Sponsor Management System is an online tool designed to enable education providers/ licensed sponsors carry out all the formalities and interactions with the UK Border Agency. The online resource has been functional since November 27, 2008, only for Tier 2 and Tier 5 sponsors of the Points Based System. Ever since the implementation of the SMS, it has been instrumental in assisting sponsors brining migrants to the UK and manage them!
Even though, earlier only Tier 2 and Tier 5 sponsors were entitled to make use of the SMS, currently it is available for Tier 4 sponsors of the Points Based System, however on experimental phase. Starting from October 2009 up to February 2010, Tier 4 sponsors have the choice to issue a visa letter or a Confirmation of Acceptance to Study (CAS) to potential students who will be applying for visa from within the UK. A visa letter, however, will still support potential students from outside the UK, until the end of the trial period, that is February 2010. Once the trial period is over, CAS will completely replace the issuance of a visa letter. In other words, all Tier 4 sponsors would require to assign a Confirmation of Acceptance to Study number to all migrants, irrespective of the inside and outside. From February 22, 2010 visa letters will completely be vanished and students with a visa letter will no longer be accepted!
Only licensed sponsors are eligible to make use of the SMS. In order to be able to use the tool, the sponsor must confirm his/her sponsor license, after which the UK Border Agency will send login information in no time. Sponsors with license who still do not have access to the SMS, take the necessary steps and contact the UK Border Agency.
Towards the end of the 2009, New Zealand’s home prices hit record high, thanks to the shortage of properties for sale. As per the the figures presented by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, the country’s typical house price was $360,000 in the month of December, which was an increase of $5,000 from the previous month. Reportedly, its typical house price in December 2008 was $328,500.
As a result of the skyrocketing home prices, lesser number of sale transactions had taken place in New Zealand. The REINZ reported that, a total number of 4,957 houses were sold in December, a significant slip from the previous month. In November, 6,056 sale transactions were made in the Kiwi land. But, December 2009 witnessed an increase of 15 percent in house sales from the same time of 2008. However, it was not that high to match the record house sale rate in the same time of 2006, when sales were up almost 40 percent.
Let’s have a look at the highlights of the REINZ’s figures:
In December, New Zealand’s house prices were 9.6 up as compared to one year ago. A year ago, recorded median house price was $328,500.
December’s house price was 2.2 percent higher than December 2007. Reportedly, in 2007 New Zealand’s median house price was $352,000.
A total number of 4,957 sale transactions were made in December 2009, up from December 2008’s figures which is 4,302.
Reportedly, it took an average number of 33 days to sell a house in December 2009, while in December 2008, it needed 45 days on an average.
If we compare the figures of median house prices in twelve regions of New Zealand from 2008 and 2009, it comes clear that almost every region witnessed a rise in prices, barring one which on the contrary recorded a drop in prices, while another did not see any change in the prices!
Recently, New South Wales’ largest business organization reacted to the report by CommSec that ranked the state last on the basis of the current economic growth. The organization got furious about the report doing the round of late and is claiming that the report is misleading how the state is actually performing currently.
New South Wales’ economy is the largest and has always been considered as one of the most diversified economies in Australia. But, the latest ranking aroused its government and NSW Business Chamber to save the state from being called as Australia’s worst economy. It is true that the state is facing a political instability over the recent years, but this does not mean that its adverse effect are also on its economy- New South Wales’ economy is still doing good as opposed to critics’ views, asserted CEO of NSW Business Chamber, Stephen Cartwright!
According to the CEO, the CommSec report is misinterpreting the current economic state of New South Wales. He further confirmed that the state is in fact doing well despite the global financial crisis. The impact of the economic meltdown and high Australian dollar did not affect its economy. In spite of the global unfriendly and unfavorable economic condition, New South Wales is capable of growing, creating employment opportunities and retaining its AAA credit rating!
Indeed, New South Wales have always played an important role in Australian economy. But, according to the report published by CommSec, the state is legging behind in certain key economic facets, such as construction work and employment. The very report placed Western Australia and ACT at the top positions when it comes to their economic performances!
New Zealand’s demand for professionals is at all-time high; employers are re-advertising their vacancies; more than 40,000 New Zealanders still unemployed.. what’s happening? Yes, the New Zealand job market is currently facing a shortage of skilled professionals in many areas. The job market is in need of skills. So, if you are looking forward to get a job in the Kiwi land, you can definitely reap the advantages, given you have the talents, plus the right attitude.
New Zealand employers are of late more concerned about the right combination of skills and attitude. The bottom-line is that a dynamic attitude is needed to grab the opportunities that the country offers. For your information, right now, there is a range of job vacancies in New Zealand where immigrants would definitely fit. The country is at the moment generating more skilled, as well as unskilled jobs as compared to a long time in the recent past.
However, it remains true that if you are experienced and skilled, you are most likely to get a job that you wished for. Therefore, it makes sense to do a job, even if it is not the ideal job, earn some experience and then look for the ideal one! With a bit of patience, along the right attitude you could grab the desired job opportunity in the land of Kiwis.
Here are a few things for your reference:
New Zealand employers often expect their applicants to have work experience, especially in their country.
Since most of the corporations in New Zealand are small in size, you may find it difficult to get promoted. However, it can be achieved with job change!
In order to help yourself immigrate to New Zealand, do consult an Immigration and Visa Consultant! Happy job hunting!
Recently, the UK Border Agency has rolled out a new rule that states that migrant students intending to apply for UK Tier 4 visa, which is based on points system to pursue study courses must contain a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance to Study) number in their applications. Along with the new rule for the students, the UKBA has set new instructions for the Tier 4 sponsors or education providers as well.
The whole procedure of sponsoring students under Tier 4 is going to change from February, precisely when the phase 4 of Tier 4 kicks off! From February 22, no matter whether the students applying from inside or outside the country, would require to produce the CAS number provided by their respective sponsors. This means, students are no longer be able to apply for visa using a visa letter. However, they are permitted to apply under the Tier 4 with a visa letter until February 21, but this should also be kept in mind that they cannot do this from February 22, without due consideration to their visa letter issued before that date.
To be very precise, the issuance of visa letters will completely be dissolved from February 22. Instead, all Tier 4 licensed sponsors/education providers would take the help of the Sponsor Management System to issue Confirmation of Acceptance to Study to potential students, including students applying from inside and outside the UK. All students’ applications must possess a CAS number. This applies to students who receive visa letters from their sponsors before February 22 and intend to apply with the UKBA on or after that date.
For further information on the new amendments to Tier 4 sponsorship, contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant!
It is interesting to note that more and more highly skilled people from around the world are opting to immigrate to New Zealand. Even more interesting is that most of these skilled migrants are from more developed countries like United Kingdom, United States and The Netherlands, where professionals are offered with higher salaries. So, what makes these migrants to immigrate to the land of Kiwis?
Even though the salary packages offered in New Zealand are lower than that of the US and UK, immigrating to the former makes sense for overseas skilled migrants, reason being the cost of living there is much lower as compared to the aforementioned nations. Professionals find it worthy to go and make a new life in New Zealand with their families. The country has an array of things to offer- along with its spectacular beauty; it offers endless recreational opportunities for families, children; and most importantly people can find a house on their budget. Thus, low cost of housing, food and cars make New Zealand more attractive to overseas professionals when compared to the US, UK or Northern Europe.
In other words, if you get to work with a satisfactory New Zealand employer, you can expect to spend a well-balanced life there! You can find many self-confessed migrants in New Zealand who would tell you how their quality of life is better than their home countries or elsewhere in the world!
If you are intending to immigrate to New Zealand to have a better life, do consult an Immigration and Visa Consultant, so that you can sail through the immigration process without any hassle!
Sponsor Management System allows only education providers with sponsor license to use it in order to have all the interactions with the UK Border Agency. Currently, Tiers 2, 5 and 4 licensed sponsors can use this system. However, the use of this system is on trial basis for Tier 4 sponsors. Until February 2010, the sponsors can issue visa letters, while gradually taking up the help of the SMS to issue Confirmation of Acceptance to Study to potential students who intend to study in the UK.
In order to apply for the sponsor license to be able to have access to the SMS, an education provider or organization should provide the name along with other details of its ‘level 1 user’. When the level 1 user(s) sets to use the tool, he/she must enter the details, after which he/she can add more level 1 and level 2 users to have access to the system.
To have access to the SMS, users must have access to the Internet, as well as an email address. Users should also have Adobe Acrobat Reader on their system, so that they can keep a check on the payment notes.
Here are few things you should know about the Sponsor Management System:
The system is helpful in handling users and details in an organization
It helps in managing and editing user profiles
It enables users view and manage sponsorship certificates
It allows users create and attribute sponsorship certificates
It helps users keep up with various sponsorship duties
It helps users make payments for sponsorship certificates
Fine! You have the perfect documentation, your intend to migrate to a new country is right, your application form is ready… but still there is something that needs to be taken care of… It is your IMMIGRATION AIM! This should top your list of priorities! For instance, if you are planning to have sponsorship from your fiancé, aim for a K-1 Visa and forget about the other options. Similarly, think only about getting a Student Visa, if you are intending to study in the prospective country, while ruling out other options. It has been said that only double minded people opt for more than one Immigration aim. This only leads them to more confusion!
Once you are through with your aim, you next step should be to start finding out as to what all you need to get your visa. Many of you must be thinking that what is wrong in having multiple Immigration aims as it may provide you with multiple options to choose from. Here you may be wrong! Have a look:
First of all, traveling in two boats at once would only do more harm! It will create a state of confusion, leading you no where! Having one Immigration plan at one time would ensure that you do justice to it and fulfill all the mandatory requirements perfectly.
You would face the interview with your Immigration officer in a confident manner as you would be having just one aim in your mind. Multiple aims would only make the officer more suspicious. This often leads to a visa denial.
There are chances that you may end up ruining your documents and losing them in the process, while going for two Immigration aims at one time.
These are just a few examples. Worse things could happen while choosing multiple Immigration plans. Therefore, it is always advised that one should go for a singular aim and take assistance from an experienced Immigration expert to commence it in the best possible way.
Recently, this year’s first draw for expressions of Interest (EOI) for the category of Skilled Migrant took place. The draw on January 13, picked up a total number of 593 Expressions of Interest. Now that the selection of the EOI is over, the selected applications would be processed for preliminary check. The check will determine if the applicants would be issued with an invitation to apply for New Zealand residency.
Below are a few highlights of the draw taken place on January 13, 2010:
A total number of 483 Expressions of Interest, with total points of 140 or more being selected this time.
A total number of 110 Expressions of Interest, with total points of 100 or above, (however, below 140) being selected.
Out of the 593 applications, a total number of 521 Expressions of Interest were from those who have New Zealand job offers.
The first Expressions of Interest draw of 2010 under the aforementioned category brought disappointment to many applicants who wished to immigrate to the Kiwi land. A total of 631 Expressions of Interest were not selected. These EOIs remain in the pool, for the applicants might have met the general requirements needed to immigrate to New Zealand, but they could not satisfy the criteria set for the Expressions of Interest pool selection.
Now, these applications will be in the pool for three months and may get selected in another draw in the near future. However, if the EOIs are not selected after three months, the applicants may require to submit Expressions of Interest again!
After two more Indians, aged 20 and 22, were attacked in Australia on 26th January, the Oz police arrested five people, hence proving their intentions to take quick actions against the culprits.
The Australia government has shown its concern for the recent spate of racial issues and has taken ample measures to stop them. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s nephew, Van Thanh Rudd, recently took part in a protest in opposition to all these incidents happening against the Indians.
Immigration minister Chris Evans condemned these attacks and said that a bunch of idiots are responsible for executing these attacks on Indians.
Despite all these incidents, statistics point out towards the direction that India is the third most represented country when it comes to people getting citizenship in Australia. Other two countries are Britain and China.
