According to news by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, thousands of undocumented Punjabis are making Europe as their homes in an illegal manner. According to the report, they are entering the premises in huge numbers every year. The stats say that almost 20,000 enter the European countries on an annual basis, without proper visas or documentations.

Some of them end up being in jails, some lose their money in lakhs, while some commit suicide as they fail to get the required jobs and settlement, courtesy their illegal status. The report clearly points out towards the direction that illegal migration not only creates havoc in the life of the applicant but destroys the surroundings of the prospective country to which they are migrating.

KC Saha, former consultant of UNODC brought out these facts in front of the media. The report says that it is easy to conduct illegal immigration from big cities as the people behind it can remain anonymous and carry on with their illegal activities.

The aspect of Illegal immigration is harmful for the government of all the countries as it enhances the instances of terrorist activities to a major extent.

Other countries like Austria, Germany, France, Spain, to name a few, face similar incidents of illegal immigration every year. Therefore, it becomes mandatory that government should come out with stringent security checks to stop this continued process.

The sad part is that many of them spend millions of Rupees for illegal immigration when they can take legal immigration by spending the around five million Indian rupees under the Canada Immigrant Investor Program

Sometimes I doubt the intentions of cricketers!

I mean after earning millions through match fee, advertising, modeling, bidding, auctions, I doubt whether cricketers now play with their honest intentions and provide their 100% while playing against the opponents! Here I am NOT involving all the cricketers, nor will I name any one of them, but is it not that a majority of the cricketing audience have already started feeling that Cricketers do run after money, apart from what their actual priority which should be Cricket?

Okay, let us talk about the recent buzz: IPL3: which is around the corner! Money, Money and more Money! Which cricketer is sold for how much? What is the current value of each team? Who are the sponsors? How much the owners are earning out of it? What is the TRP? How much the channel is getting for broadcasting the matches? I mean, are we guys really giving any emphasis on the short selection, the choice of bowlers, the harmony amongst a team, class of a batsman, and the technicality of a bowler? No!!! Even the captains of the teams are too busy in grabbing all the money at one go rather than concentrating on what should be the actual composition of their team! They can only make a team of those players who have been allotted to them by their franchise owners! I mean, is this what we call a real CRICKET?

Forget about IPL, in general also, tell me, why there are not ample test matches played in a year, as compared to ODIs and T20s. While on one side, a test match fails to gather a crowd of 1000, the strength multiplies to almost 40 times during an ODI and T20? It is obvious that cricket boards (like BCCI, which is the richest board) get plenty of audiences, TRPs and revenues out of ODIs, so they don’t find any need to fit test matches in their yearly cricketing schedules. It is all about the “MONEY GAME.”

Now let us talk something about the Sponsors! The huge following of tabloid cricket creates little surprise that multinational companies want to spend millions on advertising, be it online or offline. With so much money pouring in their pockets, one can imagine the effect which it can create on the mindset of cricketers. After all, they are HUMANS too!

Comparing the money factor, the money in cricket is nowhere near comparable to the money involved in other sports. Hockey, the national game of India is struggling to get ample sponsors, while Indian cricket team is finding it difficult to choose from the big multinational corporate companies who are lying in queues to sponsor them!

Now allow me to give you a glimpse of the players’ intentions! I remember watching a post match presentation, where MS Dhoni was seen in one of his best moods, despite the fact that his team lost to a low level test team and that too by a huge margin! But that didn’t bother the captain at all. He got his match fee, plenty of sponsors and the required audience for the game! What else can he ask for? People will gradually forget the result and move on with their lives! There are plenty of matches ahead, come on, who will remember the losses!!! Right Folks

Time is Running…

Beer in one hand and Snacks in the other! There was a time when people used to enjoy five brilliant days of a Test Match, sitting all relaxed in the cozy environment of the stadium or their drawing rooms and watching their favorite cricketers play for full five days! No tension, no hurry, just five days of Cricket, Cricket and Cricket!

Of course, it is still believed that Test Cricket is the real test of a player’s abilities! It tests him to the core! Renowned cricketers like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Mark Waugh, Anil Kumble, Kallis, Ricky Ponting, to name a few, have earned huge recognitions in the arena of Test Cricket along with contributing in other formats too!

Then came the format of One Day Cricket, where the excitement rose to an altogether different level and cricketers started facing the pressure on their nerves too. There were boundaries, sixes, singles, doubles; I mean every shot dominated the One Day International Games!

ODI cricket has produced some of the brilliant hard hitters like, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Adam Gilchrist, Sanath Jayasuriya, Shahid Afridi, etc. who not only made extreme runs in Test Cricket but went on to make brilliant marks in ODIs too. It was in the late 90s when people started giving preferences to ODIs over the monotonous test matches. With the excitement, came the pressure too! Pressure to cope up with the fast paced scenario and make runs at high averages. From the relaxing and boring environment of Test Cricket, the focus entirely shifted towards the ODIs too. But this was not the end.

Now the game has totally changed. With the introduction of high paced formats like T20 and T10, people are gradually forgetting One Day Internationals too! One can imagine the pressure with which the players face each and every delivery in T20 matches. Sixes, Sixes and more Sixes! You can’t imagine the game without them now. The format of IPL (a perfect merge of glamour, money and cricket) has made the concept even more scintillating!

And then there are other facets of cricket like Gully Cricket, Super Sixes and Sand Cricket! The game is really getting exciting day by day! Wonder what we have in store for us – A “T5” for sure!!!! WHAT SAY GUYS?

True, that sportsmen give top priority to their games, but some of them have dabbled into business too! Consider Shane Warne for instance! The famous leg spinner may have retired from One Day and Test Cricket, but Warnie always finds ample reasons to stay in media and controversies!

The Aussie cricketer and his boxers has become one of the hottest topics in media today! Though he has given his name to a ‘knickers brand,’ it is not clear how many are really buying these “knickers”!

Sachin Tendular, Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly, the trio went on to open restaurants in their respective cities. Though, none of them managed to get many visitors after a particular span of time, but their motives clearly showed their business-minded persona and preferences towards money matters! So why their business ventures did not succeed?

Again, take Venus Williams and Serena Williams. They have a whole range of attire range in their name! Now that’s what you call living with style! The list goes on and on… But the question which pops in my mind is that these sports stars already get plenty of sponsorships, match fee, recognition and all other luxuries, what is the need of dabbing in business! Are they not satisfied with – fame, money, respect, adulation of people at large- what they have? Is this the greed that drives them to sign contracts after contracts? And most importantly, why do most of the sportsperson fail when they wear the “businessmen” hat?

Last weeks’ apology by Tiger Woods and the news regarding one of his ex-girlfriends also seeking an apology from him throws something interesting to gossip around for the people at large.

It is said that nothing is impossible in the world! So, why is it that temptations, especially when it comes to human relations, cannot be resisted? In this case, it can be simply said that Woods is not man enough to resist such indulgences which are not accepted by the society at large. It clearly shows how honest and faithful he could have been to his loved ones. This does not mean that temptations cannot and should not be indulged in. But the question is to what extent and what kind of temptations can one indulge in, especially when an individual is married or committed to a relationship?

Another notable point here is that any relationship exists only with the consent of two adults. It is but obvious that all the ladies involved in this case, are definitely not children. And they were neither forced nor maltreated. So, what prevented them from walking away from Woods? Men are usually believed to be the culprits when it comes to extra-marital relations. But it is forgotten that there is always another woman who ignites the fire. Thus, in a way, those women are equally accountable in this regard. So, money, fame and sex – all go hand in hand. And complicating the whole situation is the factor called human emotions where people have genuine feelings for each other.

It is agreed that a human has only one shot at life and so, why waste it! This addresses the main purpose in the creation of a society, and the reason for maintaining certain boundaries. Yet, infidelity exists! This clearly questions marriage as an institution. The moment any one of the partners indulge in an extra-marital affair, a marriage comes to an end! Whether it is a celebrity couple or a regular one; the biggest sufferers amidst the insanity are the children of the couple. In this case, it would be horrible than the worst nightmare of a child growing only to know that his father was a sex addict! His children may have lost out on an opportunity to be raised in a family with a father whom they would have wanted to become their best friend at a later stage.

The issue clearly questions the concept of infidelity…to what extent is it accepted? Also, was Woods socially and physically deprived to indulge in such acts? Both men and women have been known to indulge in adultery and why does it happen the way it does?

It also questions the celebrities such as Tiger Woods who are in the limelight all the time. This is because celebrities are figures which the masses look up to. They are the icons who are meant to lead and expected to behave in a socially accepted manner. Of all, the society makes or breaks them.

Here is another interesting question! News items say that wife of Tiger Woods is planning to divorce him and take 50% of all his earnings. It is agreed that till the time, their marriage lasted, both have contributed to it. While money cannot console her grief, it is an important factor for she has to look after herself and also raise their children.

On the other hand, when it comes to his alleged affairs, it was additional perks and allowances along with a celebrity. How should the society at large look at them - Victims or Socialites seeking cheap (and highly paying) publicity? Or simple human beings who have gave in to temptations and therefore be given the benefit of doubt?

There are others who would argue extra marital affairs as being something very personal and should be restricted to those involved. After all, a family has broken which is sad. It is not something to have fun and gossip about!

Finally, it is agreed that the public memory is very short…no individual would be interested to know about a man who has definitely not earned praises for being one! But Woods is definitely good at his job of playing Golf. So, for all his sponsors, he is business for sure. But the question is would he again rise as a Hero in the eyes of the public? If yes, would he be forgiven and life would move on for him? Then, why so much noise right now?

The Tiger Woods matter is not just an issue of one celebrity. The more important question here is addressing the complexity of human relationships. More so, understanding the factors that trigger an individual to indulge in adultery and infidelity and the social implications involved.

Disclaimer: Purpose of this article is to debate on complexities of human relationships and society at large. It is not directed towards anybody in person or hurt anybody’s feelings.  Each person is entitled to his/her views and opinion and may express them in comments section of this article.

Being one of the affluent cities in the world, it is but expected that the property prices in Sydney might be sky high. If you are new to Sydney, this article would prove to be of some use to you.

We presume that you all new know that buying a house can be such a tedious task. Many aspects have to be looked into vis. a vis. the location, amount to be invested, the area of the property and so on. There are many such factors which determine the purchase of a house.

Firstly, the money to be invested becomes the key concern. Depending on the amount that you can spare, along with the location of the purchase plays a crucial role. The location puts your house on demand. With these are the trends in the market, population and other demographical aspects. Not to forget are the area and the size of the property, its look and presentation and so on.

Secondly, the convenience of the property from the main city hubs such as a hospital, local market and public transport. Incase, you have children going to school, you have to ensure that their school is also located nearby. More so, the place you select must have a demand for people to live in. In addition, it should be a place where you can allow your children to grow and the community prospers timely.

It has to be remembered that it is the land price which increases over a period of time. The type of community that your locality would turn into is another prospective factor which has to be considered. You definitely would not want to change your residence every few months.

All in all, a balanced decision has to be made. This is specifically true for the immigrants landing in Sydney. It is highly suggested for them that they do a thorough research of the city before actually landing. Post – landing, they would know the places to look out for a house.

An Immigration and Visa Consultant would also be of help. He would have a series of networked professionals who can help you with the same.

There are many aspects that must be considered and worked on before actually getting on to the flight and post landing in Australia. Some such activities include banking your money, car, telephone and internet, utilities and so on.

Ensuring that all your savings are safely transferred is the key of all aspects. For this, efficient banking is a must. Thus, opening a bank account is a must which would require you to present an ID such as that of a passport. Certain banks in Australia permit you to open an account prior to your landing in Australia. Once you land, you must to go the particular branch within the first 6 weeks with an identification proof. You must provide with a current residence address. This can also be a temporary address till you find a decent accommodation for yourself. After getting the bankcards, you can subscribe to phone as well as internet banking.

However, it has to be remembered that banking in Australia might turn out to be quite different from that in your native country. Here, it is followed on a points system based on which an individual is permitted to open a bank account. Ideally, a minimum of 100 points have to be acquired to open one. Additionally, a passport and a driving license are also mandatory to be produced.

Also, there are many different types of bank accounts that are available. The most common ones opted for are the deposit or the transaction accounts meant for daily purposes. The interest charged on these accounts is not more than 0 – 1%. A savings bank account is another option that could be considered. Credit cards are also available for immigrants but its takes time to build a good credit history.

Another important aspect is subscribing to a telephone and an interest connection. For this, a service provider could be contacted to fit a connection. You might have to pay some amount to get the connection active.

You must know that Telstra and Optus are the biggest telecom companies in Australia. Either of the above could be contacted for a connection. You would have to be pay monthly bills and there are a number of packages to for you to select from based on your needs.

You would need to buy a new mobile handset since the ones from your native country might not work here. All the major mobile handset companies are present in Australia. You can get a connection along with handset itself. Regarding the network coverage, be careful on the connection you opt for. To know more, contact the Australia Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy.

Next in line are the utilities. If you are living in a rented accommodation, your landlord would look into it for you and pay for you. To know more on the water supply, you can visit the Australian Government National Water Commission.

For gas and electricity, the Energy Australia is the largest service provider. To get a connection, a simple phone call to them would do. However, Utilityone is one single service provider for all your needs of water, gas and electricity, telephone and internet.

A driver’s license is another important document which would prove your identification. If you have an international driving license, you would be permitted to use it in Australia for the initial one year. Post one year, you would have to take a written test to convert your current license into an Australian one.

Last, but not the least, having an independent mode of transport is of utmost importance. You would not find any problems buying a car in this country. However, look around for the best possible deal available. Your vehicle must be registered for you to legally drive. The registration would involve a fee, a pink slip, proof of purchase and ownership, insurance and an ID proof.

All in all, there are many aspects that must be looked into. The above were some of the most important aspects to be considered. To know more on the same, you can get in touch with an Immigration and Visa expert. He can guide you more on the post landing issues.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the primary agency to be contacted incase you want to apply for an EB – 5 visa. This agency is under the direct supervision of the Department of Homeland Security. The USCIS California Service Centre is responsible for all the procedures for the applications applied for the regional centre designations and petitions from the investors.

After investing the money with the regional centre program, the procedure for immigration would start by filing an application with the California Service Centre (CSC).  Your application would then be assessed to see whether the project would suffice the creation of jobs within the conditional permanent residence of two years. The mode of funds acquirement would also be looked into. The application known as I – 526 petition would be approved if the desired proof has been submitted regarding the legality of the source.

Post approval of I – 526 petition, if the investor is residing outside the US, he is permitted to the complete rest of the formalities for his visa. This would be done in the US Consulate of the immigrant’s country of origin. These consulates are run by the Department of State which is responsible for the collection of all the documents. This is done by the National Visa Centre for the Department of State which is then sent to the Consulate for the final processing.

However, if the investor and his family are living in the US under the long – term non immigrant visa, they have the liberty to apply for the adjustment of status to the USCIC CSC. The mandatory documents have to be submitted. These include medical certificates and fingerprint and name based background checks in the databases of the FBI and the CIA. This procedure also involves applicants seeking a work authorization and a travel document which would allow them to move in and out of the country.

On the other hand, it has to be noted very clearly that the permanent residence is conditional is only permitted for 2 years. In the last 90 days, an I – 829 petition has to be filed by the immigrant to nullify the condition from permanent residence. This petition is assessed by the CSC to check whether the objectives of the project have been met or not. It is also seen whether or not the investor has removed his investment from the regional centre program. The immigrant and his family members should not have indulged in any form of criminal activity.

After the approval of the I – 829 petition, a permanent resident card is awarded to the candidate which is valid for 10 years. Here, he has the choice to either apply for a Green Card or be a permanent resident. Also, after 5 years, he can apply for a citizenship.

To know more, contact an Immigration and Visa veteran since he is the specialist in this arena and would be updated with all the latest in this field.

If you are staying in Canada under the Student Visa, then it would be beneficial to read this blog further…

With the recent liberalization of rules, students who are studying in Canada and are on summer break would find it convenient to work, gain financial independence and have the relevant work experience for their future benefit. In addition, they don’t have to spend extra money and travel to their home country to gain work experience while they are on their summer break.

The benefits are also amplified to the spouses of foreign students as they are entitled to an open work permit and if found eligible, can work full time anywhere after getting a work permit for a fee of $150.00.

In addition, on-campus employment is valid for all those applicants who are enrolled in an accepted institution; while on the other hand, the off-campus restrictions are not too stringent too. Here are some of the regulations:

• A full-time student having a study permit is eligible to work on campus after fulfilling the essential requirements.
• As far as the off-campus work regulations are concerned, it is essential that the applicant should have an enrollment in an approved educational institution with a full-time course.

The list does not end up here. Get in touch with an Immigration specialist and know about your eligibility criteria and other binding requirements today!

The Point Based System can be considered as a scale on which all the applicants are ranked for their skills. It is meant for those foreign nationals who intend to live, work or study in the United Kingdom.

The Tier 1 (General) Migrant of the Points Based System replaced the former Highly Skilled Migrant Program (HSMP). It was brought out for those foreign nationals who were residing in the UK. Initially, three additional sub – tiers were slashed and instead, the program became applicable for the residents living outside the UK.
The various categories in the Points Based System involve the following:

• Age
• Educational qualifications
• Previous Work Experience
• English Language Skills
• Financial Ability of an applicant

All the above have to be proved with documentary evidence. Also, a minimum pass mark has to be achieved in order to meet the mandatory requirements.

All in all, the advantage of this system is that it rates all the applicants on the same level. Thus, there is no scope for any kind of partiality. This provides an equal chance for all the applicants.

An immigration and visa consultancy firm is the best organization to be contacted. Most of them offer a free prior assessment to ensure that you qualify before actually filing your application. This would simply increase your chances with fewer delays with less wastage of time, money, energy and resources.

To know more about the PBS guidelines, stay tuned for the next update!