AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BARBADOS

As India and the United Kingdom negotiate their Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Home Secretary of the UK Suella Braverman is mulling over the idea to cut the period of stay allowed for an overseas student under a post-study visa route. Braverman is planning to reform the Graduate Visa route which will require overseas students to obtain a work visa after getting a skilled job or leave the UK in 6 months. The new Graduate Visa route allowed overseas students to stay in the UK and look for jobs and gain experience even without the requirement of a specific job offer. According to reports from UK media, the Department of Education of the UK is trying to block such changes as they feel the move might reduce the attractiveness of the country as a study destination. The supporters of Braverman's plan argue that the Graduate Visa route was misused by students who take admissions in short courses at "less respectable universities". According to local media, government sources sai...

IRCC held a surprise draw today marking Express Entry draws in two consecutive weeks. IRCC has now already invited 11,000 Express Entry candidates in 2023, which is the quickest start to Express Entry ever. Canada held the second Express Entry draw of the year today. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued invitations to 5,500 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 490. No program was specified, meaning eligible candidates were invited from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). All are programs that operate under the Express Entry system. The draw was a surprise as it marked the second Express Entry round of invitations in consecutive weeks. IRCC just held a draw  last Wednesday,  January 11 in which it also invited 5,500 candidates. The CRS cut-off for last week’s draw was 507, meaning the ...

Today we find that all-program round of invitations is the first since the November 23 Express Entry draw. Canada held its first Express Entry draw of the year today, and the first since November 23. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued invitations to 5,500 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 507. Eligible candidates were invited from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). All are programs that operate under the Express Entry system. This draw marks an increase in the number of ITAs issued, and is the largest all-program Express Entry draw since they resumed last July. There were 750 additional invitations over the November 23 draw, which invited 4,750 candidates, as well as a higher CRS score than has been seen since the draw on September 28. Express Entry getting ready for changes In the second...

Om international saw that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s strategy for reducing illegal immigration by preventing Albanian migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats is unlikely to succeed because there is “almost infinite” demand for the hazardous crossings among people of other nationalities, according to a Home Office source. We have the great point that If you enter the UK illegally you should not be able to remain here, Sunak told parliament. Instead, you will be detained and swiftly returned either to your home country or to a safe country where your asylum claim will be considered. The number of migrants and refugees arriving in England across the Channel has more than doubled in the last two years, with government figures showing Albanians account for the highest number of those arriving by this route. Sunak announced a new five-point strategy for dealing with illegal immigration, including plans to fast-track the return of Albanian asylum seekers and clear the i...

Om International found that the UK sector is reporting increasing numbers of international students dropping out soon after enrolment in order to accept employment offers in the care sector. Well, Om group sees the changes to the skilled worker visa system mean that applicants are no longer required to hold a degree-level qualification to apply. Students who can secure a job offer from an employer approved by the Home Office they can apply to switch from the student route visa to the skilled worker visa immediately, without any need to complete their degree. Om International  has discovered a growing trend of overseas immigration consultants using universities as a stepping stone to help clients enter the UK and then switch to care jobs before they are required to pay full tuition fees. This route offers a cheaper and faster pathway to full-time employment in the UK compared to the graduate route – which requires students to pay expensive course fees and mainten...

Green Card Fees to Soar Under New Proposal The cost to apply for a green card could increase by as much as 130% under a new proposal   announced  Tuesday.  Green card applicants applying to  adjust their status   from within the United States could pay more than $3,500 in government fees, a drastic increase from the current fee of $1,760, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). President Biden   unveiled a new policy   that allows migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti to enter the U.S. and legally remain for up to two years. To qualify, migrants from those countries will need to prove they have someone in the U.S. who can financially support them.  The Biden administration will allow up to 30,000 migrants to enter the country under the new program. U.S. Embassy in Cuba Reopens for First Time Since 2017.  The U.S. Embassy in Cuba  resumed  full immigrant visa processing and consular services on Wednesday fo...

It’s difficult to pinpoint the greatest areas to buy a property in the United States since there are so many factors to consider apart from return on investment. Job prospects, facilities, and crime rates are all significant factors to consider before relocating. It can be especially difficult if you are searching for a home in the US when you aren’t even in the US yet! Many immigrants are searching for where to live in the US before they move here so we have compiled the best places to buy a house depending on the job market, real estate, crime rates, good schools for families, and more. Houses sold at a record-breaking rate and for a record-high price in 2021. According to Zillow, the housing market will have another robust year next year, with a national house value rise expected to continue through 2023. Top 5 Places to Buy a House in 2023 *The following locations are compiled by Homes And Gardens. The analysis was based on expected home value appreciation, the amount...

The Immigration system in Canada underwent several updates and changes in the year 2022 when in July, the country opened its Express Entry draws, welcoming several immigrants in various sectors to address their severe labour shortage.  Here is a look back at the trends in 2022, and the emerging ones in 2023 The Immigration Levels Plan IRCC in November 2022, announced its plan to welcome newcomers over the next three years. According to the official statement, Canada will welcome over 1.45 million new immigrants between 2023 and 2025. In 2025, it is estimated that the annual number of new immigrants will rise to 500,000. The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are also set to overtake Express Entry as Canada’s main economic immigration pathway. Express Entry all-program drew resume in 2022 All-program Express Entry draws returned for the first time since December 2020. The Express Entry system encompasses the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (...