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Canada: Federal Skilled Worker Immigration Opens

April 25, 2014 12:43 pm / Leave a comment

Every year Canada accepts applications from highly skilled foreign nationals under federal skilled worker class in a limited set of occupations which are in demand in Canada in medium to long term.canada-flag

Basic Eligibility

You must have one year continuous, full time experience in one of the eligible occupations, at NOC level Skill type0, Level A or B.

Minimum Requirements

  1. Education-Minimum 1 year post secondary
  2. Age: 18-46
  3. Experience: Minimum 1 year continued full time experience
  4. Language: Proficiency in one of Canada’s two official languages(English and/or French)
  5. Arranged Employment in Canada:
  6. Adaptability: Language proficiency of spouse & relatives in Canada

According to new  changes effective from 1st May, 2014,  25,000 applications will be accepted in the following occupation stream. There will be a sub cap of 1000 applications for each of the 50 eligible occupations below.

  1. Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (0013)
  2. Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c. (0015)
  3. Financial managers (0111)
  4. Human resources managers (0112)
  5. Purchasing managers (0113)
  6. Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers (0121)
  7. Managers in health care (0311)
  8. Construction managers (0711)
  9. Home building and renovation managers (0712)
  10. Managers in natural resources production and fishing (0811)
  11. Manufacturing managers (0911)
  12. Financial auditors and accountants (1111)
  13. Financial and investment analysts (1112)
  14. Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers (1113)
  15. Other financial officers (1114)
  16. Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (1123)
  17. Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers (1212)
  18. Property administrators (1224)
  19. Geoscientists and oceanographers (2113)
  20. Civil engineers (2131)
  21. Mechanical engineers (2132)
  22. Electrical and electronics engineers (2133)
  23. Petroleum engineers (2145)
  24. Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
  25. Database analysts and data administrators (2172)
  26. Software engineers and designers (2173)
  27. Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
  28. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (2232)
  29. Construction estimators (2234)
  30. Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (2241)
  31. Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (2243)
  32. Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety (2263)
  33. Computer network technicians (2281)
  34. Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (3011)
  35. Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
  36. Specialist physicians (3111)
  37. General practitioners and family physicians (3112)
  38. Dietitians and nutritionists (3132)
  39. Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (3141)
  40. Physiotherapists (3142)
  41. Occupational therapists (3143)
  42. Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (3214)
  43. Medical radiation technologists (3215)
  44. Medical sonographers (3216)
  45. Licensed practical nurses (3233)
  46. Paramedical occupations (3234)
  47. University professors and lecturers (4011)
  48. Psychologists (4151)
  49. Early childhood educators and assistants (4214)
  50. Translators, terminologists and interpreters (5125)

 

For free assessment, send your CV to info@thetrustline.com.

Ireland: Visa Issuance suspended for 4 colleges

April 18, 2014 8:59 pm / Leave a comment

(17 April 2014) As per The Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS), 4 colleges are suspended on allegation of their staff at schools claimed they were willing to alter attendance records, allowing students to flout visa regulations.

Screenshot of INIS

Screen-Shot-2014-04-17-at-14.16.311

TOEIC & TOEFL Suspended For UK Immigration after BBC exposed Fraud

February 15, 2014 12:02 pm / Leave a comment

TOEFL and TOEIC exam testing in the UK has been temporarily suspended after a BBC Panorama investigation that was aired on Monday 10 Feb has revealed systemic cheating by candidates taking a TOEIC exam, with an extract of the programme revealing “fake sitters” at one test centre in the UK run by Eden College International

Screen-Shot-2014-02-10-at-10.54.44-860x375

 

 

Fawad Ahmed asylum case: Spin-bowler ‘got special treatment’ in borderline citizenship case

February 2, 2014 6:07 pm / Leave a comment

Immigration Australia considered the refugee claim of a Pakistani origin cricketer Fawad Ahmed as borderline and rejected it. However, through politicalpressure and lobbying of Cricket Australia, anamendment was quietly passed to fast track Mr. Ahmed’s case. The Australian immigrationminister Chris Bowen approved the permanent resident visa as the best option despite the fact the Australia immigration department recommended six months tourist visa for him.

Fwad Ahmed

Fawad Ahmed, an asylum seeker from Pakistan and talented cricket player, was portrayed as the possible savior of Australian cricket team in the media. On the other hand, Australia immigration considered most of his claims of possibility of persecution in his native country Pakistan as unrealistic.

Ahmed’s claim for asylum was initially rejected by both the ImmigrationDepartment and Refugee Review Tribunal and he was at the verge of being deported from Australia.

Derek Bennett from the Melbourne University Cricket Club intervened and wrote to the immigration minister in a private letter that Refugee Review Tribunal decision was unfair. Mr. Bennet wrote that Fawad will be assassinated by Taliban who are against the game of cricket.

According to the report by ABC, the Australian Immigration department thought if the minister decided to intervene in the asylum case, “most appropriate” option would be to grant a six-month tourist visa. Permanent visa was not suggested in Fawad Ahmed’s case.

A ministerial briefing document from the Immigration Department stated,”If you decide to intervene, the most appropriate visa to grant is a [tourist visa] … with work rights.”

However, getting a professional cricket contract required that Mr. Ahmed must hold a permanent visa. So Mr. Bowen had no other option but to grant him the permanent visa.

Mr. Bowen said in a statement, “The decision for ministerial intervention was the right one.” “Fawad is a great addition to Australia; he has already made great contributions to his community and the nation”, added the immigrationminister.

Fawad Ahmed has played one day and twenty twenty matches for Australia, however, he has not been included in the Australian Cricket team to play test match.

The special treatment of the cricketer’s refugee case has raised questions as he has been granted permanent visa at the expense of other asylum seeker.

U.S. Foreign Service officer pleads guilty in visa-processing scheme

November 7, 2013 6:06 pm / Leave a comment

A U.S. Foreign Service officer pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to accepting more than $3 million in bribes in a visa-processing scheme that allowed nearly 500 foreign nationals to enter the United States.

Michael Sestak

Michael Sestak

Michael T. Sestak, who had worked in the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, since 2010, was arrested in May. Sestak, 42, was responsible for issuing visas after reviewing applications and conducting interviews.

As part of the plea agreement, Sestak admitted conspiring with U.S. and Vietnamese citizens to recruit customers who would pay $15,000 to $70,000 in exchange for non-immigrant visas from Vietnam to the United States. Many of his customers had previously been denied visas, according to the prosecutors.

U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen said Sestak’s scheme “corrupted the integrity of a process designed to screen visitors to the United States, a process that obviously has implications for our national security. His motivation for betraying his oath of office was cold, hard cash.”

Four others have been charged in the bribery and money-laundering conspiracy that generated at least $9.78 million. Sestak admitted trying to hide some of the proceeds through the purchase of nine properties in Thailand. Sestak, who is cooperating in the investigation, faces up to 24 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. He also has agreed to pay a money judgment of at least $6 million. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

 

Source: Washington Post

UK Government decides not to proceed with visa bond scheme

November 6, 2013 10:57 am / Leave a comment

The UK wants the brightest and the best to help create the jobs and growth that will enable Britain to compete in the global race.

The UK government remains committed to tackling immigration abuse and has been looking at a range of options. One of those options was a financial bond. The British Government has now decided not to proceed with the option of a financial bond.

A spokesperson for the British Home Office said on 3 November:

The Government has been considering whether we pilot a bond scheme that would deter people from overstaying the visa. We have decided not to proceed.

A spokesperson from the British High Commission in Islamabad said:

The UK wants the brightest and the best to help create the jobs and growth that will enable Britain to compete in the global race. So, for example, if you are an overseas businessperson seeking to invest and trade with world class businesses, one of the thousands of legitimate students keen to study at our first-class universities or a tourist visiting our world class attractions, be in no doubt: Britain is open for business.

Ends: Contact: Press Attaché, British High Commission, Islamabad; tel. 051 201 2884

 

Source: UK Gov

Australia:New streamlined student visas to grow Australian education

October 29, 2013 5:12 pm / Leave a comment

THE HON CHRISTOPHER PYNE MP

Minister for Education
Leader of the House

THE HON SCOTT MORRISON MP

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection

MEDIA RELEASE

New streamlined student visas to grow Australian education

The new Coalition Government will move quickly to begin undoing Labor’s damage to Australia’s international education sector—and restore it as one of Australia’s most important economic contributors.

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison and Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne announced a package of measures that would simplify student visas through a streamlined assessment-level framework (ALF) and by extending streamlined visa processing arrangements to low-risk non-university degree providers.

“The changes will assist all providers, but particularly the vocational education and training sector, making access to Australia’s education system more attractive for overseas students,” Mr Morrison said.

“Assessment levels under the ALF would be reduced from five levels to three, while financial evidence for AL3 students would reduce from 18 months to 12 months, provided funds were from a close relative of the student applicant.  This would mean students from a number of key markets would be able to apply for a student visa with up to $AUD 40 000 less in the bank.”

Streamlining of the visa application process that Mr Morrison announced last week would benefit up to 22 low-risk non-university providers for students enrolled in Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral degree courses or an eligible exchange programme.

Minister for Education Mr Pyne said the measures would attract more overseas students to Australia, benefit our education system, create Australian jobs and stimulate our economy.

“The non-university sector is an important contributor to our overall education exports,” Mr Pyne said.

“These changes would allow the vocational training sector to contribute more freely to our plan to restore Australia’s tertiary education system to its former peak of almost $19  billion in export income for the nation.

“The non-university education system supports thousands of Australian jobs directly, and indirectly.

“If we cut red tape and allow more students into Australia to access a world-class tertiary education we all stand to gain.”

Invitations to the 22 non-university providers will go out in coming weeks.

Subject to relevant legislative change under the stewardship of the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, the Government would implement both elements of the package in early 2014.

Further information is available at http://www.immi.gov.au/students/whats_new.htm.

EID Mubarak

October 16, 2013 6:47 am / Leave a comment

Eid-Mubarak

UK:Changes to ‘knowledge of language and life’ requirements and application details

September 22, 2013 6:31 am / Leave a comment

From 28 October 2013, unless they are exempt, all applicants for settlement or naturalisation as a British citizen will need to meet the knowledge of language and life requirement by:

  • passing the life in the UK test; and
  • having a speaking and listening qualification in English at B1 CEFR or higher, or its equivalent.

UKFor details of the new requirement please see the Changes to the knowledge of language and life requirements for settlement or naturalisation document on this website.

For an application for citizenship to be considered under the pre 28 October requirements, the application will need to be received by UK Visas & Immigration by Friday 25 October 2013 (the last working day before the change). We do not receive a postal delivery on Saturday or Sunday.

Record Canadian Study Permits Issued Despite Immigration Workers’ Strike

September 11, 2013 3:09 pm / Leave a comment

canada-flagCanadian universities and colleges are concerned over the slower rates of approval of Canadian study permits to the international students due to the long strike of the immigration staff at Canadian embassies and missions abroad. However, Canadian Immigration data indicates that about 5000 more study permits were issued to international students this year from May to July compared to the same period last year. Canada immigration claims that processing times for Canadian study permits are with in two months which is a normal practice, however, the Canadian educational institutions are worried that longer processing times at Canadian embassies and missions abroad is forcing foreign students to chose other countries over Canada. International students pay higher tuition fees and are source of considerable income each year.

Canadian Immigration and Citizenship (CIC) statistical data has revealed that over 45000 Canadian study permits have been issued from May to July 2013 which is about 10 per cent more than the previous year for the same period. However, Canadian universities are worried that a large number of international students who are enrolled will not be able to obtained the required Canadian study permit to start their study programs in time.

Canadian universities and colleges are concerned that many international students will head to other popular education destinations such as Australia, United Kingdom or United States due to uncertainty in Canadian study permit application processing.

The spokesperson for Canadian immigration minister Chris Alexander, Andrea Khanjin, has said in a statement, “CIC is working to ensure the timely processing of study permits for international students.”

Andrea said, “The approval rate is 79 per cent, which is also above last year’s rate.” “There has been a six per cent increase in the number of student applications compared to last year,” added Ms Khanjin, “and we have issued 12 per cent more student visas than last year.”

Canada admitted about 40,000 international students during the period of May 2012 to July 2012.  It appears that students who did not apply for Canadian study permits well in advance will not be able to start their study programs on the first day of university this year. However, online application submission process has minimized the affect of study permit application processing despite that fact that Canadian immigration staff is on strike.

 

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