Service

 
We offer a Premium Service and a normal service. With the Premium Service, we will process your application in one business day. Our normal service will be through the post, which can take approximately a business week.

Fee Schedule

 
The Premium Service breaks down as £595 (the Home Office fee) plus £605 (our fee) for a total of £1200, which we will process within one business day of receipt of payment.
The normal service (by post) breaks down as £395 (the Home Office fee) plus £605 (our fee) for a total of £1000, and is subject to normal processing times depending on the Home Office, the postal system, and demand by other applicants.