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Saturday, October 16, 2010

Canada,s Work Permit

A foreign national who wishes to work in Canada generally requires a work permit . Work permits allow people to quickly begin working in Canada and can be a stepping stone toward Canadian Permanent Resident visas.
A work permit is generally required for a foreign national who intends to "work" in Canada. For Canadian immigration purposes, work is defined as an activity for which wages are paid or commission is earned, or that competes directly with activities of Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the Canadian labor market. Any activity that does not take an opportunity from a Canadian to be employed or gain work experience is not considered work eg: volunteer work or work done by phone/internet where the person is employed by a company outside Canada.
There are 2 roads to obtain a work permit:
·                                 1. Labor Market Opinion (LMO) based Work Permits
Some work permits require an LMO from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC). Upon reception of an application from the Canadian employer, HRSDC will evaluate the impact on the Canadian labor market using factors such as wages and working conditions and the availability of Canadians or permanent residents to do the work in question. A positive LMO will only be given to an applicant where the impact on Canada's labor market is likely to be neutral or positive. The positive LMO is required in order to receive the work permit.
·                                 2. LMO Exempt Work Permits
Some types of work permits may be issued without the need for a positive LMO. The criteria for these LMO exempt work permits are very specific and clearly defined. Exemptions fall into two main categories: those based on International Agreements, and those based on Canadian Interests.
A. International Agreements: example North America Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA)
NAFTA facilitates temporary entry for citizens of the United States and Mexico who are involved in business, the trade of goods or services, or in investment activities. NAFTA removes the need for an LMO for all business people covered by the agreement. Most work permits under this category can be obtained at a Port of Entry.

There are four categories of NAFTA work permits: (1) business visitors, (2) professionals; (3) intra-company transferees and (4) traders and investors.

In addition to NAFTA, there are other international agreements that facilitate the entry of foreign workers, to which Canada is a party.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

 Ireland Green Card Permit Scheme

A Green Card Permit is an employment permit issued to a person which allows the individual to work in Ireland with the specified employer in an occupation where skills shortages exist. It is issued for an initial period of two years, after which it can normally be renewed indefinitely. A job offer with a bona-fide company registered for trading in Ireland is required.
The permit allows an individual to apply for immediate family reunification and time spent under the permit can count towards permanent residency.
There is no need for a labour market assessment test prior to applying for the permit.
Either an employer or an employee can apply for the permit. The employee must possess the relevant qualifications, skills or experience for the desired employment.
Occupation Categories

There are two categories of occupations under which the Green Card Scheme can be applied for:
  • The annual salary is EUR 60,000 a year or more (excluding bonuses). In this case, the Green Card Permit is available for all occupations, other than those which are contrary to the public interest.
  • The annual salary is EUR 30,000 - EUR 59,999 (excluding bonuses). In this case, the Green Card Permit is only good for a restricted number  of strategically important occupations
To receive a Green Card Permit, an individual must have a job offer from a bona-fide company registered with the Companies Registration Office and the Revenue Commissioners. The company must be trading in Ireland. The offer must be on company-headed paper, dated within the previous sixty days, and the offer must be for a period of two or more years.
The offer must specify the following:
  • A full description of the proposed employment
  • Starting date of employment
  • Annual salary, not including bonuses
  • Information on required qualifications, skills or experience required for the employment
  •  
  •  Fee
  • First time application: EUR 1,000
  • Indefinite Renewal after two years: EUR 1,500

Monday, October 11, 2010

UK Immigration - Dependents may not qualify for indefinite leave to remain in future

There have been proposals that in future may result in adult dependents of skilled workers under say the Tier 1 visa and Tier 2 visa scheme not being able to apply for indefinite leave to remain. In most cases dependents over the age of eighteen can apply for indefinite leave to remain at the same time as their parents. In future children of Tier 1 visa and Tier2  visa holders may have to come under another visa category to be able to stay in the  UK  They may, for example, be able to remain as Tier 4 students or try and come under the Tier 1 visa or Tier 2  visa scheme themselves. As it has become more difficult to come under the Tier 1  and Tier 2 visa scheme many children of skilled workers will find it difficult if not impossible to remain in the UK. If the Tier 1 post study work scheme is also abolished in future this will make it even more difficult for dependents over eighteen years of old to remain in the UK.

It is not certain when the new requirements will come in. These proposals still have to be debated by Parliament. If you are concerned that your family may not meet the requirements for indefinite leave to remain in future you should seriously consider applying as soon as possible and hopefully avoid tougher immigration  requirements for permanent residence in future. It should also be noted that from July 2011 it is likely that you will no longer be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain. You will need to come under the more complicated "path to citizenship" scheme.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Apply for the United States Green Card Lottery now


Tens of thousands of people every year are granted a Green Card under the Diversity Visa Lottery. If you have always dreamed of living and working in the United States, it may be worth submitting your details for the 2012 Diversity Visa Lottery (otherwise known as the Green Card Lottery).

The submission period for the DV-2012 Green Card Lottery started on 5 October 2010 and lasts through 3 November 2012..If you are a citizen of a country with low levels of immigration into the United States. The government provides 50,000 Diversity Visas every year.A qualified US immigration lawyer will make sure that your application contains no mistakes, ensuring that your application will not be denied based on inaccurate information.

Tens of thousands of people every year are granted a Green Card under the Diversity Visa Lottery. If you have always dreamed of living and working in the United States, it may be worth submitting your details for the 2012 Diversity Visa Lottery (otherwise known as the Green Card Lottery).

If you are a citizen of a country with low levels of immigration into the United States, you may be eligible for entry in the Green Card Lottery. If selected you can then apply for permanent residence. The government provides 50,000 Diversity Visas every year.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced they will raise fees for most US immigration services. Only the naturalization fee will remain unaffected. The increase is an attempt to close the $200 million deficit for fiscal year 2010-11.

Most fees are expected to increase by an average of about 10 percent. In some cases, fees will actually drop and fee waivers will be expanded to a number of "new categories". The adjusted fees will go into effect on 23 November, 2010

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