Federal Immigration Law...

The federal immigration law determines whether a person is an alien as well as the rights, duties, and the obligations associated with being an alien in the United States and how they gained residence and citizenship in the United States. This also gives the means for which an alien can become a legally naturalised citizen with full rights of citizenship. The immigration law serves as a gatekeeper for the nation’s border, determining who is to enter, how long they may stay, and when they must leave.

Complete authority over immigration is found to lay with the U.S. Congress. With this, the presidential power does not extend beyond the refugee policy. Apart from the questions regarding aliens’ constitutional rights, the courts have generally found the immigration issue to be complex.

The states have limited legislative authority regarding immigration and are not involved in details that fall outside the lines of state jurisdiction. Generally, these details are handled by federal sentencing guidelines for illegal entry into the country.

The goals of the immigration policies have been achieved by the federal government through controlling the visa processing program. Visas are of two types: immigrant visa and the non-immigrant visa. For tourists and temporary business visitors, they are given the non-immigrant visa, which is divided by the government into eighteen different types of which most types do not impose a cap on the number that may be granted on an annual basis. Of the categories for the non-immigrant visa, only a few of them allow their holders to work in the United States. For the immigrant visa, the holders are permitted to stay in the United States permanently and also apply for citizenship.

Working Holiday Visas...

The working holiday visa is a term given to a permit for travel that allows for a traveller to engage in employment whilst in another country.  A great number of working holiday visas are given out under exchange agreements between countries to support and encourage cultural exchange and travel between the respective countries’ citizens.

There are, however, various restrictions to the working holiday visa. The traveller with this type of visa is expected to be in possession of enough funds to use as he or she seeks employment in the visiting country. The working traveller is further limited on the employment types that he or she can hold and also the period that the travelling employment seeker can hold employment in the country.

Finally, the working holiday visa has an age restriction. The working holiday visa is intended to be used by young travellers. The usual age bracket is 18 to 30 years of age. This is a stimulating opportunity for young people to go out and experience living and working in a foreign country whilst evading the costly expenses that go with finding job sponsorship well in advance or participating in expensive exchange programmes between universities.

The pioneer participating countries to use the opportunities that the working holiday visa presented were Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zeeland. Moreover, in Japan, a working Holiday Maker Alumni association has been created and it offers seminars to orientate the Japanese holiday-working goer.

The countries that offer a working holiday visa are Argentina, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, Hong Kong, Norway, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Turkey, and South Korea.

Updates to the UK Tier 1 Visa...

The Tier 1 visa takes the place of the HSMP visa in the UK. The HSMP visa (Highly Skilled Migrant Programme), provided a method for skilled workers to enter the country to live and work. The Tier 1 visa takes the place of this type of visa but is generally the same in context. 

There are special qualifications necessary to obtain a Tier 1 visa.  The qualifications are evaluated and given point values.  The point system determines the ability to get a Tier 1 visa.  The purpose of the point system is to choose those who will contribute most to the country.  In addition to the Tier 1 general visa there are three other categories of Tier 1 visas that include entrepreneurs, investors and post-study work.

The Tier 1 visa point system has several eligibility areas that are scored.  Applicants must score a combined total of 75 in order to be eligible for a Tier 1 visa.  The areas that are scored are as follows:  age, qualifications, previous earnings and UK experience.  Additionally you will need to score at least 10 total points in the final two areas – English language and ability to support yourself.  The areas are scored based on your previous salary as well as your education level reached with more points scored for additional degrees. 

The Tier 1 visa is now only a one step process so you must submit all the information and supporting documentation along with your application.  Once approved Tier 1 visa holders can live and work in the UK.

Skilled Independent Visa in Australia...

A Skilled Independent Visa is granted to a person to enable them to work in a certain country.  In Australia, the Skilled Independent Visa enables an individual to migrate into Australia who has good written and spoken skills in the English language. One also has to have the qualifications and skills required for an occupation needed in the country. The Skilled Independent Visa selects applicants through a particular points test. The test pinpoints and selects candidates with characteristics that are needed within the labour market in Australia. To apply for the Skilled Independent Visa, one does not need sponsorship.

To be considered to be given this visa, one has to be under the age of 45 years of age and have the specific qualifications and skills necessary, which fall within the Australian standards for occupations in the SOL (Skilled Occupation List). This list contains all skilled occupations needed in Australia. Each entry on the list is awarded value points that are used in the assessment of the applicant for the Skilled Independent Visa.  The Skilled Occupation List and the Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL) are forms that need to be filled to facilitate the visa application process.

The visa has a charge attached to it, but, once the visa has been given to an individual, it allows them to permanently work, live and study in Australia. One can receive healthcare that is subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Depending on waiting periods, one can access some social security payments as well. Further, depending on the criteria for residency eligibility, one can also become an Australian citizen.

Immigration to South Africa — Rules and Regu...

South Africa has immigration laws that aim to protect the health and security of South Africans as well as their rights to employment opportunities in the country. In protecting and creating jobs opportunities in South Africa, the country has a vast reserve of skilled, unskilled and the semi-skilled workers. The unskilled and the semi-skilled workers are not accepted as immigrant workers in South Africa.

Those welcomed include immigrants that are in the position to contribute to the broadening of South Africa’s economy. Since there is a shortage of skilled workers in South Africa, those that have skills should be encouraged to apply. This is particularly true for any industrialists or other entrepreneurs that wish to relocate their existing businesses or establish new ones in South Africa.

Commitment to the country is also supported in South Africa because of the need to create jobs. Other basic requirements for the permanent residence are considered individually on merit by an autonomous statutory body, the Immigrant Selects Board. For all those who want to immigrate to South Africa permanently, one should:     

1. Be of good character;
2. Be a desirable inhabitant; and
3. Not be likely to rely on the welfare of the country.
4. Not have an occupation in which there are already sufficient people available to meet the country’s need.

For one to apply for immigration, in general, one should apply for immigration to South Africa whilst in one’s country of residence. However, one may apply for immigration whilst in South Africa at the nearest Home Affairs office. This is possible if one is married to, or the child of, a South African citizen or permanent resident as well as is in South Africa on a valid temporary residence permit.

How to Apply for a New Zealand Visa...

If you are travelling to New Zealand for an extended visit you may likely need to apply for a visa. A visa is a special document issued by the New Zealand government that allows you to stay and work in the country for extended periods of time.  The first step is to determine if you need a New Zealand Visa.  Many countries have an agreement with New Zealand that may permit you to stay in the country for up to three months without a visa.  Visitors from the UK are allowed to stay up to 6 months without a New Zealand Visa.  Australian citizens do not require a New Zealand Visa. Once you have determined that you need a New Zealand Visa, you will need to go through the application process. 

Before you begin the application process for a New Zealand Visa you should review the instruction booklet, which can be found online.  It is important that you fill out the application completely and submit all supporting documentation along with your New Zealand Visa Application in order for the process to go quickly and smoothly. It is important to note that there is a difference between a New Zealand Visa and a Visitor’s Permit.  The Visitor’s Permit is easier to obtain but does not allow you to work in New Zealand during your visit.  A Transit New Zealand Visa is designed for those travellers who will be spending less than a day in the country as a stopover point on their way to a final destination.

Travel Europe with an InterRail Pass...

The InterRail Pass is an ideal way to travel Europe by rail and gives you the flexibility to travel wherever you want whenever you want. There are two main types of InterRail Pass, The Global pass and the One Country pass.

The InterRail Global Pass is valid for travel through all of the participating countries (30 in all) and is available in four different passes; this allows the holder to travel on consecutive days or a set number of days. The four passes available are, travel up to 5 days in a 10 day period, travel for 10 days out of 22 days and travel for 22 days continuously or one month continuously. The major benefit of an InterRail Global Pass is that the holder can literally travel to wherever they want on a given day.

The InterRail One Country pass is valid for one chosen country only, apart from the InterRail Benelux Pass which covers Belgium, Luxemburg and Holland. The InterRail One Country Pass can be purchased for set number of days travel in a one month period, and are available for either 3,4,6 or 8 days.

InterRail Pass holders will also be able to take advantage of other perks including special discounted fares on the Eurostar for journeys from London or Ashford to Brussels, Lille and Paris, as well as discounts at various museums and other attractions.

Visiting Canada on a Visitor Visa...

If you are planning to visit Canada and are not a national of an EU country, then you will need a Canadian tourist visa. The Canadian tourist visa, also known as a visitor visa is a temporary visa that allows an individual to visit the country and lasts for a maximum of six months.

A Canadian tourist visa is not a route to permanent residency, nor a way of applying for Canadian citizenship. Tourist visas are designed for temporarily visiting the country and are given on the understanding that the individual may not work during their stay, and that they leave the country before their tourist visa expires.

There are three types of Canadian visitor visas, single entry visas, multiple entry visas and transit visas.

The single entry visa permits the holder to visit the country once for no longer than a six month period. An individual may apply for a visa extension as long as it is no later than 30 days before the original visa expires.

A multiple entry visa permits the holder to visit Canada numerous time during the time in which the visa is valid, and the holder must state how long they wish to stay; the amount of time issued will be decided by the case officer.

The third type of visa is the transit Canada visa, and is designed for individuals passing through the country to another destination. Transit Canada visas are only issued to people who will be spending less than 48 hours in the country.

To gain a Canadian visitor visa, certain requirements must be met. The Applicant must show that they have enough funds to support them and their family during their stay, do not plan on seeking employment, do not have a criminal record and pose no security risk to the country.

Foreign Students Graduating in Taiwan Allowed to W...

In previous years, foreign students who graduate and study in Taiwan are not allowed to work in the country unless they apply for the respective work permit or work visa. However, Taiwan’s labour officials are now looking into changing that. Taiwan is planning to allow foreign graduate students to work in the country while they are studying. They will be allowed to work from the moment they begin their studies.

This is the action being reviewed by the Taiwan government after receiving a lot of complaints for their local schools and universities that their existing rules prevented their foreign students to work on necessary research projects. According to the existing rules, foreign students may not be allowed to work in the country in the first year of their studies. As a result, the Taiwan government will be implementing new rules to allow these foreign graduate students to work right away the moment they start their studies in the country. However, the work must be related to their studies and must be backed up by the university.

It was the Council of Labour Affairs’ Senior Executive Officer, Chen Jui-chia, who announced that the new rule is in lieu of the many complaints that they have received. Foreign students were shut out on projects that would help them with their academic advancement. It is common practice in graduate studies that professors ask graduate students to work for research during the first year. It would be unfair to exclude these foreign graduates experience in these academically inclined projects. Note however that according to Chen, the old rules will remain for the non-graduate foreign students.

Spain Immigration Budget Increase...

In 2008, the government of Spain has announced that it will be increasing its immigration budget with an additional €321 million. The Spanish Labour Minister Jesus Caldera has recently announced this budget increase for the integration of immigration policies. The number of Spanish immigrants has grown in 1996 from 500,000 immigrants to a whopping 4.48 million in the year 2006, according to the National Statistics Bureau of Spain.

The biggest percentage of funds will be allotted for the integration of programs in the amount of €312.51 million. On the other hand, the remaining €8.58 million will be used to control the borders of Spain. In addition to this announcement made by the labour minister, Spain is also set to call a common immigration policy, along with Portugal, across the other member states of the European Union.

The Spanish secretary of state for European affairs Alberto Navarro said in a recent interview that, “This common policy should include integration policies for the 25 million immigrants who currently live in Europe legally.” On the other hand, Manuel Lobo Antunes, his Portuguese counterpart, has professed their support to Spain in its fight to address illegal immigration through the Canary Islands. A figure of 30,000 illegal immigrants was reported to have reached the Canary Islands in the year 2006 alone.

The government of Spain has encouraged business executives to travel to Senegal and hire workers directly. The hired employees can get contracts, trainings, and visas or work permits. This is a better approach seen by the other countries like Senegal, as compared to other stances made by some EU members like France. Note that France has a rigid approach to immigration so that it even offers financial help to some of the migrant families, if they go back to their home country.