All it takes to get a visa

Australia

The Kevin Rudd Government is looking at changes to visas for foreign workers to meet the shortfall of skilled workers.

Australia has a points-programme, where more points are awarded for very good English skills.

Singapore

Its immigration policy has been described as one that tries to maximise the economic benefits of immigration while minimising its social and economic costs. Skilled workers, professionals and entrepreneurs are encouraged to take up permanent residence and citizenship may be granted after two to ten years of residence. Unskilled foreign workers, on the other hand, are permitted to work only for limited time periods, after which they are expected to return home.

Netherlands

As part of a crackdown on immigration that has been gathering momentum since 2001, applicants who want to migrate must watch a film that has racy scenes, including one which has a gay couple kissing on the beach. This film is a test of the readiness of would-be immigrants to “participate in the liberal Dutch culture”—if they can’t stomach the film, they need not apply.

Canada

Since 2006, there have been 56,000 new immigrants from India to Canada, which has a relatively liberal immigration policy. According to a new programme, international students would be able to obtain open work permits with no restrictions on the type of employment and no requirement for a job offer.

European Union

Faced with a rising shortage of highly qualified professionals, the EU has proposed an ‘EU Blue Card’ providing for residential and work permits to third country nationals on the lines of the ‘Green Card’ in the United States. The proposal was introduced by the European Commission in October 2007 and is being negotiated by the member-states. To get a blue card, qualified workers need to prove they have been offered a job lasting at least one year and with a salary at least three times the legal minimum wage applicable in the country they are heading for.