Canada Immigration Favors Increasing Number of Overseas Trained Tradespersons

Available reports suggest that the recent changes, as proposed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) minister, to the immigration policy of the country, are suitably tailored to inspire more skilled tradespersons to the nation's shores. The goal behind the proposal is to manage the issue of the increasing labor scarcities currently being faced by certain sectors--including construction and natural resources--inside the nation.

Via the overhauled Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)--which would be made effective sometime later in 2012-the CIC will boast of a simplified program for qualified overseas workers under certain domains, such as construction, and service & manufacturing industries. In addition, via the said program, Ottawa would fast-track the applications of the candidates belonging to certain specific vocations.

The fresh program would be comparatively more flexible even as it will enable Kenney, the minister, to prioritize a particular domain. Priority occupations would be set out in ministerial instructions. Via the present immigration levels plan for 2012, and via the FSWP, the Maple Country intends to accept anywhere between 55,000 and 57,000 trained workers.

Meanwhile, a senior involved person reportedly said that till date, there has hardly been a swell in the numbers as suggested by the CIC.

At the present, the candidatures of all aspirants--under the skilled workers programme--are duly assessed against a table having 100 points. Factors considered include official language skills, work experience, education and age of the candidates, together with job offer in the country, besides their adaptability.

And despite the fact that 10 out of the 24 professions mentioned on the skilled workers' list for immigration are from several trades, till now trained tradespeople constitute just a minuscule 3% of the total number of immigrants under the program. As one can see, the program is heavily tilted in the favor of managers though trained workers are ignored resulting in big backlogs for them (the trained workers).

In the meanwhile, yet another concerned person was quoted as saying that the proposed changes in the immigration program will ensure that the government is at a liberty to choose the skillsets which may be needed in the background of the specific prevailing economic trends at the time.

He added that as global work experience and training find due recognition from the involved officials, assessing the candidatures of the trained migrants will also become much easier. Apart from this, Ottawa will also have the right to fast-track the applications of those candidates whose skills could be needed across the nation.

He continued that the changes as proposed will offer the trained workers the golden opportunity to be duly assessed on the basis of their work experiences and practical training, in place of their university degrees. However, the prevailing requirement of minimum knowledge of French or English language will continue to be in place.

Over-qualification Issue

The Indian Canadian Diaspora have been perturbed over the issue of fresh immigrants getting sucked into doing jobs for which they may be pretty over qualified or remaining unemployed for extended durations, post landing in the country. In this backdrop, the proposed changes are being viewed as a way to positively address such matters.

A recent research in this context comes to the conclusion that the fresh migrants who end-up doing jobs, for which they may be rather over qualified, are exposed to risks involving their mental conditions--that too inside a relatively short duration of time. According to the said research, such highly qualified overseas people registered deterioration of their mental health over a period of four years--the reason of which could be their unhappiness with their particular job situations.

Another concerned person was quoted as saying that the CIC picks-up over skilled, healthy overseas workers to be admitted into this nation even as-- minus right recognition, and use of their overseas educational qualifications, not to mention work experiences-it's highly improbable that such migrants will really manage to realize their true potentials in the Maple Country.

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All About the Investor Visa

The investor visa is oftentimes referred to as an "E Investor Visa" and enables a foreign individual to conduct their business here in the US, provided the US has a commercial treaty with the person's country of origin and/or residence. Obviously, this must be conferred by the US. Although there is no limit as to how often an investor visa can be renewed, it must be reviewed on a regular basis (usually every few years).

What is required to obtain the visa?

In order to obtain either type of this visa, you must be willing to contribute or invest a certain amount of money into the US economy. The dollar amount involved is based on the type of investor visa you are attempting to obtain as well as the type of business you are trying to establish in the US. The spouse of the applicant and any child under the age of 21 years who is not married may receive a derivative visa, regardless of their nationality, so that they can accompany the principal individual.

E2 investor visa

The E2 investor visa enables an individual from a foreign country enter the US and work here based on some type of investment that they will control while they are inside the country. The E2 must be renewed once every other year but there is no limit as to the number of times it can be renewed. The individual must contribute to the economy of the US and be fairly substantial (it should normally exceed $50,000) whether they are investing in an existing or new business.

Establishing a small shop here in the US does not fulfill the monetary requirement. Additionally, an investor visa is only available to an individual provided their home country has a commercial treaty with the US. The amount of investment funds above is an estimated amount and the applicant should discuss this with an immigration attorney in order to get a better idea of what is required before they make any offers on a business. Additionally, the money invested should only be spent on the operation of that business.

EB5 investor visa

The EB5 investor visa was created in 1990 with the passage of the Immigration Act of that year. It will be ending in September, 2012 but up until then, an immigrant can apply for a green card in order to invest in the US economy. The monetary requirements of the EB5 are considerably larger than those of the E2. These requirements include:

o Creating or preserving at least 10 American worker's jobs (exclusive of the investor and their immediate family members). o Making a $1 million investment. o Making an investment of $500,000 in an underdeveloped rural area or areas where unemployment figures are extremely high and known as Targeted Unemployment Areas or TEA's.

This investment can be made to a group or 3rd party that manages investment vehicles or other types of investments or it can be made directly to an existing or new business that generates jobs.

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Changes to Australian Skilled Migration and Skilled Visas

In recent months the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Australia have announced numerous changes to the processing and application systems for skilled migration to Australia.

We attended a news conference in London recently to find out more about the changes and how they would affect the skilled migration program. The new program, called SkillSelect will be rolled out on the 1st of July 2012.

Currently there are six skilled migrant visa subclasses which were announced as part of the skilled migration reforms on 8 February 2010 - see below:

1. Visa Applications in Australia

subclass 885 (skilled independent) subclass 886 (skilled nominated/sponsored) subclass 487 (skilled regional sponsored)

2. Visa Applications outside Australia

subclass 175 (skilled independent) subclass 176 (skilled nominated/sponsored) subclass 475 (skilled regional sponsored)

In an effort by the Australian government to keep the skilled migration program as responsive as possible, these six visa subclasses will be merged into three, starting from the 1st July 2012. What this means is that the applicant will apply for the same visa subclass regardless of whether they are onshore or offshore at the time of application. The new skilled visa subclasses are listed below:

subclass 189 (skilled independent) (will replace subclasses 885 and 175) subclass 190 (skilled nominated) (will replace subclasses 886 and 176) subclass 489 (skilled regional) (will replace subclasses 487 and 475)

SkillSelect has been specifically designed to encourage state sponsorship and employer sponsorship in order to help resolve the current skills shortages, mainly in Regional Australia.

There has been a major change in the way that applicants will apply for the skilled independent, skilled sponsored and skilled regional sponsored visas. In order to be successfully accepted, the applicant must first complete an expression of interest (EOI). Submitting and expression of interest in order to apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme, Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme and Temporary Business visas is optional, however it is still highly recommended.

As soon as the EOI has been successfully submitted, the visa applicant will be listed on a central database where they may be considered for a skilled visa. This system will enable employers or state and territory governments to find potential applicants for sponsorship, or they could be invited by the Government to lodge a visa application.

Please note: The information provided by the applicant in the expression of interest will be thoroughly reviewed and the Department have stressed that any false or misleading information will need to be verified. If the applicant is invited to apply for a visa based on misleading information, this could lead to a visa refusal and a potential ban from the system.

Furthermore, in the budget for the period 2012 - 2013 the number of skilled visa places has been increased by 3,400 to a total of 129,250. This is another indication that the Australian government are working hard towards finding a solution for the current skills shortages.

We view this as extremely positive news for skilled migrants as we expect that most visa applications will be processed quicker than under the current system.

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Immigration For Medical Professionals: The H-1B Professional Worker Visa

The most common program by which foreign nationals enter the U.S. to work as physicians is the professional workers visa, or H-1B visa. To obtain an H-1B visa, the foreign born physician must be sponsored by an employer. This visa is good for up to six years. An important requirement is that the employer must have the ability to hire, fire, or otherwise control the physician's work. Self-employed physicians can qualify for the H-1B visa, if the physician's practice has a board of directors that can control the employment terms of the physician. Moreover, if a physician's work location is not owned or controlled by the employer, e.g. a hospitalist working at a hospital but employed by a private practice, the petitioning H-1B employer must provide additional evidence that it is the actual employer.

In order to qualify for an H-1B visa to practice patient care medicine, the foreign born physician must pass all parts of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) or FLEX, and the English language proficiency test given by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). In addition, the physician must be licensed to practice medicine in their intended state of employment. Usually, except for physicians who trained in Canada, this means that the physician must have completed a medical residency in the U.S. However, this does not apply in the case the physician obtains an H-1B visa to complete a U.S. medical residency program.

Not all foreign born physicians are subject to the test requirements. These requirements only apply to foreign medical graduates (FMGs). For purposes of the H-1B visa, the following foreign born physicians are not considered FMGs:

Physicians of national or international renown; Graduates of U.S. medical schools; Physicians not practicing patient care (e.g., medical researchers).

It is important to take note of the costs and fees associated with the H1-B visa. In general, legal fees for H-1B visas start from $1,000 to $2,000, depending upon the expertise, experience, and location of the attorney. Generally, the government application fees depend upon the size and type of employer. Currently, an employer with more than 25 employees will likely pay $2,325 of which $2,000 cannot be reimbursed by the physician. An employer with 25 or fewer employees will likely pay $1,575 of which $1,250 cannot be reimbursed by the physician. Application fees for petitions filed by post-secondary schools and non-profit organizations affiliated with post-secondary schools are lower, currently at $825. Also, for payment of an additional "premium processing" fee of $1,225, the government guarantees processing of the H-1B petition within 15 days of application acceptance.

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New Laws Threaten Those With New Mexico Driver's Licenses

In 2005, the Real ID Act was passed to ensure that the documents used to acquire a state driver's licenses were authentic. At least 17 states did not comply with the Real ID Act, and some states even passed legislation to fight the Act. For example, New Mexico grants driver's licenses to those who use a utility or another form of identification, such as the Matricula Consular card that is issued to Mexican nationals.

Nearly ten years after the passage of the Act, the federal government is putting into place new federal provisions of the Real ID Act that will significantly change this. As of January 15, the federal government will start requiring proof of citizenship in order to obtain a driver's license. The federal government may not recognize other state IDs unless they are supported by these documents, and this may become an extreme inconvenience for residents of Arizona.

As a result of the state's lenience in issuing driver's licenses to non-citizens, New Mexico continues to rank at the top as one of the states with the most uninsured drivers. Before the law went into effect in 2000, the number of uninsured drivers in the state was 26.3 percent. Today, this number has jumped to 29.5 percent.

If these laws are finally enforced by the federal government, residents of New Mexico may no longer be able to use their driver's license to get on an airplane, work at a lab, or enter any other federal building or complex. The governor of New Mexico, Susana Martinez, has been vocal about her concerns with these new federal requirements and has sent a letter of inquiry to the Department of Homeland Security's Director. According to a DHS spokesperson, the act will be strictly enforced and the DHS is maintaining the January 15, 2013 deadline. States that comply with the criteria will have an extended deadline, but New Mexico has not filed the required information for this extended deadline.

With an estimated 49,000 undocumented immigrants living in New Mexico, the governor has also been concerned with the acts of fraud that are committed by those trying to obtain driver's licenses. For instance, 30 people were indicted in an alleged illegal driver's license ring in June of 2012 for using fraudulent utility bills to get driver's licenses. The governor speculates that the occurrence of fraud will only increase if these new federal requirements are put into place.

One thing is for sure, starting in December 2014 those who are under the age of 50 cannot enter a federal building or board a commercial airline unless their license complies with the new Real ID requirements.

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What Is A Child Student Visa To UK?

Child student visa, otherwise known as Tier 4 (Child) Visa, permits children between the ages of four (4) and seventeen (17) years old to come to and study in UK for a certain period of time.

How to Qualify for a Visa

Prior to applying for a child student visa category, one must ascertain that he or she can meet the following qualifications:

1. That he or she is between four and seventeen years old.

2. That he or she will study at an independent fee-paying school in UK, and such education provider is duly licensed and appears in the register of Tier 4 sponsors in UK.

3. That he or she has been enrolled in any of the independent fee-paying school in UK.

4. That he or she can afford the expenses of being a child student in UK for the whole duration of the study.

How to Apply for the Visa

First, prepare all the documents necessary in applying for the visa. These documents are the following:

1. Application Form

2. Passport

3. Passport-sized photos

4. Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and other supporting documents

5. Evidence of sufficient financial resources

After, file the application form together with the supporting documents. Application procedure may be personal or through email depending on the country where the applicant is making an application. A processing or visa fee should be paid first before the application is deemed duly filed.

How to Determine Sufficiency of Financial Resources

Your financial resources is deemed sufficient if it will be enough to cover the student's expenses until the end of his or her course which includes the course fees, living expenses, accommodation, study materials like books and other school materials.

If a child student is financially sponsored, either full or partial, by his or her government, the UK government, any international organization, university or school, you need to produce evidence of this fact in meeting the financial requirement for this visa.

How Long can a Child Student Stay in UK

If a child student is under 16 years old, he or she can stay for a period enough to finish his or her course, a period he or she asks for or 6 years, whichever is shorter, plus 4 months after the end of his or her course.

On the other hand, if the child student is 16 or 17 years old, he or she can be a given a period enough to finish his or her course, a period he or she asks for or 3 years whichever is shorter, and an additional 4 months after the end of his or her course.

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Immigration Lawyers Can Help You Settle Down

Immigration is a very big topic in the United States. Depending on where you live and work, it can be a very heated debate for everyone involved. There are some people who believe that there are too many illegal immigrants in the country and that they should leave. There are others who feel like they should be assimilated into society since they have generations of relatives in the country. It is believed that many immigrants are invaluable because they are hard workers who have contributed to the economic growth of the country. There is even a small faction that believes that immigrants should be arrested, since they are illegal. There are a lot of different viewpoints that tend to change on a daily basis.

Most of these opinions are just from the people who are on the outside looking in. They do not reflect the thoughts and feelings of the actually people who are affected, which are the illegal immigrants. Unfortunately, even people who are here legally are affected by everything that is going on with immigration laws. While some states are working overtime to make life miserable for immigrants, others a looking the other way because immigrants perform a lot of useful jobs within these states.

For the most part, most people know that illegal immigrants will not be arrested for being in the country. So, it might be worth their while to research what can be done to make them permanent citizens. An immigration lawyer can help to get this done. Business lawyers and commercial lawyers cannot help in a situation like this. The person trying to gain citizenship should seek the services of someone who is knowledgeable about immigration law. If there are any little details that are added or taken away from law, an immigration lawyer will know how to handle this. He will know exactly what paperwork to fill out and when to get your paperwork filed on time. As a professional, he can tell you any other little particulars that you need to know to get your citizenship. Most importantly, he can tell you what rights are available to you now and later.

No one has to hire a lawyer to become a citizen. But it will most definitely make the process run much smoother if you know what you rights are and what steps you need to take in order to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. They can help you to deal with various governmental agencies in order to get your green card or immigration visa. If there is anything that you do not understand about the immigration process, your lawyer will be there to answer all of your questions.

Basically, you will have a reliable source to go to who will know exactly what needs to be done. No more relying on others for information that might not be clear or complete. What may have worked for others last year, might not work now. This is because immigration laws are always changing. An immigration lawyer will help you to understand the current immigration laws so that there are no kinks with your immigration status.

All in all, wading through the immigration process can be quite difficult if you are not certain about your rights and responsibilities. Get a lawyer and make this process smoother all around.

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How Immigration Solicitors Can Support You

Relocating to the UK or abroad is a huge task and can be potentially life changing, although this is quite an arduous and stressful process it is sure to be worth it to get you where you want to be, with the end result being truly wonderful. With immigration law being really quite complicated, having an immigration solicitor on your side will put you at a great advantage and will enlighten you on the intricacy of the task at hand. So whether you are looking to employ staff with specialist skills from overseas or a professional with goals of furthering your education or career and wish to study of work abroad, obtaining the correct legal advice and documentation to enable you to do this will save you a great deal of unnecessary trouble along the way.   Immigration solicitors are there to help you, with their special knowledge of the ins and outs of immigration law they are able to assist you with a whole range of issues related to the subject. This includes visa applications, looking into legal requirements and eligibility, and expert advice on getting hold of the correct supporting documentation in order to make the entire process as simple as possible. Such solicitors are highly trained in the field of immigration and work in the most professional manner in order to provide you with the most efficient and effective services possible. By turning to them for assistance with your application you are promised with the most up-to-date knowledge of immigration procedures and changes to the law which may affect your particular case.   An immigration solicitor will work closely with you and assess your individual objectives, in order to provide an honest and unbiased view of your case with the understanding that every individual will have different requirements. They will take the time with you to make sure you completely understand the law by explaining it to you in a way in which is easy to understand in a clear and concise manner; this will ensure that you are aware of each and every step within the immigration process. As immigration law can be extremely daunting for someone who has never come across it before and possesses little knowledge on the matter, which is why so many people going through the transition of immigration whatever their case turn to immigration solicitors. This way they are able to put their mind at ease in the knowledge that all the paperwork as been filled out properly and they have done everything within their power to full effect for a positive end result that could change their life.   With countries such as England and Australia having recently undergone major overhauls in the way of their migration systems, it can have a great effect on both long term immigrants and those holding short term visas. Due to this some individuals are even residing in countries illegally while being completely unaware of the complexity of the program, by seeking the professional services of an immigration solicitor they will keep you up to date with any changes which may affect your individual case during the process of applying for residency and during the time of residency within that country.   These professional services can be found easily online, with many reputable immigration solicitors providing their services through their websites you are able to obtain their expertise with great efficiency and maximum convenience. At the Immigration Advice Service they are known for their honest advice and thorough assessment of each and every one of their clients individual case to supply you with current news and advice in which to support and ensure your application is as hassle free as possible.

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Important Information Regarding The 457 Visa

Skilled overseas workers can be sponsored to temporarily work in Australia by overseas or Australian employers through the 457 visa program. This visa subclass full title is Temporary Business (Subclass 457) Standard Business Sponsorship.

Those with this kind of visa can be employed in Australia between 1 day and 4 years. It also allows them to bring in eligible members of their family which include same sex partners. These people are also given unrestricted study and work rights inside Australia. Holders can come and go as they please because there is no limitation on how many times they can travel in and out of this country.

The Australian government must approve all the eligible employers. When an employee decides to move to another sponsor he or she will have to acquire a new sponsorship and visa. An employee needs to have English skills and minimum qualification levels as well as health and character requirements.

It is possible for an employee to be nominated to fill a certain position by an employer. However, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship must determine if the visa grant criteria have all been met. Holders are also allowed to convert to permanent residency status. They can apply to become permanent residents with a view to settling permanently in Australia as citizens of the country.

The number of permanent residence visas granted has increased recently for people who last held the subclass 457 visas. But in the Australian parliament there have been concerns about some overseas agents who are marketing false permanent Australia residency. Restrictions of these visas include conditions that confine the holders to a nominated occupation and the unemployment period should not exceed 28 days.

Holders are eligible for bank loans and there is no limitation placed on how many times they can travel outside the country. Banks are okay with this because most 457 holders are in the country on long term employment and there are high chances of them becoming permanent residents. The government of Australia has reviewed these visas and made provisions that will speed up the permanent residency transition as from 1st July 2012.

This means from this date onwards non resident workers who hold the 457 visa will have the ability to acquire permanent residency after having worked 2 years with an employer that sponsored them. The employer will also have to provide a full time position in the holders nominated occupation. Because these visas are highly responsive to labor market needs, the government has also recognized that they deserve review priority.

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Options Galore for Technology Professionals Keen in Canada Immigration

It is an open secret that Canada, the Maple country, leads the world in the field of science & technology. Even though the nation produces industry heads across several technology domains, one thing is required to make certain that the industry remains in the pink of its health is a flood of qualified technology experts or professionals to the nation.

Actually, with a view to filling job vacancies in the near future, trained migrants, together with temporary employees, will be required throughout Canada-that too on a large scale. The good news is that for both the country and for the overseas workers, who could be interested in Canada immigration, the nation has come-up with many attractive programs and visa-options.

Canada Technology Domain

A recent study, done by a concerned organization, reveals that certain industries involving technology such as--Information & Communications Technology, Environmental Technologies--by and large have continued to be robust across the nation.

The said organization also highlighted the geographical areas which are undergoing a gush of production related to science & technology even as the most fruitful provinces in the said domain happen to be Quebec, British Columbia (BC), Ontario, etc.

Choices Involving Technology Experts

People having professional experience and expertise in the field of technology have many choices to arrive on the shores of the Maple Country even as these options will vary on the basis of the individual's specific domain of doings, personal profile, and immigration targets.

Here below is given some examples of programs which tech professionals have, time and again, made use of:

Choices Involving Permanent Residency (PR) Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP): Candidates having experience in a targeted domain of study/area of training could be qualified to duly file a petition. Many of these targeted domains come into the territory of technology.

Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC): Another option is through this class. Reportedly, fresh rules would come into force on January 1, 2013. Candidates having work experience in any trained vocation--for the object of immigration to Canada -- could be qualified to duly file a petition even as the same covers most of the professionals from engineering, computer, and other technical fields.

Choices Involving Temporary Work Permit

Quebec Facilitated Labor Market Opinion (LMO) Procedure: The program covers candidates from a variety of domains, such as engineering and information technology (IT). The recruiters/firms from the Quebec province will be in a position to get an LMO--an important step in recruiting an overseas worker, minus having to cater to requirements involving standard local employment.

Temporary Work Permit: All qualified workers with an LMO-based offer of job from a recruiter/firm of Canada could be qualified to duly file an application for this permit.

In spite of the path followed, people having skills in a domain such as the tech sector may remain certain that they will gain admission into a robust marketplace even as it (the marketplace) seriously requires their exclusive professional expertise.

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Best Time to Apply for a UK Visitor Visa

When to apply

It is recommended to apply for a visa at least three (3) months prior to the date of your travel to the UK. According to UK Embassy's service standards of processing a visa, all non-settlement visas are being processed one hundred (100%) percent within twelve (12) weeks, ninety-eight (98%) within six (6) weeks and ninety (90%) within three (3) weeks. Therefore, a visitor visa to UK will surely be processed within 12 weeks or 3 months reckoned from the time the application is filed together with the supporting documents and the application fee.

Processing delays may happen sometimes depending on the peculiarity of your case. The Embassy may need longer time to assess and process your application especially when the application is lacking a material document or requirement or the embassy felt the need to interview the applicant. This will cause the embassy longer processing time. But the UK Embassy provides some explanation and information for that.

Fast- tracking of Visa Application

Many have a mistaken belief that speeding up the processing of a UK visa application is possible. It is not at all true. Upon submitting the visa application and the pertinent documents to the UK Embassy, the Visa Officer will process the same following their standard procedure and without any intervention from any individual or any office, firm or group whatsoever. Visa processing may take shorter or longer time on a case by case basis and depending on the volume of UK visa applications. As soon as it is in the hands of the Visa Officer, applicants may only monitor or track the visa processing and nothing else can be done. Fast-tracking of visa application cannot be promised to any applicant.

The least that an applicant can do to hasten the visa processing is to research, plan and organize everything before filing the application. If still uncertain and caught off-guard, the knowledge and services of immigration adviser or visa organizer may give you rescue. The works and services of UK visa and UK Immigration consultants are aimed at strengthening and speeding up the process. They may not influence the Visa Officer's work in processing the application and arriving at a decision but they can organize, prepare and craft your application in a complete and detailed manner, free from loopholes in such a way that Visa Officer may be persuaded to issue you a visa at his first examination.

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8 Reasons to Migrate to Australia

Since the European settlement in 1788, individuals and families from nearly 200 nations have immigrated to Australia. The number of people who call Australia home each year by means of accepting permanent residency or becoming an Australian Citizen keeps rising. There are core values and principles that are promoted in this country which make it a great place to live in.

1. All Australians have access to basic freedoms. As long as these are within the bounds of the law, this includes holding and attending meetings, joining organizations and groups, speaking openly, moving across the Country with no restrictions and worshiping their religion of choice.

2. All persons are equal under the Commonwealth law. People are expected to treat each other with respect and dignity and are not to discriminate on the basis of disability, race, sex and age. Australian law and its society reject the use of intimidation, violence and humiliation as ways of dealing with conflict.

3. Australians have the right to freedom of speech within the boundaries of the law. They are allowed to write or say what they think about politicians, the governments - local, state and federal. These same rights are extended to media that includes print, radio, television and internet media outlets.

4. The Government allows all people to worship the religion of their choice as Australian government does not have an official religion. Australian government is secular and treats all people equally regardless of their religion beliefs. Separation of state and church is evident as religious laws have no legal standing in Australia.

5. Australians are free to gather up in groups and to protest against any organization or government in an orderly and legal fashion. This freedom to associate means that people are free to join any lawful organization such as trade unions or political parties.

6. Australian political system is a parliamentary democracy which entails the citizens to vote and elect the government of their choice who in turn make the laws or delegate law creation. As much as all Australians are protected by law, they also have to obey established laws. This includes everyone - people in power as well as the police. This makes all Australians equal under the law.

7. Equal rights of men and women are guaranteed. There is to be no gender discrimination at work, in the military, government or any other facet of Australian society between men and women.

8. Australia is proudly a peaceful society and we believe that any conflict should be dealt with via discussion as part of the democratic process. Violence is rejected as the way of changing people's mind - use of peaceful persuasion is encouraged.

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Details About Obtaining the EB5 Visa

The Immigration Act of 1990 created a particular type of US visa known as the EB5 visa that applied exclusively to immigrant investors. Although this visa is scheduled to end in September of 2012, it is a method used for obtaining a "green card" for those foreign individuals who want invest funds in the US. Therefore, the EB5 is oftentimes referred to as an investment visa.

What is required to obtain an EB5 visa?

There are certain criteria or requirements that an immigrant investor must meet in order to obtain an EB5 visa. The person must be:

o creating or preserving jobs for at least 10 American workers (not including the investor or the immediate family of the investor) o investing $1 million overall o investing $500,000 in areas where unemployment is extremely high or an underdeveloped rural area (referred to as TEA or Targeted Unemployment Area)

The investment can be made in one of two forms. First, it can be made directly to a commercial enterprise that generates employment/jobs whether they are existing or new. Secondly, it can be made to a 3rd party managed investment group or vehicle for private or public means (i.e. a regional center). This 3rd party assumes the responsibility of creating the jobs that the funds are paying for.

Obtaining an EB5 visa

The EB5 visa (or investment visa) targets those immigrants who have an extremely high annual income or their net worth exceeds $1 million. In so many words, you and your family can become US residents by investing $500,000 or more in a business and creating a minimum of 10 jobs in the process (see all criteria above). Many immigrants today choose this type of visa when they are extremely affluent as it is the easiest way to obtain one.

The following are the steps that an individual needs to take in order to obtain an EB5 visa:

o On your computer, download the "Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur" (form I-526) and then completely fill it out. Be prepared by having the qualifying information necessary about your business and company.

o Take the I-526 form, the filing fee, and any supportive documents that apply to your business and submit these to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services department.

o Once the I-526 has been approved, you will need to fill out the "Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status" (form I-485) and submit that.

o Fill out the "Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions" (form I-829) and submit this within 90 days prior to the expiration of your 2-year period of residency in order to change your personal status to "resident without conditions."

The US Government anticipated that the use of the EB5 visa would exceed all expectations. However, it turned out to be far less than what the government expected. This lack of participation resulted from how onerous the application process was, adjudication periods that were far too lengthy, and the suspension of 900 pending applications for an EB5 visa.

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How to Become One of the Best Immigration Lawyers?

The demand for the best immigration lawyers is always high in the highly developed countries since they almost always have a huge inflow of immigrants. But even then the job market tends to be tough in the field of immigration lawyers since the market is getting concentrated. However you can still enter into this field and make a name for yourself. But you will have to work hard and tough for it. Becoming one of the best immigration lawyers is quite a high aim and achieving that will not be easy.

Obviously to be one of the best lawyers you will also need to have a have a really strong educational background. Entering into the industry always demands a good degree to support your personality. The aim of becoming one of the best immigration lawyers should be made early in life because for that you will have to enter into a law school. Depending upon your financial and other circumstances you might not be able to enter into the most prestigious law school of your country. But you try to enter into the best you can. Graduating from a law school is the first step to achieving the goal of being one of the best lawyers.

A lot of law schools offer at least one elective in immigration law. However if you are wanting to specialize in immigration law then it is best to graduate from a law school that allows you to not study just one course of immigration law but to specialize in it. Specializing means that you will be studying various courses related to immigration law and hence being one of the best immigration lawyers you will have complete knowledge of all aspects of this field of law. The best law schools of your country will most definitely offer specialization in this specific field of law. However you can also find other low-key schools as well that will allow you to gain knowledge if immigration law through specialization. Being one of the best immigration lawyers does not demand only a degree from a renowned law school, all other aspects of your personality also make an impact. You must have the skills and insights of a lawyer along with a degree.

During your study tenure it is very important for you to secure an internship in a good law firm. Having experience of an internship really matters if you want to be one of the best immigration lawyers. A lot of ambitious law school students try to get into law firm or any other nonprofit organization which specializes in handling cases of immigration. Having real life experience is essential to shape you into one of the best immigration lawyers. The size of the firm you choose does not matter a lot. Instead you should concentrate on securing internship in a firm where you would want to work as a lawyer after you have graduated. For internship you can search through governmental jobs because a lot of immigration lawyers work for the government.

Your focus should be on securing such an internship which reflects your aim of specifically being one of the best immigration lawyers. Start searching for internships as soon as possible instead waiting for the time to come. It is really important for you to make a good impression in your internship. Making your boss happy is the key to entering into this industry. During your internship tenure make sure you come out as an ambitious and hard-working individual waiting for the chance to soar high and become one of the best immigration lawyers.

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General Information on Shengen Tourist Visa

Many of the countries in Europe are the most visited places in the world for its promising views and echoing attractions for travelers, tourists and adventurers alike. With such awareness, some 22 countries in Europe have concluded and signed a treaty where the member countries are not bound to implement internal controls for travelers coming from member countries, and nationals of recognized countries can enter the Schengen region with just a passport. Nationals of non-recognized countries are required of an entry visa, which may be used in entering the border of any of the Schengen countries.

Why is it called Schengen Tourist Visa?

Schengen tourist visa derives its name the Schengen agreement. Schengen in French means "acquis" which denotes that which has been agreed upon.

All travelers to any of the Schengen countries are given a standard tourist visa for Europe. This visa allows tourists to travel freely within the Schengen countries without getting a separate visa for each Schengen country of destination.

Who needs a Schengen Visa?

Schengen visa is required for those nationalities of countries which have not been recognized by the Schengen region to enter their place freely without the possession of a visa. In other words, a visa is necessary for them to enter the ports of the Schengen region.

How long is the validity of the visa?

Schengen tourist visa may be valid for up to 5 years but gives the holder the chance to stay in any of the Schengen countries for 90 days in any 6-month period. This visa may be issued for a single entry, double entry or multiple entries depending on the circumstance of the applicant which must be substantiated by authentic documents.

Where to apply for a Schengen Visa?

Application for Schengen tourist visa must be filed at the embassy of the Schengen country of destination. If hopping from one Schengen country to another is desired, you must apply at the embassy of the country where most of your time will be spent or where you will make your first entry.

Requirements for a Schengen Tourist Visa?

The standard requirements for a Schengen tourist visa are:

1. Application form

2. Passport

3. Photographs

4. Proof of financial sources

5. Proof of health and medical insurance

6. Visa Processing Fee

Some additional documents may be required depending on the Consular Officer of the embassy for which you have lodged your visa application.

Immigration Law - What to Expect at Your USCIS Interview (Adjustment of Status/Green Card Cases)   Life-Saving Medical Treatment for Ailing Undocumented Aliens Is Available   Prohibited Activities on a Visitor's Visa   55,000 Immigrant Visas for Foreign STEM Graduates   How to Select a Good Immigration Attorney?