Immigration Tales

 Every Canadian province needs dentists to fill Canadian jobs and is hoping Canadian immigration will help tackle a growing labor shortage for these medical professionals. Job Bank, Canada’s job-hunting and career-planning website, ranks the anticipated job prospects for dentists across the country as “good” to “very good”, its highest ranking, over the coming eight years. “For dentists, over the period 2022 – 2031, new job openings arising from expansion demand and replacement demand are expected to total 13,500, while 10,500 new job seekers arising from school leavers, immigration, and mobility are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank. That’s an anticipated 3,000 jobs for dentists that will be going begging for a want of qualified candidates to fill those positions. "In recent years, the occupational group of dentists has experienced a relatively balanced job market. However, projections indicate that the number of job openings will significantly surpas...

As originally announced by the immigration minister in January, the Home Office has today published a highly consequential new statement of changes to the Immigration Rules. It increases the minimum earnings threshold for those arriving on the Skilled Worker visa route by 48% from £26,200 to £38,700. The financial (minimum income) requirement for family or partner/spouse visas is increased from £18,600 to £29,000. You can download the lengthy 292-page statement of changes here (HC 590). The helpful 17-page accompanying explanatory memorandum is here. The changes for skilled worker visas come into force from 4 April, while the family visa changes take effect from 11 April. They are part of the Government's five-point plan to reduce family, study and work-related immigration announced in December. For those unable to meet the new £29K threshold for a family/partner visa, the explanatory memorandum highlights: "Existing exceptional circumstances and the need to safeguard and prom...

Aproposed student visa price hike in Australia aims to curb a perceived strain foreign matriculators are putting on markets, but critics say limiting international students will cause worse problems. The Grattan Institute, an Australian public policy think tank, suggested late last month a hike in student visa application charges, raising the fee from AU$750 to AU$2,500 (US$497-1,656), which applicants must pay regardless of whether or not they secure a visa. According to the institute, since the pandemic, Australia's international student numbers have soared to over 650,000, doubling the figures from 2012 and tripling the ratio of foreign students to locals in Canada and the U.K. The surge has spiked demand for housing, pushing rent up by about 1% for every 100,000 newcomers due to the scarce supply. While higher rents paid by these students boost national income, as Australians own most of the rented properties, it also widens the wealth gap. Wealthier, older homeowners benefit, ...

Obtaining a green card in the United States without the support of an employer can be tough, but it's possible. Although most green card categories tied to employment demand a job offer and support from an employer, there are other ways for people to seek permanent residency on their own. In this article, we'll delve into some of these options, discussing who qualifies, the obstacles they might face, and the advantages they can expect. EB-1A Visa EB-1A, known as the Extraordinary Ability category , is designed for individuals who excel in their fields, spanning sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. To meet EB-1A requirements, applicants must showcase exceptional ability acknowledged nationally or internationally. This recognition should reflect sustained acclaim in their area of expertise. Applicants for EB-1A must substantiate their extraordinary abilities with comprehensive documentation, demonstrating the impact and recognition of their achievements wi...

New rules to radically cut net migration and tackle visa abuse are now in force as part of the government’s plan to bring down unsustainable levels of legal migration.  Care workers will now be restricted from bringing dependants, after a disproportionate 120,000 dependants accompanied 100,000 workers on the route last year.   Care providers in England acting as sponsors for migrants will also be required to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the industry regulator for Health and Social Care – in order to crack down on worker exploitation and abuse within the sector.  It forms part of a wider package of measures, which is being implemented as soon as possible, which means a total of 300,000 people who were eligible to come to the UK last year would now not be able to do so. Home Secretary, James Cleverly MP, said:  Care workers make an incredible contribution to our society, taking care of our loved ones in times of need. But we cannot justify ina...

In a press conference earlier today, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced two separate new immigration pilots – one for rural communities and another for francophone minority communities across Canada – while adding that the existing Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) will transition into a permanent program. In a press conference today, Immigration Minister Marc Miller, emphasized the value of rural and francophone minority communities across Canada. He noted that "regional immigration plays a key role in strengthening their economies, [especially with respect to] connecting businesses and employers in remote communities with the skilled newcomers they need to thrive." Accordingly, IRCC explains the decision to introduce these new pilot programs will "help attract and retain skilled foreign workers in rural and Francophone minority communities, contributing to their economic and linguistic vitality." Both of IRCC's new immigrat...

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot is set to launch in the fall of 2024, aiming to ensure that rural areas can access programs addressing labor shortages. Its goal is to assist local businesses in finding the workers they need, offering pathways to permanent residence for newcomers willing to contribute to overcoming crucial job shortages and commit to long-term residency in smaller communities. Inspired by the success of the RNIP and aligned with the Francophone Immigration Policy, the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot will also debut in the fall of 2024. This pilot focuses on increasing the number of French-speaking newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec. Its mission is to support the economic development of these communities and bolster their demographic presence. IRCC's Spring Community Application Process In the upcoming spring, IRCC will initiate the community application process to select participants for these pilots, with mo...