Archive for September, 2008

Following on from recent news regarding US rapper Snoop Dogg not being granted a visa to perform in Australia, it seems that the controversial has rapper successfully passed a character test and has subsequently been granted with an Australian visa.

Character references are a regular part of the visa application process and Australian immigration authorities had previously said that they would not grant him a visa until one had been completed.

One of the reasons which went against Dogg on his initial application was the fact that on previous visits to the country the rapper had overstayed his visas. An offence which Australian officials said that they were not willing to forget, despite the popularity of the artist.

As a result of the refusal the rapper’s upcoming Smoked Out tour had been in doubt after immigration authorities confirmed they were investigating the performer’s criminal history.

The whole visit in its entirety has been well published and has certainly allocated a great deal of awareness on the Australian visa system. Some what of a positive surely, with so many Brits opting to flee the murky weather and live, study or work in Australia.

The character reference in question which ultimately resulted in a visa approval was provided to authorities by Russell Crowe, a fellow ‘celebrity’ favourite.

The approval of Snoop Dogg’s visa however, fails to seem straight forward. The Department of Immigration today confirmed Snoop Dogg has been granted a visa, however on the condition he receives counselling before arriving in the country.

Speaking of the decision to grant approval the Department for Immigration and Citizenship Australia said, “Given his criminal record, the Department undertook a full character assessment of Snoop Dogg’s criminal history and previous conduct before making a decision on his visa application. In making this decision, the Department weighed his criminal convictions against his previous behaviour while in Australia, recent conduct - including charity work - and any likely risk to the Australian community.”

In recent weeks UK TV viewers have had their favourite evening and daytime television shows interrupted with a host of adverts produced by the UK Home Office. These ads highlight the introduction of the new Points Based System and the need for businesses to obtain licenses in order to employ foreigners.

Well, it seems that this new trend of media and migration is not only restricted to the UK but instead is also sweeping the States.

According to an article in the Washington Post a number of new US immigration ads are as they put it ’stirring the melting pot’.

The ads are being run by a number of pro-immigration groups; with the campaign featuring various full page advertorials in a variety of newspapers. The reason for which is to protest a lobbying blitz occurring this week by the anti-immigration group FAIR, the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

The ads includes three racially explosive quotes and images. The campaign has even extended to the recruitment of well recognised public figures, with the Post saying that “FAIR is getting a big boost this week from the TV world’s most famous anti-immigration zealot, Lou Dobbs, who will participate in the organization’s annual ‘Hold Their Feet to the Fire’ lobbying event in Washington, which is presented as an immigration reform lobbying effort.”

One thing is for sure, in an era where more people tune into a daily soap opera than a party political broadcast, media is like it has become for politics emerged as a key tool in alerting people to the debates surrounding immigration. Even if like the UK clips, they fail to actual deliver much explanation and understanding to those watching.

As we have seen in recent news reports regarding sport, foreign players are becoming regular fixtures in sports teams worldwide. Only last week did cricket announce new plans for targeting international shores.

It seems that now the Aussies are turning to developing multi-cultural teams, with news just announced that for teams in Super 14 they will now be able to sign two players from overseas, this is after the Australian Rugby Union lifted its ban on foreigners.

In addition to this rule provinces will also be allowed to sign one marquee foreigner - who will never be available to play for the Wallabies - and a developing player yet to represent his country at Test, Sevens or A-team level.

It is thought that by turning to overseas players Super 14 will not only become more strengthened in terms of talent, but international interest will grow, as it has in other sports such as football.

Most sports are run as businesses nowadays and by allowing foreign players into home leagues and divisions it can be very profitable for the individual teams and the sport as a whole.

Teams looking to recruit top foreign stars will need to apply to the ARU and the length of a marquee foreigner’s contract will be a maximum of two years.

ARU chairman Peter McGrath says that “There is no doubt the injection of world-class foreign players will create added interest in the Super Rugby competition. We’re also confident overseas players will be excited about the potential opportunities.”

As greater numbers of international players migrate to Australia for greater opportunities the sincere concern however is one which accompanies most sporting divisions employing sports stars to work in Australia or any other country, that is ‘obtaining visas.’

All players will need to get work permits in order to play in Australia; however the normally straight forward process is set to get complicated, especially with players from a whole wealth of countries applying with strict deadline. All I say is watch this space.

Despite the rising costs of travelling, as airlines hike costs and fuels continues to loom a recent study has shown that India is a nation of international globe trotters.

India it seems is not suffering from the same economic meltdown which is hitting the pockets of most regular travellers in the UK, or so this study shows.

Not only have outbound numbers grown from India, especially on short-haul routes, but average spend of travellers is also going strong, according to a number of various international tourism boards.

According to industry estimates, the number of Indian travellers visiting foreign shores is poised to touch 12 million by end of this year, about 2 million higher than before.

Speaking about the study to the Indian Times, Tourism Malaysia Director said “Since most Indians travel with their families, the average expenditure is significantly higher compared to inbound tourists from other countries.”

This has also been shown by an increase in the number of visa applications being placed by Indians for entry to a number of destinations, particularly the UK and US. Plus, with India being involved in a lot more direct investment opportunities with its growing portfolio of companies throughout the world, the business aspect of Indian travel is unlikely to slow.

UK immigration laws have been the subject of discussion yet again, this time the news regards the refusal of entry for an up and coming artist whom was scheduled to attend an exhibition in Brighton.

John Grider, also known as Broken Crow, was refused entry to Britain when he arrived in the UK to exhibit some of his popular street art pieces, but failed to show a valid UK work permit.

The artist whom is known for his large and colourful depictions of animals on the sides of buildings was subsequently refused entry and detained at Heathrow airport. This was due to the visa which he was in possession of being the wrong type.

Speaking of the entry refusal a spokesperson for the UK Home Office said “All applications for entry are considered on their merits and in accordance with the immigration rules. Where an application does not meet the requirements of these rules it will be refused.”

The artist had previously travelled to the UK for similar exhibitions and had not had any problems, however changes in the UK immigration laws have meant his existing visa for travel was no longer valid and instead he required a UK work permit.

The Director of Ink_d studio in Brighton, where the artist is due to present his work said: “John has been travelling around the world to take part in and attend exhibitions but never had a problem until now. But I understand the British immigration service has changed the laws on visa applications, which has affected artists in particular.”

As has been frequently documented on news wires the world over, the issue of foreign sportsmen often raises immigration and visas debates, particularly when applications are denied.

With this in mind it seems that such high profile reports are likely to continue, yet this time it’s cricket which will be subjected to immigration debate. Announced today, foreign cricket players have been given the go ahead to play in the domestic matches in India.

According to the announcement, foreigner players will be treated as guest players and will most likely travel to India on tourist visas. This is far from a radical move in the sporting world and as a majority of opinions agree, it is a highly called for ruling. After all, foreign footballers are already heavily engulfed in football leagues all over the world.

The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Niranjan Shah has however instilled a list of rules which must be adhered to prior to a foreign player’s inclusion. Firstly the foreigner player must have played at least 10 tests and/or 20 ODIs’ in addition a maximum of three ‘Guest’ players will only allowed to participate in any one game.

Surely this news has been a long time coming, particularly with India’s increasing stature within the world of global mobility.

Australia, a beautiful land adorned with rippling waves, golden shores and glowing sunshine, sounds like paradise? Well new census figures show that there is a growing problem affecting life down under… and that is a lack of the male species.

According to statistics at present there are almost 100,000 more females than males in Australia, with the imbalance steadily increasing. According to the national census the figures are largely a product of changes in immigration trends throughout the country as a whole.

Coastal cities in the Australia are particularly feeling the female dominance, as many women whom were previously residing in more rural villages and towns are instead internally migrating to larger, more cosmopolitan areas in the hunt for greater employment opportunities.

Although a natural sign of the times, this alone is not the reason for such a radical change in census numbers. Instead it is this movement combined with the external movement of Australia’s men.

As global mobility increases the world-over greater numbers of men are applying for visas to study, work and live outside of Australia, subsequently leaving the women behind as the study shows that Australian women are less eager to move abroad.

This news is not the first of immigration affecting gender numbers in Australia. In previous years Australia has been flooded with men thanks to immigration policies favouring males. This however, is a position which has been reversed, mainly due to the thousands of Australian men in their 20s and early 30s whom are leaving Australia to seek work elsewhere.

Speaking of the census, Demographer Bernard Salt said “The exodus of young men to foreign countries is leaving its mark. If you go into the United Arab Emirates census you’ll find there is around large numbers of Australians living in the UK, mostly male, mostly in the 25 to 34-year age group.”