We all know the importance of an attorney when it comes to cases pertaining to immigration. At the same time, there are only few who are actually aware that when it comes to an interview with the visa officer, an attorney cannot represent an applicant in the US Embassy. This is simply not permitted by the US Embassy.

However, the same is allowed at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) where in an American lawyer is permitted to represent an applicant. The common rule that is followed amongst all the Embassies and Consulates of the United States is that all the foreign nationals who are applying for a visa have to appear in person for an interview. Here, any form of representation legal in nature would not be accepted under any circumstance. Also, people related to the applicant such as spouse or any relative or even a friend would not be permitted.

The only exception to the above is when the applicant is a minor. In such a case, a legal guardian or an attorney can appear on behalf of the minor applicant. When it comes to client representation, the United States Foreign Affairs Manual is followed. This manual caters to proper guidance to the United States Department of State which includes all the State employees.

Each consulate has the authority to form its own set of policies when it comes to representation of applicants by an attorney. In such cases, the consular officers usually consult with the attorney directly. This is done if the lawyer has submitted a G-28 Notice of Representation which has been implemented appropriately. In this case, the consular officials would inform the attorney of records when it comes to issues with the applicant in question.

The benefit of this form of correspondence is priceless especially when this attorney is on the ground. This leads to speeding the process and thus, reducing the number of delays through mails or telephone. This is because the attorney can be present in front of the consular officer which leads to an inquiry being made directly.

Above all, it is best to seek the advice of an expert before walking in for an interview. Even if a visa consultant is not permitted to represent your case, he can always advice you on how to go about the process. This is because he is always updated with the latest when it comes to such matters.

Manitoba’s PNP has provisions for almost all international skilled workers, including farmers. The program under the MPNP for young farmers facilitates farmers from overseas to explore Manitoba’s business-friendly atmosphere, thereby starting a far or purchasing one. This program lets the Canadian province to hire eligible people engaged in farm businesses from across the globe. The people nominated by the province must have the intention, as well as the capability to establish themselves and purchase a farm or invest into existing farm businesses in Manitoba.

The successful nominees of this program for young farmers find it easier to obtain the permanent residence status in Canada because they are provided with a certificate stating that they are nominated by the provincial program. This certificate helps in quicker processing of the applications for PR in Canada.

This category is specially designed to facilitate experienced young farmers from across the globe to establish farm businesses in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is mandatory of applicants that they visit the province for a minimum of seven days before filing their petitions for the category. To qualify under the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• They must have a minimum personal wealth of 150,000 Canadian Dollars.
• They must make a minimum equity investment of 150,000 Canadian Dollars in Manitoba;
• They must have 3 years of experience, in least of owning farm(s) managing farm(s).
• The age of the principle applicant must not exceed 40 years.

For more information, contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant!

In order to take up farm business in Manitoba, its provincial nominee program requires foreign skilled worker to make eligible business investments. Besides, there are farm business activities requirements that the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program expects international foreign workers who intend to invest in the province’s farm industry to meet. Let’s have a look at them.

Investment

• The applicants must invest minimum of 150,000 Canadian Dollars from their personal wealth in Manitoba. The investment should be substantial in nature.
• Applicants who are making investment into an existing Manitoba farm business, then they must have a stake of minimum 33.33 percent in the business. Else, they should make an equity investment of 1 million Canadian Dollars, in least.
• Investments into properties like motor vehicles, which would be used for personal commuting are not considered as part of the business investment in Manitoba.
• Investments into farm businesses whose primary purpose is to deliver passive investment income are not eligible for this category.

Business Activities

• A farm business should be operating and doing regular business activities in the province of Manitoba.
• Nominee applicants must be taking active participation in the ongoing management of the farm business, residing inside the province of Manitoba.
• The farm business must be lawful and that should be practical as per the economic environment of Manitoba.
• Nominee applicants must possess skills and other resources and skills required by the farm business.
• Nominee applicants must conduct value-added services in the farm business in Manitoba. And completely abstract activities are not eligible for this program.

For more information, contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant!

International Student stream falls under the Priority Assessment Stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. Under this category, international students can immigrate to Manitoba and apply for permanent residence status in Canada. Graduates from a Manitoba post-secondary educational institute who have a regular employment offer from a Manitoba employer, which is related to what they have studied are eligible to apply for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. Below are few of the requirements for the students:

• The applicants applying under the category for overseas students must be the graduates from a Manitoba post-secondary program.
• An open work permit for the post graduates in Manitoba has to be applied for with the Canadian High Commission.
• Applicants are also required to continue working with an employer in Manitoba for six months at the least, at the time of filing the application.
• They must have a permanent and regular job offer from their employers with whom they have been working for last six months or more.

As far as the post-graduate open work permit is concerned, prospective applicants of the International Students Stream of the MPNP can apply for the same with the CIC. A maximum of ninety days is given after the completion of their academic program to apply for this work permit. For your information, graduates in Canada from other Canadian provinces can also be eligible for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. However, international students who have obtained a post-secondary degree in any Canadian province cannot apply for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program under the International Student stream. They have the option to apply under the Employer Direct Stream. These students must meet the following requirements:

• Graduates from any Canadian province, other than Manitoba must have been working with a local employer in Manitoba for a minimum period of six months with an open work permit.
• They must have a Manitoba connection, maybe a family member who has been living in the province.

For more information about the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant!

According to a recent survey in Australia, the employment industry in the land of Kangaroos is still doing well, despite hit by the global financial crisis. As per figures revealed by the survey report, in the month of June the nation’s job advertisements were up 2.7 percent. What the survey has revealed is making many Oz firms optimistic about the future outlook.

If we see the job advertisements, both internet and print media, posted by the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, commonly known as ANZ, it would be cleared how the company has been going great guns. ANZ is a major international banking and financial services group and the third largest bank in Oz. The financial group’s job advertisements rose by 32.2 percent last month, compared to June 2009. This marked the fastest annual growth rate since November 2007. Internet, of late, has emerged as the most popular medium for employers to advertise jobs. Advertisements placed in print media dropped by 1.6 percent last month, while online advertising rose by 3 percent.

However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics is slated to release its report on labor market for the month of June on July 8. Australia’s prominent economists, as well as of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group is hoping the Australian unemployment rate to remain at around 5.2 percent, as forecast by the ABS. He also expects the nation to generate many thousands of new employment opportunities every month.

Home construction projects, as well as mining industry are notably accountable for the job growth in Oz. Thus, construction and mining industries are the greatest sources of employment of late. With this, immigrating to Australia at this point of time seems beneficial for overseas people. If you are intending to immigrate, it is time to seek the professional help of an Immigration and Visa Consultant!

If anyone out there is willing to immigrate to Denmark and engage yourself in a regulated profession there, you need to take care of certain things. Well, a regulated profession in Denmark is a profession where you have to fulfill a number of requirements, which have to do with your professional qualifications. If you meet those requirements, then only you are eligible to pursue that regulated profession in Denmark. If you have professional qualifications, either through education or work outside Denmark, you can get your qualifications assessed by the authorized agency in the land of Danish in order to pursue your profession there.

Here in this article, we will focus on the rules and regulations to which the non-European Union, as well as non European Economic Area applicants are entitled to in order to be eligible for a regulated profession in Denmark. Let’s proceed to them.

First, a non-European Union or European Economic Area national is required to file an application in order to be able to pursue a profession with the concerned/authorized Danish body. Along with the application the applicant must also submit other credentials that support his/her professional qualifications. Once the competent authority received the application and documents, it proceeds with further assessment of the qualifications and determines if that particular profession is recognized by Denmark or not. After this, the authority decides if the applicant can be awarded with a permit to pursue the profession in the country, which is called Authorization.

Learn about the application process

Before a person proceeds with the application procedure, it is recommended to check out the official website for the Danish Agency for International Education. Every detail of the procedure, as well as application form for various professions should be on the website. Although, some may not find application forms for certain professions. In that case, they can write to the authorized agency stating about the exact profession they want to be authorized for, along with the contact information for further convenience!

Credentials required at the time of filing application

Well, each and every regulated profession in Denmark requires different credentials. In this case also, prospective applicants are recommended to visit the official website of the Danish Agency for International Education. However, usually in most cases, an applicant is required to provide the competent authority with the following credentials:

• An application for the access to pursue a regulated profession
• A nationality proof
• Documents supporting the qualifications
• List of subjects the applicant has studied
• A certificate from the country is required where the applicant has been authorized as qualified for the profession
• Experience certificate on that particular profession

Apart from the aforementioned credentials, the applicants may be requested by the authorized agency to provide them with other details like, character certificate and a document that supports a clean criminal background.

Other details regarding documentation

• In most cases, credentials are required as certified copies, sometimes in original.
• The embassy in the applicant’s home country or authorized public organization must certify all the credentials.
• All the documents should be presented in original language. If not in original language, then in Danish or English translation.
• Certain credentials must be translated by authorized translator in the home country of the applicant, or by the country’s embassy/competent authority. If the credentials are translated in any other way, they must be certified by the country’s embassy.
• Not all credentials must be translated, for example, the passport.
• Two copies of every certified credential must be submitted.

After the assessment of the qualifications, the authorized Danish agency comes up with their decision regarding the applicants’ Authorization. If the competent authority gives a ‘Positive’ decision, then it means an applicant gets full access to pursue his/her profession in Denmark, with same terms as Danish nationals are entitled to.

A ‘Conditional’ decision implies full authorization to take up a profession in Denmark. However, in this case, the competent authority may ask the applicant to take up an aptitude test/supplementary training/an adaptation period in the land of Danish.

When there is a ‘Negative’ decision, an applicant is denied with authorization to pursue a regulated profession in Denmark. This implies that the applicant is not qualified for the profession he/she has applied for.

For more information on immigration related issues concerning Denmark, contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant!

Of late, Melbourne has emerged as the hot favorite destination among tourists who come to the land of Kangaroos. The city has outdone the most popular Australian city. According to the figures released for the 12 months to March this year, by the Tourism Australia, over the last ten years, Melbourne’s interstate visitor numbers plummeted by 22 percent, which made up over 4 million tourists to the city in a year.

On the other hand, Sydney’s tourist numbers went down 15 per cent to make it 3.3 million a year. Even though Melbourne has defeated Sydney with its numbers of tourists, the latter still remains the bigger tourism market, especially when it comes to international tourists.

Last year which ended April 2010, around 5.7 million foreign tourists visited the land of Kangaroos. The figure is an increase of 2 per cent from the previous year. Australia has always emerged a popular tourist destination. The Oz cities like Sydney and Melbourne are some of those cities that attract some of the biggest tourist crowds that visit the nation every year. Australia has an endless numbers of tourist attractions. People across the globe visit the land of Kangaroos for a number of reasons. Apart from tourists, overseas people also find Australia as one of the favorite destinations to immigrate. The nation is in the league with the likes of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, where majority of the world immigrant population go and settle there.

If you are one of those who have been planning to immigrate to Australia, contact an Immigrant and Visa Consultant!

A campaign has been launched in order to relax visa regulations for Indian shoppers who come to spend amazing amounts in London! In addition, reports say that millionaires from India come in huge number and are gradually becoming one of the upcoming trends of highest spenders in the UK.

The campaign has been termed as ‘The Visa-Ability Campaign.’ Speculations are in the wind that knowing the amount of people these Indian rich families spend in hot areas of UK like Oxford Street and Regent Street, to name a few, the amount is expected to reach 12 billion pounds as far as the next twenty four months are concerned.

Also, 2012 London Olympics are around the corner, so the expenditure would automatically reach its peak, giving a huge turn around in the UK economy. Also, people who love favorable exchange rates would appreciate shopping in the posh markets of London! And the population mainly comes from high end personalities from India and China.

The motto behind this campaign is to get more and shoppers to West End rather then they moving to other places to shop! The news is definitely great for all those people intending to come to UK on a tourist visa in the coming two years. Shop till you drop!

Predictors are speculating that the upcoming events in UK would boost the sales by a huge margin.

The story begins like this: The man is 45 years of age, and has an American spouse. But the story takes a turn when it took him a long span of as long as 17 years to convince the officials of Federal Immigration that his marriage to the American is genuine and not for the purpose of getting a green card. In short, the seventeen years old battle ran just for the sake of convincing the immigration people that the marriage is authentic!

Inderjit Singh, the concerned man is a cabbie. He entered the country in the year 1992, but was barred from getting a spousal green card under stringent marriage visa laws prevailing at that time.

The irony is that the couple was subjected to five interviews from the immigration officials, in addition to filing three additional petitions, but ended up getting failed every single time. Not to forget the time and money spent in this tedious process which has taken 17 years, but still have not reached its meeting end. The journey is till unfinished for them. The couple had to take loans and have almost spent 20,000 dollars on the whole cost spent on this immigration case.

The case states that the man didn’t even go to attend the funeral of his father in India, knowing to the fact that he would not be granted entry in the US premises again.

Reports say that this is not an exception as many cases have been reported which have caused couples to lie in a state of limbo.

With the introduction of new law in Arizona’s immigration, it has become a nightmare for Hispanics to continue to live in the state. New law enforced by the Arizona Immigration is forcing the Hispanics to look for other places to live. The current situation is so bad that they are flying from Arizona seven weeks before the law is enforced, that is on July 29th.

There is no definite figure which can tell exactly how many Hispanics have flown but the Hispanic dropouts from schools and colleges are quite large in number. The Balsz Elementary School District has the population of about 75% Hispanics and within a time period of one month only, around 70% of Hispanic parents have stopped sending their children to the school as said by District Superintendent Jeffrey Smith. The district has lost many of its Hispanic students and parents blame the Arizona’s strict law for this. Hispanics are moving towards other states and countries where they feel more accepted.

By the law, (as signed on April 23rd by Republican Governor Jan Brewer) a police officer could check the immigration status of the person if they suspect that the person is staying illegally in Arizona. People whose business is dependent on the Hispanic community are going into losses. Jorge Vargas is one of those sufferers who are not Hispanic but are greatly affected as their business is dependent largely on them. Jorge has an air conditioning business which mainly has Hispanics as their regular clients.

There are many illegal immigrants in Arizona who have been living with their families and working for more than 20 years. They would not want their families to be insulted by police and so have decided to leave the state and move somewhere else.  It’s mainly the illegal immigrants who are leaving Arizona with their families and this could mean that the chances of breach of law would be less, which quite an accomplishment is making their task easier as said by Paul Senseman, a spokesperson for Brewer.