Monday, July 11, 2011

US skilled immigration needed for mining and tech sectors

A new report by Fitch Ratings states that the US resources industry which includes the mining and natural gas sectors, and the tech industry are facing a serious shortage of skilled workers. Experts say that skilled immigration could deal with this labor shortfall.

Karl Smith, an economist at the School of Government at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, told The American Independent that the report represents a "reasonable" look at the United States labor market. He said that a US policy of encouraging skilled immigration could alleviate these problems.

Smith said a points based system, similar to those in other countries such as Canada, Denmark, and Australia, would be a good idea because it enables top talent to come and live and work in the US.

Australia's recent mining boom has meant serious skills shortages. Australia benefits from a successful points based General Skilled Migration program; In Australia skilled immigration under points based immigration schemes helps businesses deal with the shortfall in skilled workers.

Smith added that increased immigration would also drive demand for homes, helping to prop up America's ailing housing market.

A points based immigration system would represent a significant change in the United States immigration system, which largely focuses on employer-sponsored and family-based immigration schemes.

Resurgence in numbers of Australian temporary work visa applications

Australia is processing the highest number of temporary 457 visa applications since 2008, as business demand for overseas workers continues to increase.

The Australian economy took a dip like most Countries after the global financial crisis; However, Australia was not as badly affected as many other Countries and it's economy is recovering more rapidly than in other Countries due to heavy demand in the mining industry and related industries.

As a result, Australian businesses are scrambling to fill vacancies and are using the temporary 457 work visa to bring in skilled workers.

According to Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) figures, 42,840 applications were granted for the temporary 457 visa in the 11 months to the end of May, 38.3 percent higher than the same period in May 2010.

Twenty percent of these were for visas granted to workers in the mining and construction industries; There are large resource sector projects underway in both Queensland and Western Australia.

There were also many scientific and technical jobs available.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

New Zealand in dire need of skilled migrants

According to Ruth Dyson, New Zealand Labour Party spokesperson on immigration, New Zealand is in dire need of more skilled immigration. There are skills shortages in many areas of the New Zealand economy. Immigration is good for the New Zealand economy. Government research suggests that even at existing immigration levels there will be a gain of $28 billion to the New Zealand economy by 2021.

Dyson feels that Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman's stance on immigration is detrimental to the Kiwi economy.

"The Minister's response seems to be that we have an increasing number of unemployed, therefore we should reduce the number of people coming to New Zealand from overseas," Dyson said. "This is an extremely shallow and damaging analysis."

"This is too important for short term thinking. We need to retain and attract the skills that we need to build a strong New Zealand for the future," she added.

Recent government statistics show that in the year to May 2011, Skilled Migrant Category applications were down by 5,150 compared to the same period the previous year.

Temporary work visa applications are also declining. During the the year to May 2011, visas under the Essential Skills scheme were down by 7,201, a significant drop compared to the previous year.

Major changes to Australian skilled migration go into effect

Australia implemented major changes to its General Skilled Migration program on 1 July 2011. The pass mark for various visa subclasses is now 65 points. The age limit has also been raised from 45 years of age to 50.

Nominated occupations no longer earn points, but applicants are still required to nominate an occupation. Points are scored for experience in an occupation. Experience within Australia and overseas in a nominated occupation can be combined to earn points of up to 20 points.

There are now tougher English language requirements; All applicants must be at English language level "Competent" to be eligible to apply under the General Skilled Migration programme.

You can gain 5 additional points if you have a spouse who can satisfy the basic requirements under the General Skilled Migration programme; Points can be earned for language skills in a number of community languages such as Punjabi, Hindi, German, French, and many others, and for a qualification at an Australian institution.

For more information, please contact Global Visa Support office: http://www.globalvisasupport.com/contact.html

Ireland to review entrepreneur visa policy

Ireland will review its Business Permission visa policy requirements in an attempt to spur entreprenuership and boost the country's ailing economy.

Eoghan Murphy, a Fine Gael TD for Dublin South-East, proposed changes to the existing Business Permission visa scheme during a recent debate; Proposals include reducing the funding requirement for an applicant's startup company under the entrepreneur visa scheme from €300,000 to €200,000.

Murphy's proposals also include allowing more than one person to apply in the same application as business partners under the scheme. According to Murphy, the current single-person requirement places too much of a burden on startup founders; Many businesses need at least two partners at startup. The current requirements mean that each entrepreneur needs to make their own application. If the proposed changes are implemented this will make it easier for many businessmen to emigrate to Ireland.

There may also be a new investment-based immigration scheme. One Country that already has an immigrant investor scheme is the UK. This scheme requires you to have GBP1 Million. It would not be surprising if Ireland firstly looked at the British investor scheme before introducing their own immigrant investor scheme.

"The existing system does not really cater for the needs of innovation start-up enterprises", said Minister of State Kathleen Lynch. "In addition, we currently do not have an immigration regime that caters for high net individuals who would be willing to make significant investment in the country in return for being allowed to reside here."

"Departmental officials have been drawing up draft proposals that would have the effect of broadening the eligibility criteria for business person and investors to reside in Ireland," she added.