As the reports of Indian students being bashed up in Australia have been making news on various TV channels and print media since quite a while, now an important step had been taken to ensure that the two countries- Australia India- builds a partnership in trading and education sector. In an important step for the Australian-Indian relationship, the two countries have outlined a major expansion of the Australia trade network in India. Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean made the announcement last week saying that the Australian Government has been determined to significantly build the relationship with India, a country which is important to Australian immigration and trade. The information of the trade relationship is good news for many Indians who have been impatiently waiting to hear positive news about pathway immigration to Australia.
Australia now seems to have measured up against all the allegations made by people wishing to immigrate to the country and against the unfair practices the country exercise.  Currently, Indian nationals studying in Australia with an Australian Student Visa make up the second-largest group on international students in Australia’s multi-million dollar overseas education industry. Many Indians who complete their studies in Australia take up an Australian permanent residence after graduating. This is also an option that the Australian Government provides to foreign students to retain skilled workers. As it is also notable from figures obtained in 2008-2009, India was Australia’s fastest growing major two-way trading partner with total trade between the two nations jumping 55 per cent to $21.7 billion Australian dollars. Addressing the issue Mr. Crean said, “For the past two years this Government has been building and strengthening links with India and my first trip as Trade Minister featured a visit to the sub-continent. Expanding economic links are a vital component in giving effect to the shared commitment to building the relationship.” He also said that there was significant untapped potential in the Indian market, and the two economies have complementary strengths that the expanded Austrade network will be seeking to explore. Five new trade offices will be launched in India and another three existing operations will be expanded, a move that will give Australia the largest trade promotion network in Indian of any foreign country. Under the planned expansion new Austrade offices will be established in Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kochi and Pune with offices in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata expanded. The news would bring delight to many who wish to immigrate to Australia on skilled immigration or student visas.

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There is good news if you’re thinking of working in Singapore. The country is actively seeking labour for the healthcare, transport, education, aerospace, insurance, service, biomedical and construction industry.  The employment market in Singapore has also sported a recent trend – employers have been hiring more foreigners, who now fill six in ten jobs (up from five in ten in 2007). There are over 900,000 foreigners, who fill everything from construction jobs to white collar and service work, accounting for a third of the 2.73 million people employed, enabling the economy to grow beyond the limits of Singapore’s indigenous workforce.  Singapore has a competitive and friendly environment for foreigners who would like to work there. The nation has ranked first for having the best labour force (Business Environment Risk Intelligence Labour Force Ranking) and being the top Asian country for its quality of life (Worldwide Quality of Living Index). Other reasons that attract foreigners to work in Singapore include open recruitment policies, low personal taxations and a high standard of living, coupled with an English-speaking environment.
According to a survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, despite the current downturn, 99% of CEOs in the Asia-Pacific region still believe that attracting and retaining key talent is critical to sustaining long-term growth for any business. The Singapore Human Resources Institute has also reported that the demand for knowledge workers will remain throughout the region. Fresh graduates would be relieved to know that entry-level positions are still available. According to Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang, there will be more than 30,000 jobs created next year, of which 6,000 will come from new investments coming into Singapore this year. While opportunities still abound when it comes to working in Singapore, you first need to know where the jobs can be found. To find a suitable job, there are various measures specially designed to help desiring candidates to look out for jobs. Internet is very well equipped for job searches and also there are various local classifieds that concentrate on jobs available in Singapore. Some companies however engage recruitment firms for hiring people to work for them. Finding a job in Singapore is easy if a person is capable of working hard.

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Immigration program to Australia has been now enhanced as a new scheme has been released for the welfare of non-English speaking countries that would provide provisions for the settlements of people willing to immigrate to Australia who cannot speak English. The scheme is called the Adult Migrant English Programme (AMEP). The scheme would provide English Language education support to people who have either immigrated to Australia or took an asylum and also they are not native English speakers. A tender has been proposed for the welfare of non-English speaker immigrants.
Laurie Ferguson, the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, announcing the tender said, “This tender is for a new model of services, including enhanced vocational counselling to help migrants identify their own learning path and track their progress through the programme. The AMEP will help clients enter the workforce and access further training opportunities through a Settlement Language Pathways to Employment/Training course.” For the provision of the young who have just left the schools, the new programme will also be extended to the 15-17 year-old age group to help school leavers to begin working in Australia. On top of that the new English language skills, entrants into the programme will receive information about Australian society, services, customs and laws.
The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is the Australian Government’s largest settlement program. The AMEP offers up to 510 hours of free English language tuition to eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants who do not have functional English. The AMEP plays an important role in assisting migrants in their transition to life in Australia by providing settlement focussed basic language skills and settlement support. According to Ferguson, the new tender scheme would be an important step for Australian Immigration. He said, “This course combines successful features of the Employment Pathways and Traineeships in English and Work Readiness Programs established by the government last year. It is an integral part of the suite of settlement services delivered by DIAC to new arrivals to support their social inclusion and economic participation in Australian society.”

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Whether you are a Singaporean currently working abroad or a foreigner who has never been to Singapore, you will be amazed by the rapid progress and growth potential there. Recognising the need to balance work and play, the government has taken efforts to transform the island state into a dynamic and modern city. Believe it or not, the nightlife in Singapore frequently tops global polls, while qualities that have propelled Singapore to where it is today remain, such as a safe, clean environment and a multi-racial population that lives in harmony. Globalisation and knowledge on economy have led to a single worldwide market for talent. But not every country can provide the abundance of opportunities and cosmopolitan environment that Singapore offers. Since Singapore gained independence, it has overcome the odds to become one of Asia’s most advanced economies. Numerous talents and entrepreneurs have already arrived in Singapore to live and work, while limitless possibilities await global citizens who are keen to apply their skills and knowledge to the opportunities available here.
A small country with no natural resources, Singapore has always known the importance of investing in human capital. Providing quality education for all has been one strategy, as can be seen from how Singapore is an increasingly popular study destination for international students. Today, other than the four local universities that boast a diverse mix of local and foreign students, there are eight international universities established in Singapore, as part of the Economic Development Board’s Global Schoolhouse programme. Singapore has also been consistently acknowledged as a global business hub. Factors contributing to this include developed infrastructure, political stability, open business policies, a skilled workforce, the use of English as the main working language and respect for intellectual property rights. According to Doing Business 2009, an annual report by the World Bank Group which compares business regulations in 181 countries, Singapore ranks first for its ease of doing business, and has clinched this top spot for three consecutive years. The 2008-2009 Global Competitiveness Report by the World Economic Forum has also named Singapore the most competitive economy in Asia.
To date, more than 7,000 multinational companies have set up base in Singapore, next to 100,000 small and medium enterprises. Business-owners all over the world regard Singapore as an ideal location to grow their businesses, with many of them using the country as a springboard to tap on other emerging markets in Asia. Naturally, employment opportunities in Singapore have grown exponentially for global citizens, as the country has always opened its doors to foreign talent who are highly sought-after across all industries. Current growth sectors include biomedical sciences, banking and financial services, tourism and hospitality, construction and interactive digital media, to name a few. Foreign talents account for about 30% of the workforce, attracted by open recruitment policies, low personal taxation, a meritocratic society which embraces diversity, and last but not least, a high quality of life in Singapore’s cosmopolitan environment. These have been proven by the Worldwide Quality of Living Index which ranked Singapore as the top Asian country for its quality of life.

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The United Kingdom is all set to change the Tier 2 Visa with the effect of 14th December, due to which the rule that enabled employers to offer jobs to immigrants earlier would be altered a bit.  According to the Immigration Department’s website of UK, new plans would be introduced to extend the period of advertisements for jobs that may eventually go to UK work visa holders. According to the statement, all the jobs will have to be advertised in the UK for about four weeks before workers from outside the EU are called to fill the positions. The rules will be implemented from 14th of December this year. Arguing on the topic the UK immigration minister Phil Woolas , said, “we’ve always said that we would run our immigration system for the benefit of the UK and that is why the Prime Minister announced that we will extend the amount of time employers must advertise jobs in Jobcentre Plus, before they can bring in a worker from outside Europe.” The changes have been sought because of the suggestions made by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) in August late this year. The move is made by keeping in mind the welfare of work visa holders and also to help British workers to gain the jobs they need as the country emerges from the recession. However, talking about hiring foreign immigrants to UK, Phil Woolas further said that it will still allow firms to hire foreigners who want to work in the UK: “It will ensure that businesses can recruit the skilled foreign workers that the economy needs.”
Apart from the job advertisements rule, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) also published proposals for a revised shortage occupation list on 21 October 2009. These proposals have been accepted in full by the UK Government. Some of the changes to the occupation list are as follows:
•    A revised list of healthcare and engineering professionals
•    The continued inclusion of chefs, ballet dancers, work riders, veterinary surgeons and secondary teachers in maths and science, and sheep shearers.
•    The addition of special needs teachers and skilled meat boners and trimmers. Etc.
It is easier for employers to obtain Tier 2 visas if the occupation is on the skilled shortage list as the Government has already accepted that there are insufficient people from the resident labour market to fill vacancies in these occupations. The occupations in skill shortage list continue to attract people to come live and work in UK. Where the job advertisement rule would help the work visa holders to find a job in UK on the other hand people in shortage occupation list would continue to immigrate to UK on employment basis.

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Citizenship and Immigration Department of Canada has announced the new plans to include biometric data in the new applications that would be lodged with the department. By doing so Canada has now joined a list of countries that would demand biometric details from visitors or prospective immigrants while filing for a visa for the country. By the end of 2010, The Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada plans to begin the roll out of biometric data processing and proposed that the new system would be fully functional in all provinces by 2013.
Discussing the topic, the spokesperson of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) said, “Biometrics will significantly contribute to Canada’s existing measures designed to reduce identity fraud and enhance the safety and security of Canadians.” After the requirement is implemented the biometric tests connote that applicants for temporary resident visas, Canadian work visas and Canadian study visas will have to submit fingerprints and have their photographs taken in person before arriving in Canada. Some foreign countries already implemented this requirement but Canada by this move has now joined countries like France, the US and the UK, who all have biometric requirements in place. The US has had such a database in place for the last 5 years whereas the UK plans to have all UK visa applicants’ biometric details on their biometric database by 2011.
When the rules would be implemented in late 2010, approximately 15,000 fingerprints and facial images will be collected from field trial participants out of which analysis of the information collected will be conducted separately. The Biometric test will check the impact of introducing fingerprint and facial recognition technologies on CIC operations. The trial will help determine how biometrics could be used to identify people entering Canada and to reduce the potential for identity fraud. It will only involve a limited number of temporary resident visa applicants and refugee claimants. CIC has been consulting with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to protect the personal information of field trial participants. Apart from Canada, in order to ensure that people immigrating to various countries are not fraud, the European Union, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States are also testing or using biometrics to enhance the integrity of their border control systems.

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While most of the countries are having a hard time emerging out of recession, it is believed that Australia is on top while recovering from the same. Individuals who cannot find a decent job in their home countries are suggested that it’s time for them to pack up and ship out to Australia as the work sector in Australia is now out of recession and there are plenty of jobs being created every day. In late September this year a certain numbers of Jobs were expected to be created in October but to the surprise of many individuals  a lot more jobs were created than expected, which proved that Australian economy was proving out to be a developing economic force. While moving to Australia has remained a successful destination among many immigration seekers but while undergoing recession people have thought it more clearly. The facts suggest that about 24,500 people were employed in Australia in the month of October alone.
Australian statistics released recently has shown on balance positive news for the Australian economy, with the country performing better than expected and in the top three countries in the world. Australia was expected to lose 10,000 jobs in October but the Australian economy actually managed to add 24,500, neutralising the impact of the slightly higher unemployment rate across the country. Australia’s current unemployment rate is 5.8 per cent, up from 5.7 per cent, but the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that Australia’s unemployment rate has stabilised and will not reach the peak of 6.75 per cent forecast in this month’s mid-year budget review instead touching just 6.3 per cent next year before turning down.  The result show the Australian economy is performing better than any Western country, other than Norway and Switzerland, with unemployment in Britain predicted to peak at 10 per cent. The figures suggest that the employment ratio of the Australian economy is an indication for a way to recovery in global contexts since UK is still stuck with recession. The Australian figures of employement in the month of October are not only surprising but are better than expected. In fact, the employment figures have led the world’s economists to predict that Australia may increase its interest rates to 3.75 per cent in December after having become the first G20 economy to increase rates since the beginning of the global recession, when it did so in October. Immigrating to Australia for skilled immigration or for study purpose is particularly very attractive for many graduates from around the globe.

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Modifications in the Quebec Skilled Worker Program will let the province to greet additional immigrants. The fresh selection system for Quebec Skilled Workers will make it easier for a number of applicants to meet the criteria. On July 2009 there were reports highlighting that the province of Quebec which handles its own immigration program as part of an agreement with the Canadian Federal government, would be making certain changes to the Quebec Skilled Worker program.  On October 14th changes to the Quebec immigration programme were announced and implemented and the new criteria could make it very easy for some applicants to qualify for immigration to Quebec province. According to the new changes, the most significant change reduces the overall selection pass mark from 59 to 55 for a single applicant and from 68 to 63 for a couple.  There are various new measures now like the breakdown of points awarded for education has been amended to recognize more types of diplomas than under the previous system. Undergraduate diplomas attesting to 1 or 2 years of university education and more vocational and technical diplomas are now considered. Applicants with certain educational backgrounds will not only benefit from more points, but will also qualify for priority processing. The more encouraging weighting of the education and age criteria could make it easier for some applicants, who did not meet the criteria under the previous system, to become entitled to immigrate to Canada in the Quebec Skilled Worker category.
Apart from that, in addition, the “Areas of Training” criterion, which awards bonus points to applicants with certain educational or training backgrounds, has been changed to reflect the current needs of Quebec’s economy and labour market. The breakdown of points awarded for an applicant’s age has also been adjusted, so that it declines less rapidly after the age of 35 than under the previous system. After the implementation of giving Education and Age criteria so much of importance in a more favourable kind of way it can make it easier for some applicants that do not qualify under the previous system can now become eligible to immigrate to Canada under the Quebec Skilled Worker Category.
People who make a successful application to obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) can later submit their application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada office for various checks like medical and security checks for the issuance of a Canadian PR visa. The new rules had been in operation since October 14 and all the applications that are being received now are now assessed under this new system of follow up. For many reasons Quebec is the best choice if one wishes to immigrate to Canada.

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After the new priority processing arrangements have been made by the Australian government on September 24th, many applicants who had applied to Australia for immigration have protested in numerous ways. The new rules were not only unjust and unfair but it holds back the visa applicants for a time period of 3 years. Late last week an online petition was taken out by some applicants who had been waiting for their visas since past year. This whole issue has not only raised concerns among certain organisations but it has also made some Australian authorities worrying. The Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) has written to the Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship expressing their concerns about the priority processing of General Skilled Migration applications.

The visa applicants were writing to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for a refund of their application fees since many of the applicants do not wish to wait for next 2 to 3 years for a visa. Despite the call for a refund of visa costs to those who face a wait of up to three years before their Australia visa will be processed the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Evans has dismissed the idea. Speaking about the opposition and call for a refund of visa fees, the Minister said Australia Immigration would continue taking applications, although the entire system including the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) was under review.
Pointing out the Minister’s quotes, MIA stated that the new visa processing regime creates numerous serious problems including damage to Australia’s reputation, additional costs related to the wait to the Australia visa application, and the difficulty for employment for applicants on bridging visas. The MIA further said there was a potential risk to Australia’s reputation with thousands of people having paid Australia visa application charges, with the reasonable expectation that the applications would be finalised within published service standard times, waiting indefinite lengths of time for a decision on their applications. The outcome could be drastic as people would start protesting. The MIA has suggested that the Department should refund fees for applicants who now wish to withdraw their application,  and that it is particularly important to give priority processing exemptions to those applications which were about to be finalised just before the changes were announced. Nevertheless the proposals made by The MIA are well received by the protesting applicants whose applications for immigration to Australia under certain categories are now put on hold by the Australian Immigration department.

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According to a recent survey the BBC claims that number of students coming to the UK to study on UK visas has risen drastically in last couple of years. After the introduction of the UK points based system the number of individuals going to UK on student visas from India and Bangladesh has increased sharply. However the previous statements made by the UK Border Agency assured that the number of students coming to UK from abroad was roughly the same as last year but BBC later discovered that the number of students has actually tripled for certain countries as compared to last year. Between June and August 2008, some 6,771 UK student visas were granted by the British High Commission in Mumbai, New Delhi and Dhaka. However, during the same period in 2009 – after the points based system had been introduced for people applying for UK visas – some 19,950 student visas were issued by the same Indian and Bangladeshi offices.

UK’s points based system was introduced in order to increase the control over people moving to the UK from outside the EU. The criteria for student visa for UK are stricter and many great opportunities are there for the government to monitor students once they have entered the UK with increased security checks. The figures subsequently obtained by the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act show there has been a sharp increase in the number of student visas granted in India and Bangladesh – two of the biggest centres for non-EU student visa applications.
On the other hand the government says it has cracked down on bogus colleges, and that the number of institutions able to bring students into the UK from outside the European Union has been halved since the introduction of the new points-based immigration system. In a statement, Mr Oppenheim told the Donal MacIntyre programme: “The UK Border Agency has 74 visa-issuing posts worldwide, so three cities should not be taken as representative of a global trend. The points-based system is designed to be flexible. It enables us to regularly check and monitor all student applications and colleges to ensure that they meet the required standards, and take action where necessary.”

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