Visa and Immigrations Update

  Australia lacks a supply of accounting, audit, and finance professionals. Did you know Australia needs an additional 30,000 experts in the fields mentioned earlier in the next three years? Different professional entities, including  CA ANZ  and  CPA Australia , stressed the need to revisit the  skilled migrant program  to meet the growing demand for skilled accounting professionals successfully. The falling number of Australian graduates compared to the estimated demand of 338,362 accountants by 2026 further emphasizes the urgency of the situation. It is safe to say that Australia’s current approach will not help the nation in any way since it is filled with uncertainty. On the other hand, the United States seems to be taking a relatively stable approach without any uncertainty. To read the complete blog, click here .

  You could be eligible for Canadian citizenship if you were born in another country, but one of your legal or biological parents at birth was a Canadian citizen. You are required to submit   proof of Canadian citizenship application   to the Canadian government. This also refers to applying for a Canadian citizenship certificate. It is the only document, other than the Canadian birth certificate, that passport Canada accepts as proof of Canadian citizenship. Canada restricts citizenship by descent to the first generation born in another country or to a Canadian parent. You can go for a  Canadian citizenship certificate  at any point in your life. It doesn’t matter if your Canadian parent is alive or deceased. To read the complete blog  click here .

  Re-entry bans are highly significant. Plus, they occur pretty often than the expectations of employers and HR teams. The   Immigration Rules (part 9 Grounds for Refusal)   comes with a power to permit the Home Office to decline an application for entry clearance or permission to enter if the applicant is found to have breached the UK immigration laws in the past. This is what’s called the   re-entry ban policy . A person could become a victim of the re-entry ban if they failed to abide by the UK’s immigration laws previously. To read the complete blog  click here .

  Did you know Australia allocated 8,500 placements for Parent Visa in 2022-23? This is nearly twice the 4,500 placements made in the previous year. Don’t forget that additional 8,500 placements have already been allocated for 2023-24. Unfortunately, applicants are facing delayed processing times, even though the Government continues to focus on issuing Parent visas. To read the complete blog, click here .

  The latest news confirms that IRCC has introduced an updated policy concerning the   collection of biometrics for Canada PR applicants. Applicants going for permanent residence (PR) are now required to submit biometrics since 14 June, even if they have provided them before while applying for a temporary residence permit. To read the complete blog  click here .

  Internal government estimations indicate that the cost of detaining and deporting illegal migrants coming to the UK in small boats under the planned new legislation could   reach £6bn in the next two years . The Illegal Migration Bill is in Parliament currently. To read the complete blog  click here .

  According to the announcement by South Australia, new applicants wouldn’t be able to apply under the   State Migration Program from 8 June 2023   until the financial year ends. This will affect; General Skilled Migration Applications (RoI) General Skilled Migration Applications (s/c 190 & s/c 491 applications) Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) Entrepreneur Stream (s/c 188E) To read the complete blog, click here .

  Did you know   Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) celebrates Citizenship Week every year to commemorate new Canadian citizens ? The idea is to reaffirm the meaning of being a Canadian. Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Sean Fraser recently announced the  start of Citizenship Week from 22 May to 28 May 2023 . Interestingly, he will be going to different citizenship ceremonies held in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Vancouver, and Halifax. To read the complete blog  click here .

  You have to take certain steps depending on the type of immigration permission you have if your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is about to expire. Anyone who is in the UK on a visa has restricted permission to remain in the UK. It means you can stay in the UK for a limited period. For example, you could be in the UK holding a Spouse visa, Youth Mobility visa, or Skilled Worker visa. To read the complete blog  click here .

  The   rejection rates for Indian applicants have become the same as pre-Covid levels . Regardless, they are yet to reach the peak witnessed during the 2010s. Statistics from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) confirm that  hundreds of Indians have been denied entry after New Zealand reopened its borders last year . The data indicates that 664 foreign nationals were refused entry between 1 August 2022 and 10 June 2023. Out of those individuals, one-third of the foreign nationals were Indian passport holders. To read the complete blog, click here .

  Canadian tourists planning to visit the UK will need to set an extra amount aside for their journey from 2024 since the UK government wants to introduce the   Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system . ETA System Will Strengthen UK Border Security According to an official announcement, the  ETA system will fortify the security at UK borders  by introducing robust security checks pre-travel. Interestingly, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick shed some light on the potential of ETAs in strengthening border security. It offers a deeper understanding and control of individuals planning to come to the UK. To read the complete blog  click here .

  Are you currently in the UK and want to extend your stay without leaving the country? In this blog, we will be exploring different options you have to extend your UK visa while staying in the UK. Your first step to determine if you can  extend your UK visa  without exiting the country should be to review your existing visa category and its specific conditions. This step is highly significant since you cannot extend all types of visas from the UK. Plus, there are a few visas that cannot be extended. To read the complete blog  click here .

  Did you know Immigration New Zealand announced major changes to the visa conditions for the Partners of Essential Skills and Accredited Employer Work visa holders going for new Partners of Worker Work Visas? The partners of these visa holders were previously free to seek employment in New Zealand. Now, the partner work rights are a bit different. Immigration New Zealand now requires applicants to earn the median hourly wage in New Zealand, which currently stands at NZ$29.66/hr. To read the complete blog, click here .

  Canada passed a new law emphasizing the significance of the French language in the country by focusing on Francophone immigration and minorities outside Quebec. Bill C-13 adds immigration to the Official Languages Act (OLA) for the first time. The OLA is the federal statute because of which French and English became the official languages of Canada. The new law amends the Official Languages Act to conclude that French is in danger and must be protected as an official language of Canada. To read the complete blog  click here .

 The arrests occurred at commercial properties, such as car washes, restaurants, barber shops, convenience stores, and nail bars. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accompanied the Home Office enforcement officials on a raid in the midst of a countrywide crackdown on illegal migration. Furthermore, the raid resulted in the arrest of 105 foreign nationals belonging to 20 different nationalities. To read the complete blog  click here .

  Did you know that Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad is now rooting for visa-free travel between New Zealand, Australia, and Pacific Island states? According to him, the  proposal will fuel the growth of Fijian and Pacific businesses in Australia and New Zealand . He also believes it would lead to the expansion of Australian and New Zealand businesses across the Pacific. To read the complete blog, click here .

  The  Indian and Australian governments have signed a mobility agreement  promoting immigration for graduates, students, and academic professionals. As a result, they can live and work in India and Australia. Post-study work visa options with a validity of up to 8 years will be made available for Indians graduating from colleges and universities in Australia from 1 July. To read the complete blog, click here .

  The federal government has introduced two new immigration streams under the   Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) . The government is inclined toward giving access to more talented workers to Canadian employers. Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, stated that  assisting employers in securing access to a new global talent pool  is how the authorities intend to utilize the country’s migration system to overcome ongoing labour shortages. To read the complete blog  click here .

  The UK government announced several changes to its visa rules, including UK dependent visas. You should know that all the changes became effective on 6 April 2023. Student Visas This is one of the most crucial changes to UK dependent visas, which prevents students who are not studying postgraduate research programmes from going for dependent visas. As a result, overseas students studying undergraduate or postgraduate courses can’t have their family members accompany them to the UK on student visas. To read the complete blog  click here .

  You must be fully aware of   visa processing times   if you plan to visit the UK on family visas, such as a spousal visa, or if you wish to extend an existing family visa in the UK. Knowing how long it takes to process family visas helps you make your travel plans accordingly. The current processing time for someone who applies for a spousal visa from outside the UK is 6 months from the date you submit your biometrics at a  visa application centre (VAC) . Moreover, the consideration process can be sped up depending on your location. To read the complete blog  click here .

  Australia remains a hotbed for skilled migrants across the globe, especially because of its captivating   2023-2024 migration program . It has 190,000 slots specifically available for experienced and qualified workers. You get a lot of opportunities to change your life as there are several Australia skilled visas available. Did you know you need specific education, English language proficiency, and work experience to pass the eligibility criteria for Australia skilled visa? Plus, applicants are required to meet certain conditions of the visa they select. To read the complete blog, click here .

 Were your dreams of seeking employment in the US crushed because you couldn’t secure a US work visa? Overseas students have several Canada work visa options, allowing them to work for Canadian employers without any difficulties. This blog highlights different Canadian immigration pathways for overseas students. To read the complete blog  click here .

  Did you know a UK visit visa is for people interested in travelling to the UK to fulfill a temporary purpose? The documents you need to submit your application depend on why you want to visit the UK. Currently, 4 different types of UK visit visas are available; Standard Visitor Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor Transit Visitor Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor To read the complete blog  click here .

  Did you know the government of Canada recently introduced a new Federal Pathway for permanent residence? The newly opened pathway has two immigration streams for skilful refugees and displaced individuals included in the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot. There are two streams catering to different types of candidates. One is suited to candidates with job offers from a Canadian employer. On the other hand, the second stream is for highly skilled refugees who don’t have an employment offer/contract. To read the complete blog  click here .

  We’ll be discussing the complexities people face with Australian immigration. But don’t worry; we’ll also give you some pro tips for steering clear of trouble and completing your visa application process successfully. Do you have plans to migrate to Australia? Perhaps, you want to secure a  work visa  or an  Australian study visa ? Unfortunately, as you move forward with the application process for either, you’ll realize it’s not as easy as filing a form and taking the next flight to Australia. To read the complete blog, click here .

  In an interesting turn of events, the   UK Prime Minister is now rooting for new anti-asylum legislation to make it impossible to protect refugees . Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seems adamant about introducing a law that bans individuals trying to seek refugee in the UK from famine, conflict, or persecution. Don’t forget that Rishi Sunak’s government put forward the illegal migration bill recently, warning illegal migrants of deportation to a safe country like Rwanda if they enter the UK illegally. To read the complete blog  click here .

  The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced the expansion of various programs for applicants. They include; Premium processing for applicants filing  Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Applications to change status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status. To read the complete blog, click here .

  Overseas students have several scholarship opportunities to study in Australia. It also includes   government and university scholarships   offered all over the country. The Australian government and universities have worked toward introducing many  different scholarships for overseas students  interested in pursuing higher education in Australia. To read the complete blog, click here .

  Did you know EU citizens belonging to the 27 European Union Member States visiting the UK will be required to   apply for an electronic travel authorization (ETA)   from next year? They will be charged €12 for an ETA to travel to the United Kingdom. What’s interesting to note here is that Everyone has been unaware of the price for a UK ETA. But the UK Visas and Immigration Department of the Home Office claimed on 7 June that the cost for an ETA would be €10. Moreover, The ETA will have a validity of two years. To read the complete blog  click here .

  This blog sheds light on the Australian work visa application process, so let’s start. 1. Selecting The Best-Suited Australian Work Visa You have to select the correct work visa while finalizing your plans to work in Australia. You have different options to choose from, including the  Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 ,  Skilled Independent visa subclass 189 , and  Temporary Skill Shortage visa subclass 482 .  To read the complete blog, click here .

  Did you know that Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser introduced the  category-based selection for Express Entry  on 31 May? This step aims to deal with the changing economic and labour market needs of Canada. What’s interesting to note here is that Express Entry is a flagship application management system of Canada for migrants interested in migrating permanently via the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Provincial Nominee Program, and the Federal Skilled Worker Program. To read the complete blog  click here .

  The Deputy Head of the International Monetary Fund believes  immigration can allow the UK to cut inflation significantly . Don’t forget the UK recently imposed a limit on the total number of legal migrants. It seems that the  high inflation rate in the UK  will not come down any time sooner. Most of it is because of sectors like farming and hospitality in which employers are forced to pay higher wages to recruit people for large vacancies. To read the complete blog  click here .

  The official IDP IELTS website has confirmed that   Canada study visa applicants under Student Direct Stream (SDS) will not have to secure an IELTS score of 6 bands   in every module anymore. Those  applicants now need an overall score of 6 in IELTS Academic  from 10 August 2023. To read the complete blog  click here .

  UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reportedly   dropped a key element of the asylum law   from the last year. The law initiated a two-tier refugee system, making the lives of tens of thousands of illegal migrants coming to the UK in small boats miserable. Now the Home Office stated that individuals who arrive illegally wouldn’t be treated differently. This includes people who entered the country by crossing the Channel and other asylum seekers. The Government claims to be doing this to  try and cut the asylum backlog . To read the complete blog  click here .

  The  Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA)  will streamline the recruitment process of overseas elderly care workers for Australia’s aged care industry. Needless to say, it could prove to be a pivotal solution for the country’s sector, which has been facing the issue of labor shortages for a very long time. What’s New For Aged Care Workers In Australia? The announcement of the agreement came on 5 May 2023 when Alex Hawke, the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs, publicly talked about expanding the Aged Care Industry Labor Agreement. To read the complete blog, click here .