The British government is finally implementing a cap on its annual intake of skilled migrants from next April. This would definitely pose difficulties for many applicants especially the highly-skilled professionals from India, specifically those working in the field of services and healthcare.
According to Damian Green, the Immigration Minister for Britain, there would be an annual quota. The first of these quotas would begin in April next year which would be executed for Tier I and tier II. Tier I caters to the highly skilled professionals where as Tier II caters to those applicants who already have a job offer in prior. He also said that Britain is not attempting anything strange in its annual quota.
An interim quota has already been implemented in the meantime which has started from July 2010 till March 2011 before the final cap is set. This involves a limit of 5,100 for tier – I and around 20,000 for the Tier II category. As of now, this can be considered as a short respite for the IT professionals from India. The Indian IT industry is completely dependent on Intra Company Transfer or the ICT route to send professionals to Britain. This has not been included in the interim quota with talks being on with the associations from the industry regarding the use of ICT after April next year.
On the issue, Mr. Som Mittal, President for Nasscom said that the industry of technology feels that these quotas should not be executed on the ICT professionals. According to the data, these professionals reside in the nation for less than two years, so it is not related to immigration but instead is about trade. Mr. Mittal would also be meeting the Migration Advisory Committee to discuss this matter in London.
According to the estimations made by Nasscom, the decision to increase the visa fee for US would lead to increase in expenses for the IT firms in India. These estimations were based on the premise that the hike would be about $4,500 to the current fee which is $2500 on the H1 visas.
It has to be noted here that India uses of about 50,000 H1 and L1 visas annually. This fee is divided into filing fee and fraud fee. However, Nasscom has stated that it is not yet clear as to the hike of $2,250 applies to both the above categories or it is combined. In either of the ways, the effect would be significant.
It can also be said that this new bill has been brought about to make the Indian firms less competitive in comparison to its US counterparts such as those of Accenture, HP and IBM. As per the provisions in the bill, the fee is higher only for those firms which place fifty or more of their employees in the United States. More so, this would be applicable if more than half of the employees hold the status of an L-1 or H-1B visa.
However, when it comes to the US based firms, there are only a few employees holding the above status. At the same time, Indian firms have more than 50 percent of their employees holding this status and with most of them spreading their base with local employees.
The above clearly tells that the major part of the funds would be coming from the Indian IT firms where as the US firms using this visa would not be affected. The natural tendency to protect its south-west borders by the US is quite understood. But this would surely have a negative impact on the Indian companies. More so, this proposed hike can be considered as being against the free trade.
In addition to the above, these Indian firms along with the Indian nationals have to pay more than $1 billion as social security. Here, there is no guarantee of either a refund or any form of benefits that could be availed. Such benefits could only be availed if the concerned person has lived in the US for ten years. On the contrary, most of the IT professionals tend to reside in the US for a few months.
Above all, since the bill would raise the budgets of these companies, it can now be said that these firms would look into engaging more of local workers. At the same time, completely removing the presence of the Indian IT sector in the US is also not a viable option since this sector is very vital to the growth of the US economy.
Canada has modified its list of 38 occupations, reducing it to only 29. The new occupation list for Canada federal skilled workers program would be implemented from 26th June 2010. These 29 new occupations form the current occupations in Canada which are in-demand for the foreign skilled migrants*. However, this list is not applicable to those applicants who have an employment offer in prior.
The new list of 29 occupations for federal skilled immigrants excludes the IT managers and supervisors, accountants and financial managers from the earlier list of 38 occupations. At the same time, occupations relating to Business Services and Management as also dentists and social workers have been included. This is excellent news for general category managerial and supervisory candidates. Professional working in following occupations will gain through this critical inclusion in the new list:
Marketing
Analysts
Researchers
Business development
Advertising
Management consultants
Finance
Costs and chartered accountants
Chartered financial analysts
Business and office coordinators
Senior office Administrators and managers
team trainers
Dentists
Pharmacists
Social Workers
Cooks and chefs
With the above in place, the Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced that only 20,000 applications would be received each year. Within these 20,000 applications quota, not more than 1000 applications would be considered under each of the occupations mentioned on the new list. The applications would be accepted on a first come first serve basis. After the higher limit has been reached in a specific occupation, the additional applications will be returned. So all those qualified should file and get into the queue without delays.
The first year for acceptance of applications will begin on June 26, 2010 and end on June 30, 2011. Subsequent years will be calculated from July 1st to June 30th.
Alternatives for applicants not finding place in the new list of occupations for Canada
IT professionals need not get disheartened. Almost all IT professionals with 4 years of experience or more and including those who are NOT IT managers ( simple programmers, analysts, QA etc) can qualify and apply under Quebec program. All they need to do is learn basic French. One learns French while the application is in process. Married couples have an advantage under the Quebec program as spousal age and qualifications as also number of children and their age are significant assessment factors. Mail your resume and if applicable that of spouse with information related to children and their age to ajay@abhinav.com
It may be added that many of them, especially if working in consulting capacity might also be qualified under the newly included Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management.
Another alternative for IT professionals is Denmark Green card. But considering that Denmark green card is a non-immigrant visa and one is required to learn Danish for successful settlement, one is better off in opting for Quebec skilled worker program that offers permanent residency from day one of landing with all accompanying benefits. The residency status that an applicant, may get in Denmark after seven year is available from day one of landing in Canada on permanent resident visa. However, it goes without saying that ABHINAV has the expertise to service your application for Denmark Green card as well.
Another significant exclusion from the old list is that of accountants and financial managers. They should not lose hope and depending on profile and duties, most can still qualify as professional service providers to management. This is a new occupation that finds its place in the new list. If you are a financial manager or chartered accountant, please email your and the spousal resume (if applicable) to ajay@abhinav.com .
All in all, it could be said that there are both pros and cons attached to this amendment in the Skilled Worker Program. And so, this keeps the options open for those not qualifying under the new Federal Skilled Migrant program. Contact us to know more on the same.
*List of 29 Occupations under the Federal Skilled Worker Program
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
2151 Architects
3111 Specialist Physicians
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3113 Dentists
3131 Pharmacists
3142 Physiotherapists
3152 Registered Nurses
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social Workers
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers & Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
Getting a H-1 B visa was a dream for many Indians a couple of years ago, since it gives them the green signal to live there great American dream, by working or setting up business in the United States. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for the issuance of H-1B visas has revealed that it has experienced a cut in the number of application it used to receive for H-1B visas last year. The agency fears that this year also the trend is likely to be followed, since it has received only eighteen thousand applications until last month for the country’s financial year which starts in October.
The fewer number of applications that the USCIS is receiving definitely indicates that the US is once again going to miss the expected number of H-1B holders. Indians in regular category are entitled to a total of 65,000 H-1B visas, while in the student’s category, 20,000 are issued. When we see the 3-year old records, we would be able to notice that the cap was exhausted within one day. During that time, the US immigration agency had to perform lottery for allotments when it received about 1.5 lakh applications for H-1B visas.
There are a number of factors that are accountable for the free fall of the H-1B visa applications. Some of them include, low wage rates; and high unemployment rates ever since the recession hit the world. In particular, petitions from IT professionals have fallen in a dramatic way. In fact, professionals from India with H-1B visas are no more interested in realizing their plans to prolong their stay in the US.
In 2009, prominent IT companies in India altogether collected only 4,762 approved H-1B visas, whereas the number was 20,530 in the year 2006, where TCS alone had collected 3,046 visas. They included Tata Consultancy Services; Infosys Technologies, Wipro Technologies, as well as other arms of US-based organization, such as Cognizant. Moreover, only 4 Indian companies made to the top H-1B visa applicants in 2009, compared to 8 in 2006.
According to the HRSDC, all the skilled migrants belonging to the profession of IT (Information Technology Specialists) have to apply and obtain a Labor Market Opinion (LMO) if they intend to apply for a work permit to Canada. This would be implemented from 30th September 2010.
Previously, the employers and the applicants under the IT segment were not under any obligation to get a certification from the LMO. There were a total of seven job segments under the IT sector for immigrants to apply. With the changes in place, this could be considered as a complete reversal of the process that was being followed.
As per the new system, all the employers in Canada would have to demonstrate their efforts in seeking local people for the same job that they intend to offer an immigrant. All forms of evidence have to be provided by the employer which proves their efforts in recruitment. This includes advertising and so on. With the process for the LMO in place, the timelines for the visa procedure would increase by another two months.
This amendment has been brought about to keep the integrity constant when it came to the Foreign Worker Program.
This change however should not be confused with Immigration procedures and rules applicable to IT and computing professionals wishing to migrate to Canada. This is only an additional step that employers, wishing to hire international IT professionals, must undertake as part of the overall work permit process.
This is in fact good news for permanent residents and Canadian citizens as it protects Canadian jobs for them. This change also means that qualified IT professionals should apply for permanent resident visa to Canada and make Canada their home for good rather than wait for a work permit offer from a Canadian employer.
According to a recent study, it has been revealed that H-1B visa holders earn more than the Americans, hence removing their complaints that the holders of the same visa do not have high salaries.
A recent study done by the University of Maryland states that IT professionals who hold H-1B visa earn better salaries, as compared to the US natives, working on the same position. It is great news for overseas applicants who want to gain employment through H-1B visa and are eligible for the same.
The stats revealed that the overseas applicants stuck in IT fields get almost 8.9% higher incomes as compared to their US correspondents. The research inculcated the data from various IT professionals and their salaries drawn in the year 2000 till 2005.
Another report says that those applicants who come on temporary visas including H- 1B were granted a pay almost 6.8 per cent higher as compared to their counterparts in America. In addition, Green Card holders are more benefited as they earn 12.9 per cent higher than the US people.
All in all, the H-1B visa are seen in better position, especially when the data is out, applauding them as one of the highest paid IT professionals in America. Keeping these facets in mind, immigrating to the US would be a better option to choose from. Consult an Immigration expert for more info.
Many Australian industry bodies are all praise about the recent changes to the country’s skilled occupations list. Many think that the new list would permit more IT professionals to enter Australia in the coming times. The changes will definitely be instrumental in meeting the skills shortage in many industries, especially IT that they have been facing. These changes are likely to be in force since July.
The changes are an attempt to revive the harmony of the skilled migration program of Australia, said the country’s immigration minister. The difference between the previous and the latest skilled occupation list is that in the former the job titles were very specific, whereas the job titles in the new list are more generic. The bottom-line is that the latest skilled occupations list provides flexibility to both migrants and employers.
The Australian Information Industry Association’s chairman appreciated the changes to the occupations list for the skilled professionals, saying that the jobs in the new list are simplified, as compared to the earlier one. He acknowledged that the changes would not only have an impact on the number of people coming to Australia, it also gives employers the ability to typify their needs in terms of skills.
Being one of the biggest users of the Australian migration program, IT industry will be benefited from the changes significantly. The changes are a solution to the industry’s current skills shortage. As the head of the Australian Computer Society said, the new skilled occupations list would be instrumental in attracting overseas workers under the skilled visa categories, thereby making the workforce stronger!
Immigration Minister Chris Evans has come out with certain amendments in country’s Skilled Occupation List. Certainly, Australia will become a harder place to immigrate to; especially of you are intending to choose hairdresser, cook or a dance instructor as your occupation in the country. The minister has announced curbing down almost half of the 400 occupations, making the count to as low as 181 occupations!
The amendments mean that overseas applicants planning to apply under the new skilled occupation list would have a hard time getting selected in accordance to their skills and qualification levels. The new list has given more emphasis on medical professionals like dentists, nurses and osteopaths, in addition to other occupations like IT professionals, teachers and engineers, barring out the possibilities for low-value courses like chefs and hairdressers.
The minister has come out with a final “180” highly valued occupations, narrowing the number of applicants coming to Australia and ensuring that the country adopts only those professionals which are required by it.
According to a statement by the minister, the year 2007-2008 saw the involvement of more than 5000 hairdressers and chefs out of the 41,000 visas granted to applicants. He stated that the migration system of the country should not be dominated by the courses studied by overseas people. He said that they want to give emphasis on the overseas education sector but don’t want to automatically accept the applications from chefs and hairdressers.
He said that if our hospitals require nurses, then the priority should be given to the nurses rather than loading the country with thousands of un-sponsored cooks. The new Skilled Occupation List would come into effect from 1st July 2010.
For more information, consult an expert Immigration expert by your side. To check the new skilled occupation list Australia please click here.
While Australia is making investment in many of its big projects, especially Information Technology, first time after the global recession hit, the country is fearing of skills shortages. Reportedly, the Australian immigration department is bearing the pressure of relaxing the work visa regulations, so that the country can attract migrants in order to meet the need of IT workers.
As per the reports by stuff.co.nz, New Zealand, there are a number of billion dollars projects that faced abandonment in Australia; reason being the country does not have adequate number of skilled workers to be engaged in those projects. Australia is currently running out of skilled IT professionals, as a result of which the country’s other big projects, which are in pipeline, are likely to get affected.
Even if investment has already been made in technology field, the country anticipates serious skills shortages in the coming days. Skills shortages are apparent in all over Australia. Sydney, the home to one of the largest groups of immigrant workers is also facing inadequacy of workers as many important IT projects are in process. Some of the examples of such projects include Westpac Bank’s upgradation and Commonwealth Bank’s system.
The chief of country’s largest provider of contract IT, PeopleBank is sure about the severe skills shortage towards the mid of this year. Thus, the Australian government is left with the only option of relaxing immigration laws pertaining to the work visa. Let us see what changes the country brings to the visa category and how these changes would be effective in attracting skilled IT professionals!
While Australia is making investment in many of its big projects, especially Information Technology, first time after the global recession hit, the country is fearing of skills shortages. Reportedly, the Australian immigration department is bearing the pressure of relaxing the work visa regulations, so that the country can attract migrants in order to meet the need of IT workers.
As per the reports by stuff.co.nz, New Zealand, there are a number of billion dollars projects that faced abandonment in Australia; reason being the country does not have adequate number of skilled workers to be engaged in those projects. Australia is currently running out of skilled IT professionals, as a result of which the country’s other big projects, which are in pipeline, are likely to get affected.
Even if investment has already been made in technology field, the country anticipates serious skills shortages in the coming days. Skills shortages are apparent in all over Australia. Sydney, the home to one of the largest groups of immigrant workers is also facing inadequacy of workers as many important IT projects are in process. Some of the examples of such projects include Westpac Bank’s upgradation and Commonwealth Bank’s system.
The chief of country’s largest provider of contract IT, PeopleBank is sure about the severe skills shortage towards the mid of this year. Thus, the Australian government is left with the only option of relaxing immigration laws pertaining to the work visa. Let us see what changes the country brings to the visa category and how these changes would be effective in attracting skilled IT professionals!
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services have started accepting applications for H-1B visas, a step further would favor Indian IT professionals who are intending to work in the United States.
The applications are being accepted for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2010, and the limitations for the applications have been kept to 65,000. In addition, the first 20,000 applications who hold US master’s degree or higher than that, are excluded from the H-1B cap.
Till now, no date has been fixed for the submission of petitions. Therefore, one can speculate that the process would take some time to implement properly.
According to an official media release, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services would audit the quantity of petitions received and then acquaint the masses of the timeline on which it received the required applications to meet the H-1B cap.
In addition, the continued unemployment would be one of the crucial factors to play a role in leading to a much longer time to fill up the pool of H-1B visas. The release also confirmed that the USCIS will not receive refused cap-subject petitions, in addition to those received after the final receipt date.
Also, till the time span of December 31, 2014, petitions filed by beneficiaries in Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands or Guam are freed from the cap. All in all, the news of taking the H-1B petitions would serve a great boom for overseas workers planning to work in the U.S. in specialty professions.
