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.

Taxback.com are dedicated to global tax services and income tax refunds for people of all nationalities who work and travel around the world.

Global Visas recommends taxback.com

Taxback.com files more than 130,000 tax returns each year including US tax refunds, Canada tax refunds, Ireland tax refunds, UK tax refunds, and refunds from 12 other countries. Taxback.com has over 600 employees in 24 offices around the world providing customer service in 22 languages. With 13 years experience in securing tax refunds, they ensure that all tax returns are filed in accordance with changing foreign tax regulations to guarantee the maximum legal tax refund. 

Global Visas recommends taxback.com because their team is dedicated to making it easy for you to receive the largest possible legal refund in the shortest possible time. They have staff available 24/7 to provide live online tax help.

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.

Women In Technology

Women in Technology is an organisation committed to helping women build successful and satisfying careers in the technology profession and since their launch in early 2005, they have grown into a network with 6,000 members.

Their goal is to increase the number of women working in and achieving in the UK’s technology industry which they achieve through their recruitment services, by providing fantastic networking opportunities and holding events that will help their members to build the highly successful and satisfying IT career they’ve always wanted. Membership is free!

They work with companies to put diversity at the forefront of their recruitment and employment policies, helping them recruit more female technologists. They provide a complete recruitment service, offer a dedicated online IT job board, regularly host and co-host networking events, run personal development and career orientated training courses.

Previous womenintechnology event topics have included: “How to get ahead in IT – successful career strategies for women in technology”, “Building a Confident Personal Brand” and “Political Savvy for Women in IT”. Their training courses are open to all women in IT and courses cover: “Be the Impactful Presenter”, “Communicating with Confidence” and “Successful Influencing Skills”.

They help job seekers make their next career move and can offer advice on getting back into work after a career break, putting together a CV and handling interviews successfully. They also provide access to free industry networking events, to forums and groups made up of like minded people and to their weekly e-Newsletter.

To find out more, please go to www.womenintechnology.co.uk or contact Maggie Berry on 020 7422 9214 or mberry@womenin.co.uk

UK visa rule changes this month

The latest Statement of Changes in UK immigration rules was put before the government this week and these will be in effect from October 1 2009.

As of October, anyone wishing to apply for a UK visa could be affected by the changes. The changes include the following:

For anyone applying for a UK student Tier 4 visa of the points-based system, the launch of the electronic Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) will now be valid.

The UK Border Agency say: “This will strengthen the sponsorship arrangements for Tier 4 and provide educational institutions with a fast and straightforward electronic system to sponsor students.” As this transition takes places, the current visa letters will continue as an alternative to CAS. This is only a short-term fix.

A further change affects people applying for the Sole Representatives category. This will now be replaced by a new Representatives of Overseas Business category. The new category introduces a requirement to speak English, which will ensure that business representatives are able to make an effective contribution while they are here. There will also be minor technical changes made to various categories of the UK visa points-based system.

A full explanation of all the changes will be available from September 30 and Global Visas can of course provide expert guidance and advice on any aspect of the changes.

Paul Graham steps out of tech sector to write on US immigration

Paul Graham, well known for his essays on start-ups and entrepreneurialism in the US tech sector wrote about an idea that if realized, would be a big step in the right direction for US immigration policy.

Paul’s  ‘Founder visa’ essay proposes that 10,000 entrepreneurial immigrants be granted US visas with conditions attached that they must not work for any other company apart from the one that they start-up while in the US.

Paul argues that for Silicon Valley to remain the best place in the world to start a software company more highly talented entrepreneurial immigrants are needed.  Some of the most successful Internet companies were started by US immigrants.  Examples include Jerry Yang, the founder of Yahoo!, who was born in Taipei.  Sergery Brin, the co-founder of Google immigrated to the US from Russia.  What is surprising to many is that these are not unusual cases (at least not for their foreign-founders). Approximately one quarter of US tech companies are founded by immigrants.

At the moment, requirements for investors and entrepreneurs to enter the US are high and the process of obtaining the visa is a lengthy process and it is not guaranteed to end in success.

The theoretical ‘Founder visa’ is a simple solution to a complicated problem.  Paul’s essay made quite a stir when it was published and it has been made famous online, to the extent of a Founder visa movement being created.

However, there are problems with the idea when you dig into it.  For example, how can foreign entrepreneurs prove they are serious about their business?  One solution would be for the US government to “piggyback” on the expertise of venture capitalists.  In other words, if a start-up founder has gained VC investment they can be allowed in – providing they still own a big enough share of their company.

This solution raises a new question – what about entrepreneurs looking to ‘bootstrap’ their business? (Grow it on-the-cheap with minimum capital investment).  Just as importantly there is the issue of how failure can be dealt with.  Most start-ups fail, so where would the failed founders go?  This could be solved by having the ‘Founder visa’ expire if the holder doesn’t start a new company with 1 year.

The typical xenophobic knee-jerk response of the US is not justified here.  Immigrants with a ‘Founder visa’ would be creating jobs for Americans, and if their companies are successful they could create a lot of jobs.

10,000 immigrants per year is a drop in the ocean in terms of people moving to the US.  If we use Paul’s estimate of 4 entrepreneurs per start-up then 2500 new companies would be started in the US every year.  Some of those companies would be successful; a few would be very successful and provide lots of jobs and taxable profits for the US.

What do you think about the concept of a ‘Founder visa’?