Archive for the ‘General’ Category

The ease of global mobility has made it easy for people to travel and make homes abroad. And Europe is a popular destination when it comes to a new home. But the European Union is tightening the laws.

It has been announced that France, who will head the EU from July will propose a “pact on immigration.”
This pact is said to call for compulsory language training for immigrants, strong deportation rules and fast use of the biometric system.

Europe ideally wants immigrants who contribute to the economy and add the demographics of the continent. However they will not make it easy. Keep an eye on more detail on www.globalvisas.com,  

Liza Minnelli almost didn’t get to perform in London over the weekend because she did not have the correct UK work permit in her passport.

Minnelli was booked to perform in London, UK, for the first time in almost 20 years but as she arrived at the airport, her and her entourage were stopped and initially prohibited from entering the country.

This was probably highly embarrassing for a star like Minnelli. This just shows you that no matter who you are, you need to have the correct permits in place if you want to travel overseas.

Minnelli, often praised as having the greatest theatrical singing voice in history was ultimately able to entertain her fans at the London Coliseum on Sunday evening after intense negotiations between her management and Home Office officials. The visa was eventually granted just in time for her to perform.

According to her representatives, Minnelli did in fact apply for the correct visa; however it had not been approved as yet.

It is probably true that if it was not Minnelli, she would have been sent back to the US but it is a valid warning to all of us anyway.

Sometime visas take longer than you expect, therefore always ask an expert how long it can take and book according to the maximum time for safety purposes.

Maybe next time Minnelli will use Global Visas to save her the embarrassment.

In our 14 years in the immigration business, Global Visas has constantly strived to fulfill any immigration or visa need, especially when it involves keeping a family together. However sometimes there is no legal way around the system and as heartbreaking it may be, there is nothing we can do.

This is what happened today in our London office. A mother’s wish to keep her son safely in the United Kingdom was dashed as his dependent visa expires at the end of this weekend. The son, a nineteen year Zimbabwean, will now have to return to Zimbabwe where he has no home, food or hope.

The reason for this is because he has applied too late. He has been in the UK for many years under his mother’s ancestry visa. However now that he is over 18 this dependence falls away. Because of the late application there is no other option for him but to return to his place of birth. Even if he applies for a study permit in the UK, he will have to go back to Zimbabwe in order to obtain entry clearance.

It was an emotional day at Global Visas as tears were shed over the issue. It is frustrating when you cannot help someone despite looking at all avenues - law is law and cannot be sidestepped.

We at Global Visas are passionate about helping people, but today we were defeated. We certainly hope this remains a rarity. 

It seems that a global trend of ‘medical tourism’ is occurring across the world, with it gaining particular speed throughout Western nations.

As the growing costs of hospital and healthcare treatment in many countries have risen, more and more people are travelling abroad and incorporating such treatment with holidays. A growing sector of this trend seems to be cosmetic surgery, with countries such as Thailand and India heading out in front as favourite destinations.

It seems that more people are opting for these medical tourist packages with the hope of spending their recuperation periods on a sun soaked sandy beach.

The issue is one which is causing great debate amongst society; with some arguing that medical tourism is a great money saving combination and is an inevitable by-product of a mobile world, with people taking advantage of treatments which aren’t available in their own areas.

On the other hand with a large proportion of treatments being seeked relating to ‘unnecessary’ cosmetic procedures, some feel that it is a case of extremity which is being demonstrated by people hoping to get back on healthcare costs whilst getting a tan.

Of course it is important to remember that not all of these so-called tourist treatments are non essential. With a large dispersion of doctors with different specialist fields working throughout the worls and the increasing culture of global mobility, many are finding that that in order to get the best help available they will need to travel outside of their home towns or lands.

Either way it seems that overseas treatment is an option being grabbed by many, paticuarly amongst U.K and U.S citizens.

Visas and immigration is the name of the game at Global Visas. Each day, week, month, year we deal with requests and provide  visa services for a range of countries from Canada, UK, Australia and many other desirable destinations around the world.

Often when the visa is in hand, our services are highly praised through emails, recommendations and thank yous. Gifts are a rare gesture but plants, chocolates and vouchers have been received by some staff here – today’s gift was a little different.

A plastic packet came today as a thank you gesture to one of Global Visas’ much loved managers. Such a gift, due to its rarity, was met with much excitement. We stood around his desk and as the plastic bag was slowly opened a strong fishy smell emerged. What was found you may ask?

Well, packed in about five polystyrene containers was enclosed an assortment of sushi. Yes the gift was fish rapped in seaweed and rice, accompanied by some soy and an essential dash of wasabi.

We wonder what could have prompted such a gift. Is it Global Visas’ dedication to its jobs, just like the sticky rice  that clings to the fish or is it our attention to detail reminiscent of craft of sushi creation. Could it be that the manager looks or act somewhat like a fish in her opinion?

It is clear though that this lady truly appreciated the services of Global Visas who organised her HSMP (Highly Skilled Migrant Programme) for the UK, allowing her to stay and work. 

Its a strange gesture but much appreciated nonetheless. To the lady who sent the sushi, thank you, on behalf of all Global Visas staff, the fish will be enjoyed by all. If we all die from food poisoning well she obviously wasn’t happy with her visa as we assumed, that we certainly hope is not the case.

Global Visas strive to make people happy in any way possible and it is days like this that make us want to do even better and days like these that make us love our job.

I wonder what gift we will get tomorrow, a puppy by any chance…

TB

For a long time students have been packing their cases and heading to the great unknown in order to experience a gap year prior to attending university or other further education.

Although a gap year is no doubt a great way of cutting loose and experiencing a new found freedom and the world beyond the familiar, it seems an emerging trend is gaining speed. This is the concept of becoming a foreign student and studying for your qualifications whilst abroad.

I know that for many years students have opted to study abroad and that this is not a ‘new’ trend. However it does seem that the number of foreign applications to universities is increasing the world over. A particularly strong student exchange relationship has been building between the U.S and the U.K.

It appears that in the present climate of increased global mobility, the young are jumping at the chance to gain more than just an academic education. Aside from gaining both credible and respected qualifications, students are also gaining a different kind of education, one away from the classroom; as they get to experience different cultures, faiths, attitudes and make friends with people from a vast array of lands.

This new age of global education is one which can surely only become a benefit to the global economy and its worldwide relations. With graduates qualifying with much more than just a degree certificate, having personal knowledge of international issues, surely there are only good things to come from the influx of foreign students around the world.

I understand the problems the Burma Cyclone has brought the Burma Government may have reservations about allowing hoards of do gooding tourists in to their country only to take pictures of the disaster and condescend.  If the weather holds out this summer they could even put on a concert or two for a new Cyclonic charity! The UN are not without their share of problems but all said and done maybe a little help from others may not be such a bad thing.

If you (the Burmese Government) do decide to allow aid workers in and want to start issuing visas all of us here at Global Visas are prepared to offer all our services and resources free of charge to assist in our small way.  We also promise not to go to Burma ourselves and will ask people to leave their cameras at home.

Let us know. 

It is the end of another month and our first month in India.  We always knew we had many clients in India and have enjoyed working with them. But this month we have learnt so much particularly about the difficulties of running andoffice - from the need for excellent air conditioning in 40 degree heat to finding printers of the highest order. 

With this all done we now have hundreds of people who want to use our services to leave India.  People want to know about Immigration to Canada.

Nothing in India seems to happen quickly and it is clear to us that developed countries do not want highly skilled Immigration but highly skilled white Immigration.  Our UK Visa team in India are very busy helping new clients. Many Immigration consultancies in India prey on the people of India taking people’s money without providing any real help.

We went to see the South African High Commission in India who said that we help our South Africa Immigration services in India as we are the only registered agents available.  For us all in Global Visas it has been a busy but exciting month.

Roll on June and the opening of our new South African Office!

Today I went to St Georges Hospital in London to visit a very sick friend.  I was met by a beautiful Staff Nurse from Namibia a country of only 1.2 million people.  She has been in the UK on a tier 1 visa for the last 3 years.  She is heading home in a couple of months for good. 

I asked her why she came to the UK to nurse our sick and she said ”One night I was surfing the Internet and the media always hold up England as a promised land.  Frankly I know now it is not and I love my home.”  I couldn’t help thinking when she returns home she will be missed.

My friend was taken to their new ward by a porter from Ghana who only started working that night but his happy go luck smile was infectious and had us all smiling in no time as he spoke about the World Cup and Football.  A truly great bloke.

On the ward we were greeted by a Nurse called Annie from the Phillipinnes and and another from Nigeria.  The Consultant was an Irish lady who clearly cared a great deal about the wealfare of her patients and her team.  Most of the people I met were on Tier 1 visas including the young Dr from Canada I promised to help complete their tier 1 visa as a small token of my admiration for the great job they were doing.  If ever there was a reason to celebrate tier 1 visas and UK Immigration it was then. 

I walked away from St Georges Hospital and their team tonight knowing my loved one was in the best hands and those hands where only there together through Immigration.  As for the idea of racism well let us just say I delighted the banter was constant about who had the best team :) 

What does it take to become the Director of Global Visas one of the worlds largest and best known authoritative Immigration consultancy?  It is an interesting question and one I am often asked.  I guess the answer is simple.  It takes a lot of passion about building the world best Immigration company.

From starting Global Visas back in the mid 1990’s when I was an Immigration Official I realised the world was missing a brilliant Immigration company.  I used to handle cases submitted to me from Solicitors and reps back in the 1990’s and was asked to grant their clients visas.  More often than not the service they provided their clients left a lot to be desired and I had a vision of a high quality business with realistic fees.

I started Global Visas and since then sticking to simple principles about Quality our Immigration team has grown not just in size but in what we can achieve.  We serve thousands of people securing visas world wide.  Our Immigration experts specialise in USA Immigration, UK Immigration, Australia Immigration, Canada immigration, South African Immigration, China Visas, India Immigration and much more.  We provide high quality Immigration services for some of the worlds leading companies.  Our network of office across the globe is continually growing and our clients continue to use us more and more.

From a vision nearly 15 years ago to today I love my job and love working in Global Visas.  The people here are just the best.