Immigration Visa OnlineA Blog of Mr. Ajay Sharma, Immigration and visas Specialist

As an Immigration expert, I have faced various queries related with damaged documents such as passport and other important papers, during my ongoing experience of more than fifteen years till now.

I will share a recent query with my readers. An Indian working as an engineer in Canada recently visited India with his friends. During the visit, his Canadian passport got damaged. While he was on his way back to Canada, he was refused departure at the airport as his passport was damaged.

Here is the answer to this question: Until and unless the applicant does not produce a proper passport, he or she is not allowed to leave the country. Documents (http://blog.abhinav.com/importance-of-documentation-in-immigration-process/) related to travel; health and identity proof, to name a few should be handled with utmost care. Damaged documents are strictly prohibited in any application process in Immigration.

A duly filled application form, along with the necessary documents form the most critical facets of making your application process a success. The list of the documents required may vary in conformity with the type of visa applied for! In the above case, the applicant is advised to get a duplicate passport from the Canadian High Commission as soon as possible. It would be a wise decision to have the guidance of an expert Immigration and Visa specialist by your side, to ensure that the procedure is carried out perfectly.

The island continent is one of the rich and developed nations of the world. It is a treat for any student coming from a developed country to come and study in Australia. The degrees availed in Australia are accepted throughout the world. With these, is an array of courses including vocational and other training related aspects that are being offered. Also, the students are given opportunities to conduct independent research, work with the community and so on, adding to the exceptionally brilliant courses offered.

However, in order to study in Australia, you must avail an Australian study visa. In order to qualify for a student visa, you must satisfy the following conditions:

• You must get an evidence of your offer to study from a CRICOS authorized Australian institute.
• You should prove your competency in English language via IELTS.
• Documents proving a source of financial support during your stay in Australia. Incase you are availing a scholarship, a letter from the institute/university proving the same.
• A passport proving that you are a citizen of a particular country.
• You should be cleared of medical and other security aspects. Also, it is mandatory to maintain an Overseas Student Health cover while residing in Australia.
• You must ensure that you leave the country before your visa expires.

Apart from the above mentioned criteria, there is a separate set of documents to be provided while filing the application. Some such documents include your photographs, a statement of purpose and so on.

For more, contact a study visa expert and avail his guidance at every step. This would ensure a smooth visa issuance without any delay.

It all started when recently some people were charged over a conspiracy to storm an army base in Sydney and plotting a suicide attack on a military base. Keeping these issues in mind, Australian lawmaker Kelvin Thomson has suggested marking a reduction in the number of immigrants coming to Australia and has called for more precise and stringent checks for people wishing to migrate to Australia.

Labor MP Kelvin Thomson said that the reduction would not only reduce the number of migrants but also the activities related with terrorism in a major way. He further said that reducing the rate by half would give authorities ample time to assess applicants.

Facts say that almost 213,000 migrants arrived in Australia last year. 12,000 of which were UN refugees. Also, out of the five arrested for the plotting of the Sydney attack, three of them were of Somali descent. Speculation are being made that these terrorists arrived via the UN refugee program. This clearly depicts the increased number of applicants coming to Australia via UN program at a gradual pace.

According to Mr. Thomson, Islamists enter the country through official channels. This aspect is even more critical than an attack by another country.

But will cutting down the Immigration Quota really solve the issue? Knowing the fact Australia requires Skilled Migrants in the long run, cutting the quotas won’t solve the problem at the core. Therefore, instead of curbing migration quotas under the Skilled Migrant Program, the Australian Government would do well by keeping a careful background check on the applicants under the UN refugee program.

Australian Economy has always remained one of the strongest aspects of the country. Various reports from International sources are affirming on this fact. The best part is that the country managed to rise faster as compared to other countries, especially after the Great Economic Catastrophe that occurred recently!

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in one of his statements stated that: “We currently, among the major advanced economies, have the fastest growth. We have also the second-lowest unemployment levels and the lowest debt,”

Here is what the other facts have to say:

• Australia’s unemployment rate remained at 5.8 per cent for July, despite various speculations that the seasonally adjusted rate would reach at least 6 per cent.
• Part-time employment increased 48,200 to 3.203 million. On the other hand, full-time jobs are dropped by 16,000 to 7.590 million. These facts are giving an indication that the employers are cutting hours rather than positions.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, “The figures indicate that Australian companies have taken sensible steps to retain skilled workers where possible and in some cases offering for workers the option of converting to part-time employment,” she said. “It’s far better for a working person to be kept in a job than to be unemployed.”

Here are some other facts on the Australian Economy:

• The Housing aspect is expanding (http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ProductsbyReleaseDate/05DBCE56402EC566CA25723D000F2999?OpenDocument) in a major way.
• Business investments are increasing (http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/5625.0?OpenDocument) at a decent pace.
• Real retail sales are increasing (http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ProductsbyReleaseDate/4A7B3A600C3DE89FCA2574F300154B48?OpenDocument).

On a promising note, Australia is improving in terms of Trade, Employment factor, Real Retails Sales, and so on. All in all, its economy is on a roll – Thanks to the mentioned aspects!

The Detention Policy of the US has been criticized since ages! The tough rules, the deadly detentions and other such practices – all are condemned in a major way. The decision to reform the US Detention Policy was cheered and welcomed by people from all over the world.

John Morton, Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, told reporters that detentions of families at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, Texas, which has held 400 people, would end immediately.

According to a recent press release by The Associated Press, “Some families would go to a facility in Pennsylvania, but it has only 85 beds and Morton said other alternatives would be considered. These could include community homes, often run by nonprofit or religious groups, where the immigrants can come and go, but federal officials can still keep track of them.”

Morton further elaborated that this change would lead to “the creation of a system that is marked by and driven by the civil detention philosophy.”

According to the Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, More changes are coming in what she called a major overhaul that DHS officials acknowledge will take years.”

“There are a number of issues that need to be corrected,” Napolitano said. “If people are going to be held … we have an obligation that they be held safely in a clean, healthy environment.” she further added.

All in all, this plan is turning out to be a huge revolution as far the “Overhauling of the Detention Policy” is concerned. People are not only applauding this new makeover but are also seeing this as a step towards the benefit of mankind. We are no exception!

Travel documents such as passports and visas are the most important documents to be carried, especially when you are traveling abroad. These documents hold proof of you being a citizen of a particular country. So, always give a second look to your documents before you touch them up inside your bags. Check to ensure that you have all the relevant documents.

Incase, you do not have a passport, we suggest that you apply in time to obtain a visa and leave for your trip on time. Each and every country has its own procedure for granting a visa. Hence, check with your Regional Passport office on the relevant procedure to be followed.

In some countries, clearing an interview is a must. For others, police verification is an important aspect. However, an application form has to be filed in all cases with the relevant supporting documents. You can hire the services of a passport agent for such purposes. Some countries also provide online application forms which could be submitted on the internet.

Ensure that your passport is valid for atleast six months before you travel abroad. You would not fancy being forcefully deported by the government of that particular country. With passport, comes the eligibility for a visa. A visa can be termed as a permit to enter and reside in a country on a temporary basis (depending on the type of visa). If you intend to travel to a country as a tourist, you would be granted a temporary resident visa.

Important points to be remembered while you travel are:

• Check for the vaccines certified by the government of the specific country. Get vaccinated incase you are not. Carry the relevant documents certifying that you have been vaccinated for those specific diseases.
• Always carry a separate photo id as well.
• Inform the nearest consulate of the country incase your passport is lost or stolen.
• It is better to keep your passport and other important documents safe in the hotel locker.

Above all, it is always best to seek the services and advice of a passport, visa or an immigration specialist or a consultant who is an expert in the matters of the above.

If you ask me, I will surely tell you that “Studying Abroad is a Life-Changing Experience.” Every year, thousands of individuals dream of studying abroad. Some succeed, others do not! What ever is the case, there is always a diverse range of benefits that are decked with the same.

Here goes the list:

• The very first reason is that, you get to learn a new language! What could be better than learning a language on a daily basis and hearing it from those who belong to the same culture? In addition, you get to travel to different cities as well as know and interact with an array of people. Also, you get a wonderful excuse to understand that place and its people from a deeper perspective.
• International countries are attired with various options in terms of courses offered, colleges, institutions, and jobs and so on. The prospect of studying abroad provides you with an accomplished chance to shape your career in a positive and successful direction.
• An entirely new ambiance would make you strong, help you develop your skills, and provide you alternatives to know about your strengths and weaknesses also.
• You learn to challenge your own beliefs and develop different perspectives towards life. Also, the applicant finds a perfect connection to make friends around the world. It gives you a chance to know what others feel about your own culture and native land. That’s a great advantage!
• Studying abroad is entirely different from what you might have experienced in your home country. The classrooms, faculty, teaching method, curriculum, new academic system and rules and the courses, everything is new! You would come across something which is entirely new and fresh. That means that studying abroad is a great way to break your chain of “MONOTONY.’

The list is quite huge! Just consult an experienced study visa consultant and plan your future today!

Do you know that having only $1,000,000 of the net worth is not enough to qualify for the EB-5 investment program? Apart from the general qualifying conditions, there are several additional conditions that investors have to fulfill under the EB-5 program, such as collecting documents including bank statements, tax proof, income returns et al that are required to make a petition application. You may read Investment criteria for EB-5 aspirants to know about the eligibility conditions for investors, looking to immigrate to the US under this program.

Once you get an EB-5 visa to USA, some post-visa requirements also needs to be complied with, such as creation of 10 new jobs every year for the first two years by the EB-5 business enterprise for US employees. So, there are many such requirements that investors have to fulfill, though this will not really be a challenge for a good businessmen.

In case, you are thinking that once you have got the EB-5 visa, you can then take an easy route and escape the post-visa requirements, you are terribly wrong. This is because the EB-5 visa granted to you initially is the conditional one. Only when you have successfully met the post-visa requirements for the first two years of your stay in USA, you are granted the unconditional EB-5 visa that makes you a permanent US resident. You may also apply for US Citizenship after that. For a comprehensive view of the basic criteria for both pre-visa and post-visa phase of EB-5 program is enlisted in this article, EB-5 – Basic requirements for the Investment Criteria.

EB-5 visa program is the right choice for immigration to USA, if you wish to establish a new or existing business in the US. So, what should be the minimum investment? How can you get a Green Card to USA under this program? What are the stages or procedure you have to follow to obtain your EB-5 US Visa? If these are the questions bothering you, you can simply take a sigh of relief. EB-5 critical visa stages and EB-5 case processing procedures are the articles that can prove to be of great help to you, in this regard.

Once you qualify through all the EB-5 visa stages and gets an approval, you would be granted the status of a conditional permanent residence for two years. This conditional status would be lifted after two years, in case you have successfully fulfilled all post-visa requirements as well, such as compulsory creation of a minimum of 10 jobs each year for the initial two years, for the U.S. workers via your EB-5 business enterprise. One thing that you must keep in mind is the fact that you must enter the US within 180 days of your visa approval.

The unconditional EB-5 green card approval that you will obtain after lifting the conditional status of your visa would be for ten years. Though it is advisable to apply for a new EB-5 visa but if you do not get it done, this doesn’t mean that you are no longer a US Citizen. However, you may not be allowed to go outside USA without a valid US green card. So, if you have enough cash in your pocket, get ready to double your money by seeking assistance from an immigration specialist and ultimately an approval for your US Visa under the EB-5 program.

Denmark immigration opens a wide range of opportunities for you, in case your nominated occupation appears on the positive list of occupations. If you are proficient in the English language and your professional and educational qualification suits the occupation you have nominated for, that is listed on the Denmark’s positive list of occupations, you can almost pack your bags for Denmark.

However, passing the minimum pass mark set for Denmark’s points based system along with the submission of necessary documents are a few other things that would together pave your way to a successful Denmark immigration.

It would be a good idea to assess the points that you are likely to get according to the current Points based system of Denmark. This can be done with the assistance of an able immigration specialist. It makes sense to make an investment of time and money in the Denmark Green Card application, only if you have chances of clearing the minimum pass mark. A Denmark Green Card allows you to stay in Denmark for three years, with the residence permit.

Apart from seeking assistance from an immigration expert, you must also be mindful of a few tips to ensure a successful Denmark Green card application. This would help you save a lot of time and also avert inconvenience that you might have to face for the Green card approval for Denmark immigration.