An article in the FT today states that in Canada “Declining birthrates are not keeping pace with the demands of the growing economy.” This will mean that all net labor growth in Canada will be attributed to immigrants in 2011.
With this in mind it is no wonder that Jason Kenny, Canadian minister for immigration, announced this week new laws to improve the welfare of temporary foreign workers and less restrictions on Canadian work visas.

Canada’s thirst for foreign workers is unlikely to be quenched as the economy in Canada rides out the recession and continues to grow. It is worth noting as well that during the recession demand for Canadian work visas has not wavered and remained constant.

Taken the need for foreign workers Canada is turning into one of the most cosmopolitan and multi-cultured countries in the west. Although not spread equally across the country, ethnic diversity in the built up areas remains the bigger picture. Canada’s population is made up of 19.8% of its residents having been born outside of the country, compared to the US with 13% and the UK with 10.1% in a 2006 survey.
In Toronto more than half of its 2.5million residents were born outside of Canada, with 150,000 arriving every year.

Canada’s approach to immigration is positive and one feels necessary for the economy. Due to asylum claims, visitors from the Czech Republic and Mexico now need to conform to new visa requirements, so while Canadian immigration are willing to accept new workers, often on temporary working visas, the country’s approach to new permanent citizens is a little blurred.

After being in office for just under a year, Barack Obama seems to be making important progress for US immigration procedure.

This week his office has announced that it is to overhaul the US immigration detention system, a massive step away from George W. Bush’s administration.

At the moment people without the necessary US visa requirements are held in prison like centres, most times actual prisons until they come in front of US immigration to argue their case for staying in the country. The problem with this is that most of the people being held haven’t actually committed any crimes, yet are being held in prisons.

Obviously this should have happened a long time ago, on a human rights violation, but with the Bush administration they clearly had other priority’s, after all how many failed asylum seekers or immigrants are then going to challenge the super power that is the US on how they were held before being deported?

It’s worth noting that there is a vast number of people coming through these detention centres every week, there are 30,000 beds and 370,000 immigrants are held each year, so each immigrant is being held for approximately a month.

What makes this worse is that most of the people being detained have often been working in the country for a significant period of time, paying taxes the whole shebang, all they want to do is conform to the conditions set and hopefully remain in the country, these people are highly unlikely to not go to court. Granted a small minority are actual criminals but a difference needs and hopefully will be made.

The new plans are to start using re-purposed hotels and nursing homes as places of detention, new measures would be drawn up to allow detainees many more civil liberties than they currently receive. This will also have the added advantage that it will save the American Government $86 per night, per detainee. I’ve put the figures all out for you as I’ve worked it out and I don’t quite believe it myself.

One bed for the year- $86 x 365 = $31,390

There are 30,000 beds being used all year- $31,390 x 30,000 = $941,700,000

So when you put it into this context is Obama fighting for the human rights of the detainees or has his Government found a way they can re-coup some of the money they bailed out the banks with?

As we are constantly being told ‘this is the age of the mobile classes.’ The last decade has seen airports and airplanes getting bigger, while passenger numbers and US visa applications move in a steady upward curve.

With the news this week that UK company British Airways are to axe 1,700 jobs and a report by the Australian Minister for Immigration, Chris Evans, saying that numbers of people applying and getting Australian visas are down, are these not conflicting reports of the state of travel in this ‘mobile age?’

As you would expect with the advent of people being able to afford to travel more freely and a increase in applications for US visas, there has been a explosion in companies all competing for their custom.

With the new breed of budget airline, big companies such as BA have had to see their once monopolized market become highly competitive. Because of this, company’s such as BA and others like American Airlines, were forced to diversify and set themselves apart from cheap choice airlines, they also didn’t have much choice, the new airlines were run much cheaply, because of this big companies were marketed as a better quality, more premium choice. The ramifications of which are being felt now as we continue in a economic downturn.

With this in mind it is no wonder a company such as BA have announced plans to cut costs.

The news that a large airline are cutting jobs and wages won’t be a popular one, especially since US visa applications remain steady, however, with the airline industry more competitive than ever and the economy as it is, you can expect more cuts and job losses across the board, as all the large ‘premium’ airlines struggle to cope with the ever increasing reality of passengers’ necessity to travel cheaply.

For people interested in working and living in America, or Canada, they can find it increasingly competitive. With less employers currently recruiting this means more people going for the same jobs, this is why it is even more important to gain any edge possible over your competition. In order to help your dream move to America or Canada we recommend fine tuning your CV. After all in order to secure a US visa you need a secured position first.

V&J Associates is a professional CV writing company that prides itself on the personal and bespoke nature of its approach.  The company was formed in 2005 by Managing Director, Victoria Roe, who wanted to offer job seekers something different to the services already available in the marketplace.    Victoria explains: “A great CV writing company doesn’t just reformat your existing CV but will work closely with you to understand your skills and experiences and will then be able to use the information you provide to pull out the key skills that are looked for in your chosen career.  To do this, a good CV writer will not only be experienced in the recruitment industry but will also be an excellent copywriter and all of our consultants are experts in both fields.”

In addition to a tailored and personal CV writing service, V&J Associates also offers a 12 month career support package, at no extra cost.  Each client is designated their own consultant who will provide career support throughout their job search.  This can involve answering a wide range of career related questions,  tailoring the CV for specific applications or just providing a little moral support.

Although V&J Associates are UK based, their consultants’ expertise extends across the globe and they have worked with clients from every industry and every continent.  They understand the differing requirements of employers from Europe to Australia and everywhere in between and have an impressive track record in helping clients to achieve their dream of living and working abroad.

For further information visit their website at www.vandjassociates.com or call Victoria on 01373 451 777.

After a seventeen-month long investigation, US immigration officials have uncovered that one of the countries leading clothing manufacturers had over 1800 illegal workers employed in their downtown Los Angeles factory.

This has resulted in all of those employees being fired in the coming weeks. These workers had obtained work by using false documents, US immigration officers have said, however, all paid taxes on their salaries and therefore contributed to the economy. This raises the question of if it was fair or right that because they were illegal immigrants working here without the necessary US visa arrangements, that they should lose their jobs?

These workers were good at their jobs, they arrived as and when they should, and carried out their duties without complaint. American Apparel, as you would expect of a company not seeking bad publicity, has under-played the immigration investigation. This is, after all, a company that trades on it’s wholesome all American image, as far removed from the shady sweatshops a US visa scandal like this would usually be associated.

The company’s chief executive, Dov Charney, has in the past campaigned on this issue of immigration in the US, and it is perhaps a little suspicious of why his company has been made a target. For if a company like American Apparel, as the investigation found, has over a quarter of it’s employees working illegally and not in line with US immigration laws, what would officials find if they investigated more obtuse businesses? Is this not an example of what is happening across the country, across every low-skilled sector and within every state?

Imagine that figure of 25% multiplied across the country. This country’s output relies on workers such as these; they are the unsung backbone of the US economy and without them commerce would undoubtedly suffer.

The issue of immigration in this country is not a new one, but is it not time that we understood that illegal immigrants are hard-working, tax paying workers, as the aforementioned Dov Charney campaigns for, is it not time we “Legalized L.A.”

Hey guys, I just wanted to take the time to say hi and introduce myself.

My name, as you may have guessed is Niall Rice, I’ll be the main contributor for the blog here at GlobalVisas.com from now on and you’ll be seeing much more of me and my writing in the coming weeks/months. With a background in website management, I have limited expertise in the area of immigration and foreign policy etc. However, having been here for only a short-while, I feel it to be one of the most important and relevant topics that the 21st century has thrown up.

So please, if you read anything by myself, and you disagree or even better if you feel I have missed out on any points, for example with US immigration, Australian immigration, visa procedures, moving to the UK, anything whatsoever, please post a comment and bring it to the fore.

This blog is about bringing you guys (and girls) a more rounded view of our business and more importantly the important issues around foreign immigration/migration at present.

I look forward to your comments and idea’s in the coming weeks.

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UK immigration in control

A roadshow campaign by UK immigration officials around England has seen children fingerprinted, pensioners handcuffed and families locked into immigration service cell vans as part of a PR drive to dispel myths that surround immigration issues.

The series of events that took place at county fairs across southern England and was organised by the UK Border Agency.

Feedback from the initiative said that 239 visitors had improved their opinion of the work of the immigration service, while 13 said it was the same.

But migrant support groups were dubious as to the value of such a campaign. A spokesman for Refugee Action, quoted on the Guardian website, said: “We appreciate UK immigration officers do a hard job in difficult circumstances.

“But we remain to be convinced the way to dispel myths about immigration is to dress members of the immigration service up like extras from The Sweeney whilst running around fingerprinting children, handcuffing pensioners and locking families in arrest vans.”

The week-long PR push came in the same week that Baroness Scotland was fined by immigration officials over her involvement in employing a Tongan housekeeper who did not have a valid UK visa.

Move to South Africa for the World Cup 2010.

With only 260 days to go until the World Cup moves to South Africa, things are beginning to reach boiling point for the first ever tournament on African soil.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was getting hot under the collar after the issue of security in South Africa was again raised by the media.

The normally placid Swede reacted with irritation to repeat suggestions that violence and crime threaten to overshadow the event.

“This is a country that already gets 11 million tourists every year, who go there because they like the place. They have had World Cups in cricket and rugby. Let us please drop these questions and get out there and support and trust the South Africans,” seethed Sepp.

And no wonder he was angry with scare-mongering horror headlines in the English media (Daily Telegraph) that warned England fans are “virtually certain’ to die” at the World Cup. While rival paper the Guardian published figures showing crime in South Africa is on the increase with just nine months to go before the games start:

In Rustenburg, tipped to be the England squad’s base, cases of sex crimes, assault, robbery with aggravating circumstances and kidnapping all increased on the previous year.

Imagine the rise in incidents when the England squad and their Wags arrive!

The 41,000 security officers currently being trained to work in South Africaand handle fans’ security may find themselves better allocated to keeping a 24-hour tantrum watch on England forward Wayne Rooney or having a constant sniper rifle pointed at Danielle Lloyd, the gobby glamour model, Big Brother racist and current ex-Wag of England soccer ace Jermain Dafoe.

Maybe we all need to cool down and take a refreshing cup of fizzy pop? Well, good news is at hand with the announcement that Coca-Cola is sponsoring a pre-tournament 225-day world tour to boost awareness for this little known tournament.

The 2010 World Cup Trophy will be on show across 86 countries and fans will be able to slake their thirst for football with a rare glimpse of the glittering 18-carat gold trophy.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter, surely a lot calmer after hearing about all the millions of pounds his organistion will indirectly gain as a result of the deal,  is backing Coca-Cola as the brand to epitomize the “unique spirit and the celebrations that football inspires.”

The drinks brand will also sponsor a dance contest to find the best dancer at next year’s World Cup. Blatter and the suits at Coke may got a shock when they see warm lager and shouting uncouth barbs at rival fans tend to be the cultural preserve of most football fans.

But as long as you have a valid South African visa, you’ll be welcome to enjoy the World Cup no matter what your tipple or fancy.

Habib Rahman speaks out on UK immigration

An immigration group has heavily criticised UK Border Agency powers following a report of a raid on the home of the former housekeeper of the attorney general, Baroness Scotland.

A report on the BBC News website said the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants accused UK officials of having “some police powers” that were “too much”.

The British police have given some police powers to border officials and they have misused their authority in a number of cases. The move followed changes to the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 which provided extended powers to immigration officers.

The JCWI’s chief executive Habib Rahman said he was not in support of such raids being carried out by UK Border Agency officials.

Are immigration raids a step too far?

Should there be more intelligent ways of dealing with immigration issues?

Join the debate and tell Global Visas your views.