Both migration and immigration visas for Australia are awarded based on a points system. The minimum qualifying score is 100, for Skilled-Sponsored (Migrant) and Skilled-Sponsored (Residence) and 120 for Skilled-Independent (Migrant) and Skilled-Independent (Residence) visas.
Major factors that determine immigration points are an ability to speak the English language, professional-level communication skills, work experience, age, educational attainment, market demand for the target position, sponsorship by relatives who are citizens of Australia and immigration points of spouse.
A maximum of 60 points is awarded to skilled workers with extensive work experience in a specialised field. Points systems for other work-related criteria are as follows:
50 points for general professional occupation.
10 points for work experience relevant to the nominated occupation (must fall; under the last four years from the date of visa application).
20 points for occupations, which are hard to fill due to scarcity of qualified workers in Australia
15 points for anyone who has 3 to 4 years work experience in areas that are closely relevant to any of the most sought professions in Australia
As far as educational attainment is concerned, the maximum score that can be given to graduates of a two-year doctorate degree and master’s degree is 25 and 15 points, respectively.
If your spouse meets the passing score for GSM visa, five points can be added to your own score. You can earn a further 10 points with a nomination from state or territory government and 25 points with sponsorship by Australian relatives living in certain regions.
The maximum number of points that can be given based on English language proficiency is 25, for IELTS score of 7 x 4 or higher. For professional-level communication skills, the maximum score is 5.
The Canadian immigration department uses a ‘per category’ scoring system when processing applications from people who want to move to the country.
Skilled workers and professionals are provided with various options when planning to immigrate to Canada and foreign nationals can apply for permanent or temporary visas. All categories have corresponding points, which determine whether the individual applicant achieves the required score, based on a set of criteria.
Online visa assessments are available on a number of websites, so it is quite a simple matter to check if you are likely to have your application accepted. Around 250,000 Canadian visas are offered to experienced workers, most of whom are also offered permanent residency.
The Skilled Worker Class category includes permanent residency and this can be applied for personally or through the provincial nominee programme.
Investors are usually given Canada business class visa options and this can be issued to either a self-employed person or the owner of a corporation.
Sponsorship is also allowed and this takes the form of a family class Canadian visa. This application is usually initiated by a Canadian national or permanent resident on behalf of a foreign relative. Medical and security checks are required before such applications are granted.
A Canadian work experience student or graduate from a Canadian college gives an individual the chance to secure a Canadian experience class visa, which can later be converted to permanent residency. Canada is particularly looking to attract immigrants with good credentials and strong backgrounds in English and French languages.
Investors, businessmen and self-employed workers can also apply for visas. Skilled employees who wish to immigrate to Canada using the Provincial Nominee Programme Visa should have the skills, background and work experience necessary to contribute to the economic progress of the country.
The American student visa, officially known as the F-1 academic visa, is the visa required when a person of the relevant age is interested in studying at a university or any other academic establishment in the United States. The F-1 requires that the holder agrees to work for a minimum of 20 hours a week during their university term period. In addition to this, they will also be required to work full-time during the holidays. When they have finished their course, the holder must leave the country within 60 days. However, within that period of time they have a chance to apply for work relevant to the course they have just completed, for example to take practical training or to apply for an H-1b visa. They can then try to apply for an Eb-3 visa.
In order to apply for an American student visa, the applicant must have received a letter offering them a place in an institution or university in the USA. They must also present proof that all fees have been paid to the chosen educational institution, a process that can take up to 90 days to complete.
There are also other options available, related to the American student visa, which interested applicants may wish to consider. The J-1 exchange visitor visa is designed for people involved in prearranged work, training or research. Another alternative is not dependent on educational requirements, but is aimed at anyone looking to attend non-academic training courses.
Tier 2 replaced the old Work Permit scheme in November 2008, but Work Permit holders are allowed to switch to a Tier 2 visa in order to extend their residency. Skilled workers who are citizens of non-EU countries are required to obtain a Tier 2 visa in order to move to the UK. This type of visa also requires a minimum of 50 eligibility points.
There are four types of Tier 2 visa:
General visas allow foreign professionals to move to the country if a UK employer sponsors them. Overseas workers who move to the UK with a Tier 2 visa are usually in great demand and it’s skill shortages in their specific areas of expertise that generally necessitates the approval of their visa.
Intra Company Transfers are designed for foreign nationals who have to move to the UK due to employer-mandated job relocation. For General and Intra Company Transfer visas, an S/NVQ level 3 or above is required, as specified in the relevant code of practice.
Sports People visas are for professional athletes and coaches whose employment is deemed a crucial factor in the development of their sport.
Ministers of Religion, as its name implies, is a type of work visa intended for preachers or ministers of religion, missionaries and other members of church polity.
The Tier 2 visa does not grant temporary residency, but it can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), popularly known as permanent UK residency.
Anyone who intends staying permanently in the adventure capital of the world, South Africa, has to go through the process of obtaining a South African visa for immigrants. Unfortunately, in recent years, the government has become stricter when granting such visas.
The South African government recognises the fact that though the country is quite large, there is a limit to the level of population, including both South African citizens and immigrants that can realistically be accommodated. As a result, they are very keen on accepting only skilled people to work there. As there are many South African citizens who belong to the unskilled and semi-skilled category of workers, the government is only interested in encouraging immigrant workers who possess educational degrees or higher forms of skills and talents. In addition, anyone wishing to apply for a South African visa must be ready to share their knowledge and be willing to provide training and development to the unskilled citizens of South Africa.
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The government of South Africa introduced the Immigration Act of 2002, with the intention of strongly promoting control over the issue of South African visas.
Anyone interested in moving to the country has to pay US$255.00 for the application forms for a South African visa. The fee applies to every individual or family and whether the permit is eventually granted or not, the fee is non-refundable. Usually, the applicant must wait for around 12 to18 months before the government makes a final decision.
If you wish to live in South Africa, you must be prepared to go through the process of acquiring a South African visa, no matter how long the process takes. However, once you have the correct permit, you will be given the opportunity to enjoy the rich culture and amazing wildlife of the country.
After experiencing the pain of global recession, Australia seems to be getting back into shape with the number of job vacancies rising. This has been the first sign of recovery in the last sixteen months and consumer confidence, according to Sensis Consumer Report, also went up by 39%, the highest increase since last year. Many people believe that the economy will grow in the next months, but businesses and consumers need mutual confidence to keep the economy progressing. Along with signs of an improving economy, GBP records are positive and the Australian dollar has been strengthening against the US dollar, UK pound and Euro. In recent weeks, the British pound has been trading at around the two Australian dollar mark.
A healthy economy encourages new investors to come in, businesses are booming, which results in a requirement for more labour and more labour means a high employment rate. Ultimately, a high employment rate means more job vacancies, which is where immigrants come in. The construction industry has not yet fully recovered, but it’s getting there, while other trade occupations are currently experiencing shortages. Australia is currently experiencing various skill shortages, a situation that is expected to continue for some time, since Australia is only starting to fully recover. The country presently has a high demand for skilled immigrant workers and Australian immigration is expecting more applicants to have their papers processed so they can work in the country.
What is a work permit?
This is a type of Canadian visa that allows an alien to temporarily work in the country. A work permit is not intended to be seen as a stepping-stone to allowing the permanent residency of an alien worker; rather it serves as a means of helping Canadian employers deal with a labour shortage.
What are the benefits of getting a work permit?
Aliens who hold a work permit may be allowed to bypass a point-based assessment. Skilled workers are normally required to meet a point threshold in order to obtain a visa to Canada, but work permits enable foreign workers to enter the Canadian job market under the sponsorship of a Canadian employer.
Are work permits transferable?
No, but aliens holding a work permit can apply for another immigration status during their stay.
Can a Canada visa holder migrate with his dependents?
A work visa allows marriage and spouse immigration; however, dependents are not allowed to work unless they themselves qualify for a work visa.
How can workers apply for a Canada visa?
You need to wait until the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) confirms the availability of job openings for foreigners. You may then request a Canadian visa from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). If you are planning to work in Quebec, you also need to obtain approval from the province’s immigration authorities.
Under what circumstances can an alien work in Canada without a visa?
The following is the list of work permit exemptions: Expert witnesses and investigators, civil aviation inspectors, flight attendants, journalists and diplomats.
A tourist/visitor visa, also known as a B2 visa, is required for foreign nationals who wish to enter the USA for holidays or to pursue other leisure activities, visit family, seek medical care or take brief courses. It is a non-immigrant US visa that only allows a temporary stay.
A B2 visa grants residency for between one and ten years. This type of US visa allows aliens to leave and re-enter the USA during this period, as long as the purpose of travel remains the same as that specified in the visa. In cases of multiple entries, each visit should not exceed six months. The duration of each visit can be extended to six additional months provided that the visitor can prove that it is only temporary. The Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) decides how long a visit should last and this is stamped in the individual’s 1-94 card.
When reviewing applications for B2 visas, the immigration authority pays close attention to the possibility of illegal immigration. B2 applicants must prove that they have no plans to permanently settle in the USA. This can be done by providing proof of family ties, property ownership and strong reasons why they plan to return to their country of origin.
The US Visa Waiver Program exempts the nationals of certain countries from having to obtain a US visa if they have a machine-readable passport and a non-refundable flight ticket to their country of origin or other foreign destination, except Canada. Among the nationals eligible for this programme are Britons, Danes, Spaniards, Australians and Hungarians.
Even if you just want to see and experience the glitz and glamour that the United Kingdom is renowned for, if you live outside the EU you will need a UK Visa before being granted entry into the country. It doesn’t matter if you live in Asia, the Middle East or Africa, if you are not a resident of a European Union member country; you have to go through the process of obtaining a UK Visa.
There are several preparations to be made before formally applying for a UK Visitors Visa. You need a letter from your employer, stating that you are allowed to be absent from work for a certain period, but you are expected to be back on a particular date. However, if you are self-employed, you have to show proof that you are financially stable enough to be able to support yourself for the period of your stay. Aspiring applicants must also present evidence that they own at least one property in their home country.
In the event that you intend to visit the UK as a student, you must request a letter from your school that provides details regarding your courses, the year and the dates that you are permitted to travel to the UK. These dates may be during the school year as long as the school officials allow you to miss classes. Alternatively, you may mention that the dates provided are holidays in your country of residence.
To further increase your chances of succeeding with your UK Visa application, provide details of your family, friends and responsibilities that you definitely have to return home to. You also have to provide copies of your bank statements, including those that were issued several months before your application and be able to prove that you have savings.
Finally, you have to make an itinerary for your trip, in order to prove you don’t intend to wander aimlessly around the country.
Visa applications have a fast turn-around time in South Africa, around 30 days on average. The South African immigration authority has expedited visa reviews by shifting to a simplified process by which applications are assessed on an individual basis.
There are different types of visa, but all fall under either of the two broad categories, immigrant and non-immigrant. Immigrant visas offer permanent residency, whereas non-immigrant visas only grant a temporary stay. The most common types of visa are as follows:
Work Visas: Issued to foreign nationals whose profession is in great demand. The availability of work visa depends on the shortage of labour supply in the local market. Skilled professionals who are encouraged to move to South Africa are engineers, information technology professionals, accountants and finance specialists.
Retirement Visas: For foreign elderly people who wish to move to South Africa to spend their retirement years. The South African constitution has anti-discrimination provisions in place; even foreign retirees can work in South Africa once they obtain this visa. The financial status of retirees is a major factor in the approval process and applicants must be earning at least R20, 000 per month from their annuity or pensions to qualify for a retirement visa.
Spouse and Life Partner Visa: Applicants must have sponsorship from a South African relative or permanent resident.
Business Visas: Issued to people who move to South Africa to invest. This visa only grants temporary residency and has features similar to the UK Investor Visa and the US EB-5 Visa. Business Visa applicants must have a minimum investment of R2.5 million.