Ambler Collins - The Visa Specialists

May 13 2008 – Australian Budget 2008-09, Rudd Government adds a record additional 31,000 skilled migrants to the plan

The Rudd Government has moved to ease pressure on employers struggling with the skills shortage by adding an additional 31 000 skilled migrants to the 2008-09 Migration Program.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said today the extra places allocated to the permanent skilled migration program represented a 30 per cent increase on 2007-08 when the Howard government added just 5000 places.

‘The permanent skilled migration program is a capped scheme that has not been allowed to grow sufficiently in the past to respond to the skills shortages now faced by employers,’ Senator Evans said.

‘This record increase in the number of places in the permanent skilled migration program, since the introduction of managed migration in 1947, will help ease Australia’s skills shortage and help fight inflation.’

The increase is further to a special one-off allocation of 6000 extra skilled migration places announced by the Rudd Government in February 2008.

Overall, permanent skilled migration will make up 133 500 places in the Migration Program, which totals 190 300 for 2008-09. The Family stream will be increased by 6500 places to 56 500. This increase in the Family stream includes a boost of 4000 places to the parent visas.

‘This significant increase of permanent skilled workers in 2008-09 will ensure a better balance in our skilled migration program overall,’ Senator Evans said.

‘Australia’s skilled migration program is structured to target skills to meet the needs of the job market by maximising the use of employer-sponsored migration.’

Research has shown that the labour market participation rate for permanent skilled migrants is now more than 90 per cent.

‘The program also works with state and territory governments to foster state-sponsored migration and uses the Migration Occupations in Demand List to get the right workers into the right jobs,’ Senator Evans said.

The increase in the Migration Program from 2008-09 will cost an additional $1.4 billion over four years for settlement services and ongoing core government services such as health, education and employment services. The additional cost to the Budget will be more than offset by revenues from income tax, excise duty, GST and charges paid by the new migrants, estimated at some $2.9 billion over four years. The states and territories will be paid $1.0 billion in GST.

Contact Ambler Collins should you have further enquiries on immigration to the UK, NZ, Australia or the USA visa, we will undertake a complimentary assessment of your eligibility. Email us at; info@amblercollins.com

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May 6 2008 – Ambler Collins look confidently to the UK Points based System

Mathew Collins, Managing Partner of AmblerCollins said, AmblerColllins was a pioneer of the Points Based Systems when introduced by Australia and New Zealand. Our firm has been working with these similar systems used by Canada, New Zealand and Australia for almost 20 years.

Our experience demonstrates that this type of system can be used positively by Governments as and when they need flexibility to manage skills shortages or to react to political and social sentiments. We don't doubt that the system can work in benefit of the UK economy but we will need to wait and see if the technology and processes work as efficeintly as the policy intentions.

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May 6 2008 – Tighter new rules for skilled foreign workers to the UK

Foreign workers hoping to fill skilled vacancies in Britain's labour market will have to meet strict new criteria, the Government announced today.

The Home Office today published proposals for much tighter skilled and temporary worker tiers of its new Points Based System (PBS). The schemes - known as Tier 2 and Tier 5 - sweep aside around 30 different routes to the UK, including the old work permit system.

British-based companies will have to prove they cannot fill skilled posts with a resident worker and must show that the job vacancy has been advertised in the UK, unless the job is on the shortage occupation list. Would-be migrants will need a job offer before they even apply for a visa.

To qualify, skilled foreign nationals will have to earn a certain number of points before being allowed to work in Britain. These points are awarded only if a person can prove they will be doing skilled work, speak a good standard of English, and are earning more than £24,000, or have a decent qualification. Employers will need a licence from the UK Border Agency to offer jobs to skilled workers.

Alongside today's proposals, Home Office analysis showed if the tighter Tier 2 and 5 rules had been in place last year, close to ten per cent fewer skilled and temporary migrants from outside the EEA would have been allowed into Britain to work in equivalent categories - around 20,000 people. In addition the Home Office confirmed that from this year low skilled workers from outside the EU will be barred.

Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:

"Our new points system means that British jobseekers get the first crack of the whip and that only the skilled migrants we actually need will be able to come.

"By moving points up or down, we can make sure the numbers we allow in to the UK are in line with the needs of business and the country as a whole.

"When we set the points pass mark, we will listen to independent advice - the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on the needs of the economy, and the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) on the effect of migration on society."

Employers who break the rules and employ illegal workers are already facing much tougher sanctions.

Figures released by the Home Office today show that in the first 80 days of the new illegal working regime - introduced at the end of February this year - 137 businesses were issued with Notices of Potential Liability worth almost half a million pounds. Under the old regime there were only 11 successful prosecutions last year. This means that the number facing punishment since the regime began is more than ten times greater than the entire number of prosecutions last year.

Civil penalties were introduced to make it easier than ever to fine those employers who give jobs to people with no right to work without carrying out the proper checks.

Liam Byrne said:

"Illegal jobs are the root cause of illegal immigration, which is why I'm determined to shut it down. In 2007 we carried out 40 per cent more illegal working operations than the previous year - and frontline officers have new powers to levy on-the-spot fines.

"These fines make up just one part of the biggest shake-up of the immigration system for a generation. With the introduction of compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals later in the year, there can be no excuse for not checking the identity of those applying for jobs."

The Government also today revealed its proposals for Tier 5 of the PBS which covers those travelling temporarily to the UK for primarily non-economic reasons, such as sportspeople, entertainers and charity workers. To ensure entertainers continue to contribute to British cultural life, those coming to the UK for permit-free gigs or festivals - such as the Edinburgh Fringe - will be assessed outside of the PBS under visitor visa rules. The Government is due to publish details of the new visitor visa category in the near future

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May 1 2008 – Exodus To Australia from New Zealand Blamed on Government Policies

TRANS-TASMAN RELATIONS: National and ACT are blaming government policies for a sharp increase in the number of people immigrating permanently to Australia. Statistics show a net outflow of 3100 permanent and long term migrants (PLT) to Australia in March, up from 2800 in March 2007.

National’s immigration spokesman, Lockwood Smith, said the figures showed the number of people leaving for Australia rose 19 percent to 43,419 in the year to March 2008.

"In March alone, 4152 New Zealanders packed up and pulled out," he said.

"Even when you balance the figures with those who arrived in New Zealand, the figures are staggering.

"The net loss is up 28 percent to 29,892."

Dr Smith said people were fed up with a government that has mismanaged the economy and over-taxed them while "gloating about its surplus".

"These are our tradesmen and our university graduates -- the future of this country is fleeing in droves," he said.

ACT’s Sir Roger Douglas said people would continue to leave for Australia and elsewhere as long as the Government’s "current mad policies" were in place.

"New Zealand needs to put in place policies that will enable us to catch up -- policies that will enable us to increase growth by 5 percent a year or 4 percent per capita," he said.

Sir Roger said ACT would outline those policies during the next six months and it was the only party "that has the guts to do what’s right".

Statistics New Zealand’s figures showed there were 83,500 PLT arrivals in the year to the end of March, up 1000 from the March 2007 year, while the 78,800 PLT departures was up 8400.

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April 11 2008 – Australian Minister wanted work Visas for older tourists

Ms Boyle wants "age discrimination" removed from the 12-month working holiday visa, which allows 18 to 30-year-olds to work while holidaying in Australia.

Tourism Minister Desley Boyle stated that grey nomads from Britain, New Zealand, the US and Europe could help ease Queensland's skills shortage.

She said working holidays might appeal to baby boomers whose children had grown up. "The age limit may have been appropriate in the past but there are now lots of people in their 60s working well," Ms Boyle said.

"Fruit picking might be too demanding for people in their 50s but there is big demand for people with professional skills – doctors, nurses," Ms Boyle said.

She has written to federal Immigration Minister Chris Evans asking that the age restriction be lifted.

Ms Boyle said unprecedented numbers of young Australians were heading overseas on working holidays and leaving behind holes in the workforce. Removing the age barrier to the visas might correct the imbalance.

"Why discriminate against older generations when in fact many of these people have the skills and qualifications and experience to help Australia's key industries," Ms Boyle said.

Dreamworld chief executive and Queensland Tourism Industry Council chairman Stephen Gregg said despite being situated in a densely populated region, the skills shortage had affected the cost of labour at the tourist park.

"It means we have to pay a lot for people like engineers and that is impacting on the bottom line," Mr Gregg said.

But he said on the islands and remote locations in Queensland, just getting staff was a big problem.

Hospitality staff are badly need at resorts in the Whitsundays, in Maryborough there is a shortage of metal fabricators and engineers and skilled trades people are in short supply in resource-rich Central Queensland and the Bowen Basin.

Ms Boyle said she had not yet spoken to other states about the idea, but was keen to hear what the business community thought of the proposal. Ms Boyle said there were 70,000 working holiday visas issued last year, which covered many different occupations. "Even if 5000 more baby boomers came, it would still be a huge boost for industry," she said. M

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April 3 2008 Launch of Britain's new unified Border Agency

Border, immigration, customs and visa checks will be united from today in the country's new UK Border Agency, the Home Office has announced.

The new UK Border Agency, established as a shadow agency of the Home Office, will protect our borders, control migration for the benefit of the country, prevent border tax fraud, smuggling and immigration crime and implement quick and fair decisions.

The new 25,000 strong organisation includes more than 9,000 warranted officers operating in local communities, at the border and across 135 countries worldwide, with wide ranging search, seizure and detention powers.

Over the next four months 1,000 frontline staff will be conferred with both immigration and customs powers and staff in England and Wales will be equipped with police-like powers as set out in the UK Borders Act 2007. A full merger will follow new legislation presented to the House in the autumn.

The UK Border Agency will link with the 3,000 police stationed at ports and airports following a new agreement with the Association of Chief Police Officers. Talks are continuing on closer integration.

Announcing the launch of the Agency, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

"The UK Border Agency will help strengthen protection of our border. With tough customs, immigration and police-like powers UK Border Agency officers will be better equipped than ever to guard our ports and airports, protecting the country from illegal immigration, organised crime and terrorism.

"This 25,000 strong force will work both at home and abroad to tackle smuggling of people and goods into Britain using intelligence, new technology and wide-ranging powers and I am confident it will help strengthen policing at the border.

"Already taxpayers can see our investment in new technology paying off and creating a ring of security around Britain. Fingerprints are now being taken from all visa applicants to the UK, this year we will increase police, customs and immigration checks against visitors travelling through our ports, and we will see the roll-out of ID cards for foreign national from November."

Tough targets were announced for the new agency in its business plan published today. They include targets to:

expel 5,000 foreign national prisoners from Britain this year, up from 4,200 last year;
sustain last year's increase in the seizure of class A drugs by seizing at least 2,400 kilograms of cocaine and 550 kilograms of heroin by April 2009;
increase by 50 per cent the number of asylum cases concluded in less than six months;
extend the UK's visas regime to cover a larger proportion of the world's population; and
increase detention capacity by 20 per cent over the next two years to help increase the number of immigration

The Rt Hon Jane Kennedy MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

"The new Borders Agency will provide a crucial service to the UK. It will protect tax revenues and assist international trade and the passage of essential goods at the frontier.

"Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff will be taking their energy, skills and enthusiasm across to this essential Government agency and I wish them every success."

The new agency will create a single border intelligence service to bring together overseas risk assessment units, airline liaison officers and customs and immigration intelligence officers based around the globe. This will work together with a new £1bn screening system for travellers to the UK. A trial of this system has already led to more than 1,000 alerts and 200 arrests.

The board of the new Agency will be chaired by Chief Executive Lin Homer, and will include Chief Constable Roger Baker of Essex Police and Customs Commissioner Mike Eland.

The shake up of the immigration service has already begun to reap results, including:

more than 1.4 million fingerprint visas issued, checking applicants against watch lists identifying more than 1,375 identity swaps;
more than 1 million lorries and cars searched in northern France;
3.5 million vehicles screened for radiological material;
last year alone Britain's border controls in France and Belgium barred 18,000 illegal immigrants from reaching the UK;
the pilot scheme for the Government's electronic borders system has already checked nearly 50 million passenger movements against police, customs and immigration databases before they arrive in the UK, leading to over 1,000 arrests and the seizure of thousands of smuggled cigarettes and kilos of smuggled drugs.
in 2007 a record number of foreign national prisoners, 4,200, 80 per cent more than the previous year, and around 14,000 failed asylum seekers and almost 50,000 non-asylum cases were removed, the highest level since 2002; and
during 06/07 detection officers seized 20 per cent more class A drugs with over 2,300 kilograms of cocaine and over 500 kilograms of heroin stopped at the border.

Source is the Border and Immigration Agency

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March 31 2008 – NZ Immigration publishes Policy Changes to be effective immediately.

A number of policy changes come into effect on 31 March 2008. A brief summary of the key changes follows. Full details are available in Amendment Circular 2008-04 PDF [291KB]. Our website and our Operations Manual have been updated to reflect these changes.

Residence changes

The minimum income requirement for offers of employment for applicants under the Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota Scheme has increased from $29,430.96 to $29,897.92.
Applicants granted residence under the Active Investor Migrant Policy have to pay a migrant levy. Note: this change became effective 20 March 2008.
Business categories applicants and Skilled Migrant Category applicants who pre-purchase ESOL tuition are entitled to the tuition for up to five years, whether they purchase the tuition in New Zealand or overseas.
The requirement for applicants to pre-purchase ESOL tuition prior to being granted a Work to Residence visa or permit have been removed.

Temporary entry changes

Minor amendments will be made to clarify visitor and work policies for partners of New Zealand citizens or residents.
Clarification to visitor policy for APEC cardholders.
Changes to Working Holidays Schemes.
Changes to transit visa policy effective 28 March 2008.

Source from Immigration New Zealand

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March 13 2008 - Indians make up a good part of the US Scientists and Doctors

In a report from New Delhi published in the Singapore “The Business Times” it out lined the issue of Indians dominating professions in the US. While many people are focusing on Pepsi’s Indra Nooyi, Citibanks Vikram Pandit and the Steel Industry titian Lakshmi Mittal the figures were discussed in the upper house of the Indian parliament.

Indians in the US comprise 12 per cent of Scientists, 38 per cent of Doctors and 36 per cent of Nasa Scientists. In the light of Bill Gates testimony to the House Science and Technology Committee recently, the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, D Purandeshwari stated that 34 per cent of Microsoft employees were Indian as were 28 per cent at IBM, 17 per cent at Intel and 13 per cent at Xerox.

Minister of State for Human Resource Development, D Purandeshwari made the point that the majority of these people started in the Indian education system including the higher education system and continued overseas in successful position and careers. The Minister then outlined the further investments the government was make in research and science with 1000 new positions for scientists at various levels, 10 networking centers in leading universities 50 fellowships for research in basic sciences.

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March 12 2008 - Gates: U.S. puts tech jobs at risk by capping foreign workers

Computer world reported that Microsoft chairman defends H-1B program, argues for improving education and providing more funds for basic research in testimony before the House Science and Technology Committee. In the meeting Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) tried to take a different tack with the questioning.

"If we bring more people from the outside," asked Dana Rohrabacher, referring to foreigners who use the H-1B temporary visa program, "will it also not depress the wages in our own country that people like yourself would have to pay your employees?"

Bill responded firmly "No, These top people are going to be hired. It's just a question of what country they are hired in."

However Dana wanted to push the point and came back with "I'm not really talking about the top people here, ……There are a lot of other people in this society rather than just the top people. It's the B and C students that fight for our country and kept it free so that people like yourself would have the opportunity that you've had. ……Those people, whether or not they get displaced by the top people from another country, is not our goal. Our goal isn't to replace the jobs of B students with the A students from India," Rohrabacher said.

"That's right," Bill said, "And what I've said here is that when we bring in these world-class engineers, we create jobs around them. The B and C students are the ones who get those jobs around these top engineers. And if these top engineers are forced to work in India, we will hire the B and C students from India to work around them.

" Gates said he wasn't kidding about the problem in hiring the right people. "We are hiring as many people as we can," Gates said. The exchange was cut short by committee chairman Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.).

Other issues were covered by Bill Gates at the hearing, which focused on innovation and the ability of the U.S. to compete globally. Gates put much of his focus on educational systems. He also said the U.S. needs to improve its funding for basic research.

But for most of the time Gates was preaching to the choir. The committee has supported basic research and improvements in science and math education in public schools. It's the H-1B issue, part of the broader immigration fight, where there are differences.

Rep. Bart Gordon called Gates the tech sector's "rock star". Microsoft provides the material for arguing that more H-1B visas are needed. Microsoft pays its entry-level visa holders well, said Bill Gates said, more than $100,000 yearly with benefits. He also described a two-year, ultimately unsuccessful effort to bring a job candidate into the U.S. that failed because of a visa.

Gate stated that the 65,000 H-1B cap is arbitrary and "bears no relation to the U.S. economy's demand for skilled professionals." Overall, Microsoft was unable to obtain H-1B visas for one-third of the highly qualified foreign-born candidates that it wanted to hire.

One place where the tech industry's argument for H-1B visas hits trouble is in the U.S. Senate, where Sen. Charles Grassley (Iowa) has looked at its use by companies that aren't headed by technology icons. This week, Grassley detailed a situation in Iowa, where visas holders are being "leased" by contractors that don't have work for them.

Rep. Phil Gingrey (Ga.) said he wanted to know if bringing in more H-1B workers in science and technical areas "could have the unintended consequence of deterring American students in those same fields" and closing them out of jobs in those areas. "This is a real concern," he said.

"Our youngsters are competing with these students even if we turn them away from this country," Gates said. All a change in the H-1B program will affect "is what portion of that is done in the United States and where the surrounding jobs are created," he added.

"If the goal is to have a series of medals or awards that are just about the best in the U.S., yes, shut down immigration. You should have shut it down in 1900," Gates said. Computer science is not a game played only in the U.S., he continued. "At the end of the day, you are going to compete with the best in the world," Gates said, adding that the question is whether that will be in the U.S. or in another country.

Gates' view was disputed last year when he testified on these subjects before a Senate panel, and that did not change this year. Ron Hira, an assistant professor of public policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology, said the "facts show that the H-1B program that Bill Gates described simply doesn't exist."

Citing U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services data, Hira said that a typical H-1B holder is being paid $50,000 annually. On claims that H-1B workers offer unique talents, Hira countered that only about 1% of new H-1B recipients with computer-related occupations have doctoral degrees.

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February 7 2008 – Lots of Opinions, few proposals as H-1B Rush Approache

Ann All of IT Business Edge writes that in less than two months, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B applications for fiscal 2009. Most experts predict a rush similar to last year, when the cap was reached on the first day of eligibility.

The agency is doing what it can to streamline the process, including introducing an electronic notification system, so employers will find out sooner whether their petitions for visas were successful, reports InformationWeek. Also, according to the Pacific Daily News, the USCIS will devote dedicated resources to processing H-1B applications exempt from the standard cap, such as those from universities and nonprofits.

As the date approaches, I expect to see more debate about H-1Bs, both pro and con. But while just about everyone has an opinion, few folks offer possible solutions, other than the glaringly obvious and — let’s be honest — overly simplistic idea of increasing the cap.

I think an idea floated last year by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-USA) deserves a fresh hearing. Rather than raising the cap on H-1Bs, the IEEE-USA is encouraging the feds to allow more EB and F-4 immigrant visas, which put skilled workers on an expedited path toward permanent citizenship.

In theory, employers would find it tougher to get away with such abuses as underpaying foreign-born workers, one of the problems referenced in a Government Accountability Office report on H-1B visas. And such visas likely would be of little interest to Indian outsourcing companies like Infosys and Wipro, which are among the biggest recipients of H-1Bs.

I am also intrigued by a grass-roots proposal to create high-skill immigration zones in economically depressed U.S. cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo, N.Y. As described in a letter from Cleveland immigration lawyer Richard Herman published on the Burgh Diaspora blog, H-1B restrictions would not apply to companies that establish operations in these zones.

If you are interested in gaining migrating to the USA then contact info@amblercollins.com for further information and assistance.

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January 25th 2008 – HIGHLY SKILLED MIGRANTS UNDER CURRENT POLICY to end rush for last applications

If are considering living and working in the United Kingdom, now is the best time to apply for a work visa. From the 1st of March 2008, the existing Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) and UK Work Permit schemes will be replaced by a brand new points-based system. The first phase of this will be implemented over the next few months.

The HSMP has been a very popular immigration scheme since its introduction in 2002, as it enabled non EU highly skilled migrants to work and live in the United Kingdom, without the requirement of having a prior offer of employment. Some advantages that exist in the current scheme won't exist in the new points-based system, which could make it harder for skilled migrants to qualify for a working visa.

Currently, the point system criteria of the HSMP is based on age, qualifications, and past earnings. If you can achieve a points score of 75 points and show acceptable English language ability, you can be granted HSMP visa for an initial period of two years, which can be renewed towards the end of the two year period.

In addition, if you have a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), you can be eligible for the MBA Provision, which automatically awards you 75 points if the school where you've earned your MBA from was on the list of the top 50 business schools in the world at the time of your graduation.

The new UK points-based system, will remove the ability to qualify under this MBA Provision. If considering applying for the HSMP it would be advantageous to apply now.

According to the Office for National Statistics in the United Kingdom, there have been 680,700 job vacancies for the three months to November 2007, the highest figure since comparable records began in 2001. It has increased by 14,500 over the previous quarter and up 81,100 over the year so now may be the best time to apply to come to the UK to live and work.

Otherwise, if you need advice or help on applying for any type of visa, simply contact us at contact info@amblercollins.com. for further information and assistance.

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January 25th 2008 – Bollard makes appeal to soften shocks

The Reserve Bank Governor has appealed to consumers, farmers, and the government to help reduce the economic shocks that are driving up inflation and interest rates. Dr Alan Bollard says the New Zealand economy is in pretty good shape, but until there is a slow down in spending interest rates are unlikely to fall.

In his first major speech of the year Bollard said although New Zealand had weathered some significant global shocks over the past few years, it faces ongoing challenges. Bollard is fighting an ongoing battle against inflation which is currently running above the 3% upper limit that the bank looks after, and the Reserve Bank has set some of the highest interest rates in the western world at 8.25%.

This in turn has caused a shock for the New Zealand dollar, which on Friday morning was trading above 77 US cents.

Canterbury employers are worried about the persistently high exchange rate, not to mention skill shortages and rising costs. "We've got a problem with costs. We've got energy costs, we've got general compliance costs, we've got raw material costs, and we have labour costs," says Canterbury Chamber of Commerce spokesperson Peter Townsend.

The Reserve Bank blames consumer spending for pushing inflation above its 3% upper limit. The recent dairy boom has made matters worse, and the bank says interest rates won’t come down until the spending spree comes to an end. "Any more consumer based spending, any helicopters that farmers buy for herding cows, things like that, are going to influence our monetary policy," he says.

What's more, the economy will soon face the added cost of the government's new carbon emissions trading scheme which could boost inflation by 0.5%. Bollard says this may add significantly to energy prices, particularly petrol and electricity prices.

However, most business people appear to accept that official interest rates need to remain above 8% for a while yet. "I think it probably needs to happen for a while longer to take a bit of the heat out of the housing market to be honest," says a businessman.

The Reserve Bank says the growth in the market is cooling off, but what it cannot predict right now is whether there will be a global economic downturn that will end one of the longest economic booms in New Zealand history. Many of these challenges and associated price pressures are associated with the growing international presence of China and other emerging market economies.

The financial market instability emanating from the sub-prime US mortgage market represents the most recent emerging threat to economic growth. Since the December Monetary Policy Statement there has been ongoing turbulence in international financial markets and deterioration in the outlook for the United States and European economies.

If you are interested in migrating to New Zealand during this booming economic period then contact info@amblercollins.com. for further information and assistance

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January 24th 2008 - Increase in International Students to the USA

The first significant growth in the number of international students going to the US since September 11th 2001, has been reported for the 2006/2007 academic year.

The Institute of International Education's annual 'Open Doors' report, showed the number of international students in the US increased 3.2 per cent to 582,984, while the number of newly enrolled international students on US campuses increased by 10 per cent, suggesting further growth to come.

In addition, the Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs showed the number of student and exchange visas issued in 2007 rose 10.2 per cent on the previous year. Many in US higher education have been pushing hard for visa reform and for stronger international recruitment efforts, and these efforts seem to be paying off.

California remains the leading host state for international students (77,987), followed by New York (65,884) and then Texas (49,081). Each of the top 20 leading hosting states experienced increases in foreign student enrolments, with North Carolina (6 per cent), Maryland and Texas (both 5 per cent) having the largest increases. The University of Southern California, Columbia University and New York University hosted the most international students.

If you are interested in studying in the USA then contact info@amblercollins.com. for further information and assistance

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January 24th 2008 – New Zealand Farmers Recruit foreigners on Farms

Farmers having a problem getting staff as the boom times continue in the industry are recruiting foreigners to get the job done. There are hundreds of jobs going on farms around the country and it is the recruitment agencies that are now hard at work, bringing in foreigners for what has traditionally been a very kiwi job.

Randy Layno from the Philippines is just one of those foreigners who came over to New Zealand looking for greener pastures. "I like the work here, nice place and peaceful country," says Layno.

Seeing people like Randy on farms is now becoming common place in New Zealand. "We got a lot of foreign people on farms working, just because there's just not enough local people to fill all the gaps," says Martin Furrer, a Hinds dairy farmer.

The gaps are being caused due to the dairy industry booms on the backs of soaring milk returns, with the South Island expecting over a 100 new farms this year, which means hundreds more workers will be needed. "Every farm needs about four people to employ it but we also need the service industry to come on board - you know more veterinarians, more people that service the milking machines, more electricians," says Willy Leferink, from Federated Farmers.

There are estimates the industry will have a shortfall of around 3000 next season.

"Dairy farmers are feeling the pain you know the workers that they have got are working to cover two of three staff," says Hayden Creed, a Farm Recruiting Agent.

Some recruiting agencies have queues of foreigners wanting to get into the country, for obvious reasons.

"You know my salary there is I think six times fold here," says Alfonso Del Rosario, another Filipino farm worker. Federated Farmers has been working with the immigration service to make it easier to bring people into the country.

"I think it would be very helpful if we work together with immigration to solve the issues and find them a clear understanding of what the demands are," says Leferink.

The increase in foreign workers could also be an incentive to get more Kiwis to get back on the farm as many of the foreigners will attest to the fact that New Zealand is a great country to live and a great one to work in as well.

If you are interested in migrating to New Zealand to work in agriculture then contact info@amblercollins.com for further information and assistance.

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January 23 2008 – Immigrant Franchise Opportunities in New Zealand

The 2007 Westpac New Zealand Awards were presented in front of 350 people including the Prime Minister. Jenny Chen one of the recipients was from China and her story is very informative. In previous years people from other countries like South Africa, United Kingdom and India have been recipients. However Jenny Chen has is the first China National.

Daniel Cloete, national franchise manager for Westpac stated that ‘Franchising offers many advantages to new immigrants,'. ‘Buying a franchise offers a very good way to get to know how business operates in a new country. With a franchise, they can get a name and a system that are designed to work in New Zealand conditions People who buy or attempt to set up independent businesses often struggle if they are trying to adapt a known business model to the totally different market and business environment here. Providing they can meet the franchisor's criteria and operate it well, a franchise will give them an excellent start.'

Jenny came to New Zealand to study English and Business studies with an eye on her future and the new China that was looking to engage the rest of the world. In the process she ended up marrying her flat mate an Italian.

The culture shock of New Zealand took some time to adjust but New Zealand was a friendly place and she established a number of friends mainly with other immigrants but not many Kiwis yet.

Clients, however, are another matter. After graduating, Jenny wanted to put her new-found knowledge to use in her own business and bought a Paramount commercial cleaning franchise. ‘I thought of a coffee shop at first, but I didn't know how to make coffee or even the names of all the desserts so I was too scared to do that,' Jenny laughs. ‘A friend told me about Paramount. It offered a stable income for a low investment and lots of support. I'd just finished studying, I wasn't confident with building customer relationships so it was a good way to start.' She soon learned. ‘Now I feel very comfortable. I think at the beginning some didn't trust me but Paramount told me how to handle that and give them extra care and now it's easy. It takes time and effort to set up good relationships. I visit my clients to talk about how we are doing every month. I take them coffee and muffins and talk about their family as well. I get them to show me anywhere where we didn't do a good job so they know I really care about my business. I think all my clients like me now!'

Jenny employs a team of Chinese and Korean staff, some older than herself at 31. ‘I think it is easier for me to communicate with other Asian people but there are other issues. In China young people should respect older people, so if I tell an older man what to do I have to think about how to do it first.' Her business has been very successful, with 20 clients and 200% increases in turnover leading to her winning the Franchisee of the Year title. ‘I have learned a lot which I can use in any type of business,' Jenny says. ‘I am much more confident for the future.'

Buying a franchise can be a great way to get into business in a new country. Potential franchisees must, however, be careful to choose their business well, make sure they have the skills appropriate to their role and, most important of all, take the advice of professional people with local knowledge. By doing so, they will increase the chances of following in the footsteps of Shiraz, Jenny and countless other successful immigrants.

Ten Tips For Immigrants

Remember that the immigration process takes time and that until it is complete you are not in a position to sign anything.
Never sign any purchase contract or franchise agreement until you have taken the advice of an accountant and a lawyer with experience in franchising in New Zealand.
Find out exactly what the role of the franchisee involves. Spend at least one day working with an existing franchisee. Are you going to be comfortable in that role?
If your language skills aren't up to the business yet, wait until they have improved. Take every opportunity to practice them.
If you need money, talk to a specialist franchise banker - good franchise systems often attract special finance packages.
Do expect to play a hands-on role in running the business yourself - franchises are not generally designed to suit passive investors.
Don't borrow more than the business can afford to repay. Leave yourself enough to live on.
What is your long-term strategy? Franchisors usually look for a minimum three-year commitment.
Where can you live? New Zealand has many delightful towns, but you may feel isolated if you are far from other members of your own community. That is why many immigrants settle in Auckland, at least at first.
Not all franchises will qualify an applicant for entry under the Long Term Business Visa scheme

If you are interested in immigrating to New Zealand then contactinfo@amblercollins.com for further information and assistance.

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January 23 2008 – New Australian Residency Requirements

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship has announced the new Residency Requirements which were introduced in 2007

What are the new residence requirements for Australian citizenship?

The new residence requirements for Australian citizenship in the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 mean that applicants will need:

four (4) years lawful residence in Australia immediately prior to making an application for Australian citizenship with at least 12 months as a permanent resident, and
absences from Australia of no more than 12 months in total in the four (4) years prior to application, and no more than three (3) months in the 12 month permanent residency period prior to application.

Will they affect current permanent residents?

The new residence requirements will only apply to people who become permanent residents on or after 1 July 2007.

People who became permanent residents before 1 July 2007 need only meet the old residence requirements (presence in Australia as a permanent resident for periods amounting to two (2) years in the last five (5) years including one (1) year in the last two (2) immediately prior to making the application) provided they applied within three (3) years from the day the legislation commences.

Will travel overseas affect eligibility under the new requirements?

Absences of up to 12 months during that four (4) year period are allowed, with no more than three (3) months in the year before making the application.

What effect will the new residence requirements have on temporary residents?

The changes to the residence requirements from 1 July 2007 recognise time spent in Australia as temporary residents prior to the acquisition of permanent residence. Up to three (3) years of temporary residence will count towards the four (4) year residence requirement for citizenship.

In other words, people who become permanent residents after 1 July 2007 and have been living in Australia on temporary visas immediately before becoming a permanent resident will be able to have up to three (3) years of the time spent as holders of temporary visas counted towards the four (4) year residence requirement. They will need to have a minimum of one (1) year as a permanent resident.

Why has the Government changed the residence requirements?

Australian citizenship is a privilege, not a right. The former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, stated that the Government is focused on ensuring that citizenship applicants have spent a reasonable period of time living in Australia so that they are familiar with the Australian way of life, and appreciate the commitment that they are required to make to become citizens.

The new requirements also recognise the changes in the migration programme over the years which have resulted in an increasing number of people spending significant periods of time in Australia as temporary residents prior to becoming permanent residents.

What about people who are outside Australia who are engaging in activities beneficial to Australia?

Periods outside Australia totaling up to 12 months in the four years, including 3 months in the 12 months prior to application, will not affect eligibility.

Periods of absence longer than this limit the capacity of an individual to understand and appreciate the Australian way of life, and the commitment they are required to make to become an Australian citizen. I

Is there a general discretion to approve a person becoming an Australian citizen even if they don't satisfy the residence requirement?

No.

Are the new residence requirements similar to those in other countries?

Yes. The United Kingdom requires five (5) years lawful residence with no more than 450 days absence during that time. The United States requires five (5) years permanent residence with absences of up to six (6) months each year. Canada requires three (3) years of permanent residence

If you are interested in gaining residency in Australia then contact info@amblercollins.com for further information and assistance.

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January 23 2008 – US Embassy London Provides Details about the US Visa Waiver Program

Most visitors to the United States enter the country as tourists. With the introduction of visa free travel to citizens of 27 countries, it is now possible for many travelers, including British citizens, to enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (WVP). Visa free travel is also available to qualified travelers who enter the United States on business or in transit.

Citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom may travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program if they meet ALL of the following requirements:

The traveler is a citizen of one of the countries named above, traveling on a valid, individual machine readable passport. Note: A passport indicating that the bearer is a British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British National (Overseas) Citizen, or British Protected Person does not qualify for travel without a visa. A passport which states holder has Right of Abode or indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom does not qualify for visa free travel;
Traveling for business, pleasure or transit only;
Staying in the United States for 90 days or less;

Plus, if entering the United States by air or sea is,

Holding a return or onward ticket. If traveling on an electronic ticket, a copy of the itinerary must be carried for presentation to U.S. immigration at the port of entry. Note: Travelers with onward tickets terminating in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean Islands must be legal permanent residents of these areas;
Entering the United States aboard an air or sea carrier that has agreed to participate in the program. This includes aircraft of a U.S. corporation that has entered into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to carry passengers under the Visa Waiver Program. Note: Other private or official aircraft or vessels do not meet this requirement; and
In possession of a completed form I-94W, obtainable from airline and shipping companies;

Or, if entering the United States by land from Canada or Mexico,

Is in possession of a completed form I-94W, issued by the immigration authorities at the port of entry, and a $6.00 fee, payable only in U.S. dollars.

To assist you in determining if you may travel under the Visa Waiver Program we have constructed a Visa Waiver Wizard.

Important: Some travelers may not be eligible to enter the United States visa free under the VWP. These include people who have been arrested, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction, those with criminal records, (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law), certain serious communicable illnesses, those who have been refused admission into, or have been deported from, the United States, or have previously overstayed on the VWP. Such travelers must apply for special restricted visas. If they attempt to travel without a visa, they may be refused entry into the United States.

Refused a Visa

While travelers who have been refused a visa under the provisions of Section 221(g) or 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act are not ineligible to travel visa under the Visa Waiver Program, they will be questioned by an immigration official at the U. S. port of entry regarding the refusal by the Embassy or Consulate.

The traveler should carry with him or her evidence of his or her intention to depart the United States at the end of the visit. This is generally satisfied by furnishing evidence of strong social and economic ties to the traveler's 's place of permanent residence. There is no set form that this should take as each person's circumstances differ.

If the immigration officer is not satisfied that the traveler meets the qualifications for nonimmigrant status, the traveler will be denied entry.

Transit under the Visa Waiver Program

Travelers who qualify for visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program are eligible to transit the United States. Application for entry is made on the arrival/departure form I-94W provided by the airline or shipping company. If transiting the United States to a destination in Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands, the traveler may re-enter the United States on the return journey using any mode of transport, as long as the total visit, including both periods of time spent in transit and in Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands, does not exceed 90 days. If transiting to a destination outside of Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands, the return journey must be on a participating carrier, but need not be within 90 days, as the traveler will be required to make a new application for admission and therefore, required to complete a new arrival/departure form, I-94W. Travelers transiting the United States to take up residence in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean Islands must be legal permanent residents of these areas.

Important reminder Visa-free travel does not include those who plan to study, work or remain more than 90 days. Such travelers need visas. If an immigration official has reason to believe that a visa-free traveler is going to study, work or stay longer than 90 days, the officer will refuse to admit the traveler.

If you are interested in gaining migrating to the USA then contact info@amblercollins.com.for further information and assistance.

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January 23 2008 – USA Investor Green Card Category

Ambler Collins announced today that the EB5 Category policy is likely to be reviewed in the last quarter of 2008. Currently there are still opportunities for those interested in gaining a Green Card Permanent Residency under the EB5 program.

This article gives an outline on the EB5 criteria:

EB-5 Regional Center – The Investment Green Card

The United States Citizen and Immigration Service refers to this category as an Investment Green Card, since it is based on making a substantial financial commitment, in addition to creating employment in the US. The US government has decided to reward foreigners with a Green Card if they help the US economy by creating new jobs.

With a Green Card, one may live anywhere in the US, no matter where the investment is made.

Type of Investment

The EB-5 Regional Center Visa provides the most flexible path to a green card based on a US investment. For example:

The EB-5 visa does not require the applicant to manage the day-to-day affairs of a business.
One may invest in an existing business, or a new business.
More than one person may invest in the same business.
The EB-5 investor may be a minority owner of the business.

Investment amount and Employment Creation

The general rule requires an investment of $1,000,000, and the creation of ten new jobs. If the investment is in a high unemployment area, 1.5 time the national average, then only a $500,000 investment is required.

Source of Investment Funds

Funds may come from any legal foreign or US source; including gifts, loans, and divorce settlements. Whoever receives the visa must make the investment. Borrowed investment funds qualify as long as they are not secured by the assets of the target US business.

Regional Center Designation – Indirect Employment Creation

Investors in a Regional Center do not have to have day-to-day management responsibility or prove the business employs 10 people. Instead, they may rely on industry job multiplier statistics. A Regional Center means that direct hiring of employees is not necessary.

There are several regional centers offering a variety of investment opportunities. Our programme operates the Regional Center in Seattle, Washington. Our regional center was approved for its plan to renovate warehouses and other properties in the South Seattle Industrial Area.

The Regional Center designation is what makes the American Life investment simple for those seeking a low-risk investment without the time-consuming issues of day-to-day management.

If you are interested in making an investment to gain Green Card Permanent Residency in the USA then contact info@amblercollins.com.for further information and assistance.

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January 22nd 2008 Australian migration policy changes likely

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is considering making changes to the Australians migration programme to help with the skills shortages affecting the economy.

Wood side the largest independent oil and gas company in Australia told Rudd that something had to be done and they needed foreign workers to drive the expansion of the company’s North West Gas processing plant.

Rudd stated that he wanted to get this problem resolved, that Australia need to manage this problem better with planning so that in the future the was a strong foundation of skilled workers for the Australian economy. Rudd stated “To be blunt, this hasn’t been done well in recent years and we need to fix that up. That’s why we’ve undertaken to established “Skills Australia” to take a long range roadmap of what the skills needs of Australia will be long-term.” So Rudd explained that “Greater investment in skills and training, and of course calibrating the migration program as appropriate to the skills needs of this economy and the next economy.”

Contact Ambler Collins if you require information of the General Skilled Migration program and assistance with the points-based system that is now operating in Australia. contact info@amblercollins.com.

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January 22nd 2008 – Olympic Games May need Noon-EU Workers reports the BBC

A ban on non-EU unskilled workers may have to be lifted if preparations for the 2012 Olympics are running late, a committee of peers has been told.

Such workers are currently facing a ban for the "foreseeable future".

But Professor David Metcalf - head of the new Migration Advisory Council (MAC) - suggested that might have to change if there were labour shortages. UK firms might not be able to train enough native workers in time for 2012, he told the Lords economic committee.

The MAC is drawing up a list of official shortage occupations which British firms will be able to advertise outside the EU. These are likely to include a small number of jobs on the 2012 Olympics such as site supervisor.

'Inevitable tension'

But Professor Metcalfe said there could be a shortage of unskilled labour too, particularly with demands from other big projects in south-east England, such as Crossrail. "One would certainly want to see whether or not it could be sensibly filled by British employers. "The worry I think one has about this, is the inevitable tension between the short run and the long run. "If you talk about the Olympics having to be on-stream by 2012 and therefore the facilities having to be built by 2011, a modern apprenticeship is three years." He added: "It isn't automatic you are going to get the skilled labour coming on stream in time to build the facilities."

ID cards

He said British firms should be made to invest in training as a condition of gaining contracts, although he stressed this was a personal view and not that of the MAC. The MAC will later this year publish a new, streamlined list of shortage occupations - the current one includes 26,000 jobs - as part of the government's new points-based migration system. The list will only include skilled jobs - those requiring the equivalent of NVQ Level Three or two A-levels - which fall into "tier two" of the new system.

The MAC has not been asked to specifically examine "tier three" or unskilled jobs, in relation to the 2012 Olympics, but Professor Metcalfe left the door open to the ban being relaxed in the future. "Presently that tier is suspended because it is held we can get all the labour we require from within the EU," professor Metcalfe. "Therefore if the MAC were asked to look at this, the large question I think would turn on, should the suspension of tier three be lifted

Migration trends

Professor John Salt, of University College, London, said labour shortages in the UK could be caused by Poland's hosting of the 2012 European football championships - and the fact that it was "about to embark on a new programme of large stadium building". "Where are the workers going to come from to build Poland's new stadia, as well as to build ours?," he asked the committee. Professor Salt, who is one of the UK's leading experts on migration, also told the peers it was not possible to accurately estimate how many illegal immigrants there were in the UK. There were also no figures on how many people were currently in the UK with work permits, he added. And he called for a "step change" in the way population data is collected in the UK saying: We have pushed existing data as far as we can."

On future migration trends, he said countries "just beyond" the EU, such as The Ukraine, which was currently "filling in shortages everywhere", were where the next migrants were likely to come from. Asked if government plans for identity cards would help curb illegal immigration, he said: "No, if they are capable of being forged - and that is probably likely to happen."

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January 16th 2008 Western Australian Skills Shortage increases migration

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the demand for temporary immigration of skilled workers has increased in the last ten years. Between 1996-2005, inward short-term employment travel grew by 17 percent each year.

The rapidly expanding economy of Western Australia continues to cause skills shortages in the area, which in turn, is driving up the demand for labour from overseas.

Australian Bureau of Statistics stated the rise in employment arrivals was consistent with research conducted by the Parliamentary Library of Australia, which found that the number of Australian temporary 457 visas issued from 2004-05 to 2005-06 increased by 44 percent (not including secondary family member visas).

The recent statistics show considerable change in the countries from which short term migrant workers have originated. Rather than coming from New Zealand and United Kingdom workes have been coming from Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia

If you want to discuss immigrating to Western Australia then please contact Ambler Collins -info@amblercollins.com

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January 15 2008 – India Nationals receive more than half of the USA H-1B Visas

Indian nationals received 54% of the total number of temporary H-1B visas approved in 2006, according to a government study released Tuesday. Further, an increasing number of foreign workers who hold these visas, again more than half, are in computer-related occupations.

A distant second was second place holder China, at 9%, among H-1B recipients. Then the third place recipients for the H-1B visa is a tie with 3% each, between Canada, South Korea and the Philippines, the report said.

The National Science Board (NSB), which oversees the National Science Foundation, authored the 588-page "Science and Engineering Indicators 2008" report. The report examines the state of science and engineering training and the ability of the U.S. to compete globally. Hence it includes an analysis of H-1B visa trends.

The U.S. spent about $340 billion in research and development in 2006, a record high. But federal support for basic and applied research has been on a multiyear decline, and the report also warned that U.S. grade school students continue to lag behind those in other developed countries in science and math.

Report supports other observations of other institutions

The report lamented that congress is not increasing R&D funding at or above the rate of inflation and it charged that Congress has "abandoned its commitment to lead in science and technology." Hence there will be a decline in the growth of the U.S. science and engineering labor force, due to baby boomers retiring and the funding being diverted to construction.

Regarding the H-1B program, this study said 51% of the approximately 110,000 H-1B visa recipients in 2006 were employed in computer-related occupations. In 2002, about 25% were employed in computer-related occupations, a shift that may be indicative of the rise of offshore outsourcing in the U.S.

Offshore firms are the largest users of the H-1B. In the 2006 fiscal year, the top three employers of H-1B holders were India-based Infosys Technologies Ltd., at 4,908 visas; Wipro Ltd., at 4,002; and Tata Consultancy Services, at 3,046, according to data released by U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) last year.

The bigger picture looks dimmer!

The H-1B data is just one aspect of various issues related to the science and engineering workforce, but underlying the analysis is the question of whether the U.S. will remain competitive in a global economy. Citing the economic output in China, India and South Korea, the NSB report stated that it appears that there is "a slow shift of the epicenter of the world economic growth toward that region.

" The U.S. remains ahead today, the report said, and among the points made is that U.S. output per worker "increased more steeply" over the past 20 years "than that of any other economy."

While there is a visa cap, which includes a special allotment for master's degree holders, is set at 85,000. The NSB report also included H-1B visas issued to universities and academic research exempt from the cap. The best aspect is the education level of people receiving H-1B visas is generally high, with 44% of those receiving visas in 2006 holding a master's degree. But when it comes to starting salaries, having a master's degree doesn't appear to deliver any special advantage. The salaries reported to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services were different and generally higher than those reported to the U.S. Department of Labor. The starting salary for both bachelor's and master's degree holders was approximately $56,000, according to the report.

Further detailed information can be obtained from AmblerCollins consultants info@amblercollins.com.

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January 14 2008 – Ten Point plan for border protection and immigration reform – Fingerprint Checks system ready three months ahead of schedule

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne congratulated the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) staff in a speech on the global rollout of the fingerprint system for checking all visa applicants three months ahead of schedule and significantly under budget.

The system covers 133 countries being ¾ of the world population and nearly 500 cases of identity swapping have been spotted already. Fingerprints taken from more than 1 million people have shown that 10,000 applicants that have been previously fingerprinted in the UK for immigration cases or asylum applications.

Liam Byrne stated:

“The public wants stronger borders. They want us to shut down the causes of illegal immigration and hold newcomers to account, deporting rule breakers where necessary. They also want a compassionate system, which makes and enforces decisions fast when we have obligations to honour - and lets those we need contribute to Britain as long as they speak English, pay tax and obey the law.”

“My goal therefore in 2008 is as ambitious as it is urgent. There are four themes to our work: protection, prevention, accountability and compassion. By Christmas the system will look and feel different. Every month the public will be able to see us not talking about change but delivering on our ten point plan for change. The public is right to demand a new system. We have listened. And we will act.”

The milestones set out by the Minister are:

     • within 15 days to check fingerprints before a visa is issued anywhere in the world
     • within 60 days to introduce on the spot fines for employers who don't make the right right-to-work
       checks;
     • within 80 days to begin the introduction of a new points system for managing migration;
     • within 100 days to introduce a single border force and police-like powers for frontline staff;
     • within 180 days to confirm the number of foreign national prisoners deported in 2008 will exceed
       2007;
     • within 200 days to activate powers to automatically deport foreign national prisoners;
     • within 300 days to expand detention capacity;
     • within 330 days to begin issuing compulsory ID cards for those foreign nationals who want to stay;
     • by Christmas to begin counting foreign nationals in and out of the country and to introduce
      compulsory watch-list checks for high risk journeys before they land; and
     • within 360 days to make and enforce 60 per cent asylum decisions within six months, with
       alternatives to detention for children.

Further detailed information can be obtained from AmblerCollins consultants info@amblercollins.com.

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January 14 2008 – USA EB5 Investment Visa Prospects Look Bright

The Puget Sound Region's office and industrial markets will be among the top 10 in the country for investment potential this year, and its retail market will remain strong, according to Grubb & Ellis's 2008 Global Real Estate Forecast.

"I believe it is one of the strongest markets in the country, said Craig Hill, senior vice president and managing director for the firm's Seattle and Bellevue office.

Propelled by strong job growth and solid supply/demand fundamentals, downtown Seattle's office market is expected to tighten further this year, giving landlords substantial bargaining power, Hill said.

Despite likely layoffs in the financial services sector, the lack of new office space will push the vacancy rate to between 5.5 and 6 percent. Asking rates will rise between 5 and 15 percent, he said.

Downtown Seattle Class A asking rental rates rose more than 20 percent in 2007, Grubb & Ellis said. The firm forecasts an additional 12 percent increase in 2008. Average asking rates for that class of space are projected to be US$40 a square foot at year's end, up from US$35.50 at the end of 2007, the firm said. Average asking rents in the greater Seattle area are projected to be US$34 a square foot by the end of 2008, up from US$31.50 a year earlier.

Given these dynamics, Seattle will be near the top of investors' buy lists for office assets, taking the No. 5 spot on Grubb & Ellis' Investment Opportunity Monitor, the firm said.

Rents for warehouse/distribution space in the Puget Sound region will remain flat in 2008 outside of the King County industrial core, Grubb & Ellis forecasts. Tenants seeking warehouse/distribution space will find substantial vacant space in the market in most other areas in the region.

The firm projects average asking rates for warehouse/distribution space in the greater Seattle area projected to be US$5.52 a square foot at the end of 2008, level with current rates.

But Hill said the longer-term outlook for industrial is more rosy, given the power of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma to draw business. The firm ranks the area 10th in the country for industrial in 2008, largely because of the ports, Hill said.

It also reports that the Puget Sound retail market will continue to see higher rents and strong demand. Construction of new retail centers will be brisk this year because there is currently more than 6 million square feet of space under construction, it said.

Average asking rates for well-located inline shop space in Seattle are projected to be $40 a square foot at year end, up from US$35 at the end of 2007.

Further detailed information can be obtained from AmblerCollins consultants info@amblercollins.com.

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January 3rd 2008 – New Zealand Immigration Advisors Authority

The Immigration Advisers Licensing Act came into effect in May 2007 advised the NZ Department of Labour. Among other things the Act requires anyone providing New Zealand immigration advice to be licensed. Licensing for Advisers both on and offshore will be administered by the Immigration Advisers Authority, an independent Authority.

The Department is unable to comment on individual immigration cases at this time it should be pointed out that a process is underway to license Immigration Advisers to both protect migrants as well as the reputation and professionalism of those providing immigration advice.

The IAA will accept applications for licensing from May 2008. It will be compulsory to be licensed as an immigration adviser from May 2009.

Making Immigration Advisers a licensed, recognised profession benefits everyone. Migrants can be confident they are getting the correct and best information, whether they work with an Adviser or directly with Immigration New Zealand. Creating professional standards for Immigration Advisers will help protect them against poor advice or unprofessional behaviour.

Immigration Advisers who give their clients sound advice and professional service will also benefit, through new continuing professional development programmes and recognition of their work as a regulated profession. Under the new law, Advisers who provide poor or fraudulent advice can be also be prosecuted.

The Authority will also keep a publicly available register of licensed Immigration Advisers and establish a complaints procedure.

Licensing for people giving immigration advice in New Zealand will be mandatory from 4 May 2009. For Immigration Advisers based outside of New Zealand, licensing will be mandatory from 4 May 2010.

To become licensed, Advisers will have to meet competency standards and adhere to a code of conduct.

Further detailed information can be obtained from AmblerCollins consultants info@amblercollins.com.

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December 27 2007 - New advertising campaign launched to stop business employing illegal workers

”llegal working attracts illegal migrants and undercuts British wages. That's why we're determined to shut it down. The message is clear for employers - we will not tolerate illegal working.” Stated Immigration Minister Liam Byrne

Businesses employing illegal workers face large fines and prison sentences, according to a new marketing campaign unveiled by the Government. Employers will be fined up to £10,000 for every illegal worker they negligently hire or could face up to two years in prison.

This blunt message will be driven home in a marketing campaign laying out the new rules due that apply from February 2008. To increase awareness of the new rules, which will affect recruitment and employment practices, the Government is launching a three week radio and newspaper campaign starting on 14 January 2008.

Any employers found to be breaking the law could lose the right to recruit from outside the European Union.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:

"This highly visible marketing campaign will ensure employers have no excuse for breaking the rules.

The crackdown on illegal working is part of the biggest shake-up of the immigration system for 40 years. The year ahead will also see:

     • a tough Australian-style points based system for managing immigration;
     • the roll out of Britain's new e-Borders programme allowing people to be counted in and out of the
       country; and
     • biometric ID cards for any foreign national in the country for more than three months, tying people to
       one identity.

The Border and Immigration Agency undertakes regular enforcement operations against illegal working throughout the UK. In 2006 alone, the BIA carried out over 5,200 illegal working operations and removed more than 22,000 people from the UK.

Further detailed information can be obtained from AmblerCollins consultants info@amblercollins.com.

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December 19 2007 - UK Visit Visas to be cut from 6 to 3 months

A consultation paper has been published by the The United Kingdom's Immigration and Borders Agency that proposes to cut the validity period of British visit visas from 6 to 3 months. The paper include requirements that cash £1,000 "visa bonds" must be posted by families to ensure relatives leave when their visas expire.

It also proposes to introduce special occasion visas for events, such as the London Olympics in 2012.

The use of visit visas for business travellers will cease and it will introduce a new class of visa for that purpose. This is to prevent business executives obtained permits as a back-door to work rather than obtaining more expensive or difficult visas.

23% of all visitors to the UK last year, about 1.7 million people, entered to conduct business

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government has already announced several recent policy changes that add to restrictions in preparation for the introduction of the new points-based, "Tier" system to start in March, 2008. The objective is to tightening the entire visa system.

It has been described by Immigration Minister Liam Byrne as the "biggest shake-up of the immigration system in history.

" The "visa bond" for family outside the EU is intended to target those who deliberately overstay or work illegally in the UK and is not a new idea. In 2000, a similar program was proposed, but it was shelved after protest from immigrant communities.

However applications for visas have gone up by about 50% over the past five years, with more than 2 million issued in 2006. So there needs to be some accountability introduced to make the system work Mr. Byrne, in an e-mailed statement from London said. "Our aim is to make the system both more secure, but also to ensure that we maintain the U.K.'s position as a destination of choice for tourists." And so our "Tougher checks abroad mean we keep risky people out,"

Specific visa for athletes competing in sporting events such as the London 2012 Olympics is also planned, together with a "specialist" visa to encourage artists, performers and movie-makers into the country.

2006 figures show that, 12.9 million travellers entered the UK from outside the EU/EEA, 58% as tourists or business visitors. They contribute £85 billion ($171 billion) a year to the tourist industry. (Home Office statistics)

Group travel to the UK is to be encouraged, so the government is now suggesting the introduction of a specific tourist visa, which could be time-limited and competitively priced. To encourage foreign visitors for sporting and cultural events, another new form of visa will also be created. Such visas would be tied specifically to special events.

While these proposals have not been committed in total they have already been attacked as unfair and impractical by campaigners and politicians.

Objections raised include, consideration for families that are having weddings is being used as an example of how the visa bond policy could be quite unfair. Large families from the lower economic sector would fine this prohibitive. One example was for a family of 50 guests that would be forced to post £50,000 bond just for 50 guests.

Habib Rahman, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), stated "It will create hardship for families. This means that only people with fat wallets will be able to bring their families."

He added that even reducing the length of the tourist visa would make it even less "cost effective" for relatives to visit.

The proposals have now gone to consultation for public comments until March 10th of next year. Subsequently the government is expected to issue its final proposals within 90 days. Similar measures had been considered in 2000, but were shelved after protests from immigrant communities.

Further detailed information can be obtained from AmblerCollins consultants info@amblercollins.com.

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December 6 2007 – UK Points Based Systems will start to work

From 2008, a points based system, similar to that operating in Australia, will begin to operate in the United Kingdom. This will enable the United Kingdom to control migration more effectively, tackle abuse and identify the most talented workers.

The key elements of the system include:

• Consolidating more than 80 existing work and study application routes into five tiers (see how it works);

• Points will be awarded to reflect aptitude, experience, age and also the level of need in any given sector, to allow the United Kingdom to respond flexibly to changes in the labour market; and

• In due course financial securities may be required for specific categories, where there has been evidence of abuse, to ensure that migrants return home at the end of their stay.

Migration Advisory Committee

The recently established Migration Advisory Committee will advise Government on where migration might sensibly fill skills gaps in the economy. It will provide advice on what should be the shortage occupations, which enable employers to bring in migrants more easily under tier 2, and on where and how large the quotas should be for low-skilled employment (tier 3).

Migration Impact Forum

The purpose of the Migration Impacts Forum is to provide a forum for proper, regular and organised dialogue with interested parties outside Government, focussed on the wider impacts associated with migration experienced by local areas. It will consider information from forum members about the social benefits of migration and any transitional impacts and/or adjustment requirements which derive from migration

Further detailed information can be obtained from AmblerCollins consultants info@amblercollins.com.
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December 5 2007 – Home Secretary today sets out plans to manage migration and protect British values

The countdown to the transformation of the immigration system began today when the Home Secretary announced new rules for highly skilled foreign workers applying to come to the UK.

In a wide ranging speech at the London School of Economics, the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced changes to the UK's immigration regime to ensure the system is firm but fair and supports Britain's shared values.

The proposals published today include: plans to ensure that migrants can integrate into communities through strengthened requirements for English language; plans to ensure all migrants play by the rules with strengthened restrictions on citizenship for those who break the law and protection for vulnerable people through measures to combat forced marriage.

Jacqui Smith said:

"Migration brings great social and economic benefits to this country. But people expect it to be managed robustly and in support of Britain's national interests. That’s why we’re launching the countdown to our new Points Based System which will begin in less than 100 days.

"The Points Based System will build on a package of measures already being introduced to deliver a more secure border. These include: new electronic checks to count people in and out of the UK and clamp down on illegal immigration; fingerprinting of visa applicants around the world before they are allowed to enter Britain; and the introduction of ID cards for foreign nationals.

"I want people coming to live and work in the UK and their families to be able to integrate fully into our society. So as well as our existing and planned requirements for English language proficiency, attached to settlement, citizenship and for skilled workers, I am today publishing proposals for new requirements for spouses who plan to settle here to have some knowledge of English prior to arrival.

"I believe it is right that we protect those at risk and that is why I am proposing that the age at which a person can sponsor or be sponsored to come to the UK for marriage is raised from 18 to 21.

"For those foreign nationals already living and working in the UK, I also believe that it is right that they play by the rules. That is why I want to strengthen our ability to block the privilege of citizenship to those with a criminal record. After all British citizenship is a privilege, not a right."

The Government's Australian-style Points Based System and the new independent Migration Advisory Committee, which will meet for the first time on 7 December, will provide new, robust machinery to ensure that only those who meet the needs of the UK will be allowed to enter and work.

The statement of intent for Tier 1 shows how the new tier will replace eight existing immigration routes for people who are highly skilled, entrepreneurs, investors or have undertaken studies to a high level and want to stay in the UK to work. Applicants will earn points for their skills and the potential they show for economic success, competence in English language and ability to support themselves and their dependents.

New measures to help to protect the vulnerable from being pressurised into forced marriage were proposed by the Home Office in a consultation published today. Proposals include raising the minimum age at which people can come to this country for marriage from 18 to 21. A separate consultation, also published today seeks views on the introduction of an English language test before entry for people applying for a spouse visa to help to encourage successful integration.

A reform of the system was also announced to make it even harder for foreigners with criminal convictions to ever become British. Under new guidance, which will apply from 1 January 2008, it will be made absolutely clear that people with an unspent conviction will normally be refused nationality.

Further detailed information can be obtained from AmblerCollins consultants info@amblercollins.com.
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December 5 2007 - UK to launch scheme for high-flying migrants