There are many types of visas for which you can apply. One of the little known types is the Investor Visa. The Investor Visa is a visa that is provided by the United States for an individual that makes a qualifying investment. The Investor Visa is a programme that was established in 1990. The Investor Visa has two programmes – one with a requirement of a one million-dollar investment and one with a half-million investment price as well as providing ten new work positions of employment in the US for either programme. This can be through establishment of a new business or by purchasing and expanding a current one. The Investor Visa process is very strictly regimented by the USCIS (“US Citizenship and Immigration Services”).
The Investor Visa not only ensures employment for the person who is submitting for the visa but at the same time allows for additional employment opportunities for others. This creation of jobs is a boost to the economy. Getting an Investor Visa provides permanent residency for the applicant and immediate family. There are 10,000 available Investors’ Visas per year. To apply for an Investor Visa you must petition by filing a form called “Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur”. You will also need to submit the necessary supporting documentation to show your business as well as financial summary and assets. The application for an investor Visa is reviewed by the USCIS. Each application for an Investor Visa is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Anyone interested in applying for an Investor Visa should review the information online.
South Africa is a holiday and commercial hub like no other. For this reason South Africa’s Home Office receives thousands of work permit and visa applications every year.
Many groups of people choose to immigrate to South Africa for various reasons. These reasons could be work related, holiday, exchange programs or even settlement. The South Africa Home Office reserves the discretion to issue temporary and permanent residence permits to those seeking immigration to South Africa.
South African work permits are issued based on the nature of one’s visit. These are sub-divided into 2 broad categories; temporary and permanent.
Temporary residence permits are issued for people who will be in South Africa for between 90 days and 4 years. Permits which fall under this category include visitor permits, extended visitor permits, business permits and retired person permits.
Various conditions must be met before a prospective immigrant is issued with a temporary residence permit. The conditions are different for every class of permit. Basic requirements which must be met for every permit category include having a valid passport, certificate of yellow fever vaccination, valid visa and proof that one has sufficient funds for one’s upkeep.
A temporary residence permit holder then applies and is issued a visa. Holders of such documents can apply for permanent residence status. One is eligible for this status if he/she has been holding a valid temporary permit and has been working in South Africa for a period exceeding 5 years.
Eligibility for permanent residence status can also be through blood relations with a South African citizen or by virtue of marrying a bona fide South African citizen.
Tier 1 visa applications do not require sponsors and it is based on the applicant’s success on achieving over the threshold of seventy-five points. Tier 1 visas are split into four sub-categories: general applications, entrepreneurs, investors and post-study work.
Tier 1 visas are designed to attract the best and brightest of potential UK immigration candidates. Tier 1 visas do not require you to have an offer of employment to be in place. The requirements of the Tier 1 assessment ensure that the government can select those applicants who are most highly skilled.
Tier 1 Visa applications for the UK will be assessed on a range of criteria. In sub-categories of Tier 1, candidates are assessed against a specific set of requirements. The following generic requirements will apply to all applications: English language proficiency and the self-sufficiency.
The Tier 1 application is a single process, whether initiated from outside or inside the UK and the applicant needs to submit a range of supporting documentation to substantiate their application. Candidates may apply for a Tier 1 visa to either enter the UK or extend their stay.
South Africa is a country blessed with an enchanting landscape, magnificent scenery and vast coastline with soft sandy beaches lined with palm trees and crystal clear ocean. The country experiences sunshine all year round and has a rich collection of flora and fauna.
The country also boasts of cosmopolitan cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria as well as a rich, diversified culture. The over 43 million inhabitants speak over 11 languages.
Immigration to South Africa is well suited for tourist, students, entrepreneurs and people with certain skill sets as well as professionals. These groups of people have different routes through which they immigrate into South Africa.
The avenues which allow immigration to South Africa are designed to protect the interests of the South African citizens. This is well illustrated by the immigration of skilled man-power to South Africa. For an immigrant to be considered for a work permit using this route, sufficient proof must be provided by the prospective employer to show that the job cannot be done by a South African citizen.
For businesses wishing to invest in South Africa, the business must be able to hire a minimum of 5 local citizens and contribute positively towards the country’s economy.
The simplest route for immigration to South Africa is through a job offering. South Africa’s system of admitting skilled man-power is not point based, making it easier to immigrate to South Africa and engage in business or employment.
Another way of immigrating to South Africa is by making use of family relations who are South African citizens. One is a South African citizen by descent, marriage or through naturalization.
The Federal Skilled Worker Visa Programme is a one of the popular ways of emigrating to Canada. The processing time, as compared to the provincial nominations programme, is very much increased. It offers skilled workers the opportunity to obtain permanent residence in Canada without an offer of employment.
To be categorised as a skilled worker one needs to have work experience, sufficient funds to sustain oneself in Canada and should have a score of 67 in the points assessment. One will also be assessed according to education, language, age, work experience, arranged employment and adaptability. Also good communication skills in English or French are needed. These six aspects are intended to specify which candidates are likely to become financially sound upon emigrating to Canada. Each Canada Federal Skilled Worker Visa is awarded the highest number of points and candidates must at least attain sixty seven points to qualify for a Canada Immigration Visa.
In education the skilled workers are given a maximum of twenty five points; in language skills candidates are given up to twenty four points; in experience candidates are given up to twenty one points; in age candidates are given up to ten points; in arranged employment candidates are given up to ten points and in adaptability candidates are given up to ten points. All of these total up to one hundred points. So applicants are supposed to attain above 67% of the whole assessment.
The Canadian Immigration Visa Officers have the right to accept or refuse an application. Even with the pass mark of 67 points, applicants must also prove that they have enough money to sustain themselves and their families after arriving in Canada. Also they must take a medical assessment and have security approvals as part of the Canadian immigration application procedure.
Australia is one of the major countries people go to in order to start a new life. Since the country’s economy is strong, immigration to Australia is most suitable for skilled people. There are more than one hundred thousand jobs available in Australia. The Australian immigration programme attracts people from a variety of backgrounds, ages and qualifications, but it emphasises on bringing in people who can offer substantial positive change in the economy. Some of the qualifications that a person should have are that they should not be above 45 years; they should speak good English and be qualified in at least one profession.
Skilled people considering emigrating to Australia are assessed in certain areas such as work experience, qualifications and language proficiency. Those who are willing to live there permanently can do so if they live in a particular region of Australia. Australia also accepts migrants who want to live with their relatives and this is done through the Family Stream Migration programme. Australia also welcomes refugees through the Humanitarian Programme.
However, immigration to Australia is not as easy as one would think, since the Australian Immigration Service usually places strict controls on the number of people emigrating to Australia. Actually, last year saw over 150,000 people being turned down. There are a number of visas to Australia offered that are available in the global market, such as the family visas that are applied based on family ties, spouse visas if one is willing for their spouse or unmarried partner to join them in the country and many more.
The South Africa Retirement Visa facilitates the migration into South Africa for those who have retired and want to spend their golden years in that country.
Year after year, South Africa receives thousands of individuals who have decided to retire in that country. The retirees come to take advantage of the excellent facilities for healthcare, cultural diversity, low-cost and comfortable living, moderate climate, luxurious and affordable housing, and the exclusive tourist attractions.
A South Africa Retirement Visa can allow an applicant entry for four years and is given to a retiree who has a monthly income or pension of more than R20,000 or a net worth (combination of assets) amounting to R20,000 every month. The South Africa Retirement Visa can be given for the duration of more than three months to a foreign applicant who is intending to make his or her retirement in South Africa. For the foreigner to successfully acquire this, the proof of right to an annuity, pension, or a serviced retirement account from his or her country of origin has to be presented. The payments or account has to be available for the rest of the applicant’s life.
South Africa immigration is very popular for those visiting for periods of six or more months. It is not obligatory for successful applicants of the South Africa Retirement Visa to request permanent residency. A temporary visa can, however, be indefinitely renewed as long as all requirements for the extension are met.
On the flip side, a permanent visa carries with it additional advantages to the holder. However, a permanent South Africa Retirement Visa holder is not entitled to vote whilst in that country.
The UK immigration process has recently undergone some changes that make it easier to navigate and understand. The previous system granted an HSMP Visa – the “Highly Skilled Migrant Programme”. This system has now been replaced with the Tier System, which makes it more similar to the systems used globally.
The Tier System provides for 5 different levels or tiers for visas. Each tier provides for a different group of applicant. The levels include Tier 1 – for “highly skilled workers” and professionals; Tier 2 – for “skilled workers” with a current job offer; Tier 3 – a temp visa for those with fewer skills; Tier 4 – a student visa and Tier 5 – a temp youth permit for temp workers. The Tier Visa uses a point system to determine eligibility.
The point system, used for Tier 1 Visas for UK immigration, uses several main factors. Each factor has weighted points that are applied based on your skills or abilities in the area. The total points necessary to be eligible for a Tier 1 Visa are 75. The point system is commonly used throughout the country as a way of determining entry into the country on a permanent basis.
The Tier 1 Visa uses education, age, previous employment, salary, English skills, and adaptability to assign points. The applicant must submit all documentation to prove eligibility at the time of application. The approval process may take anywhere up to about a year and a half. It is important to submit all the information at once so that your application is not stalled.
In any kind of law and in any country that you reside, shoplifting or theft is an offense that has certain grave consequences. Some countries may be less rigorous when dealing with shoplifting but there are other countries that have stricter laws and rules pertaining to this case. Shoplifting also has immigration consequences. In some cases, your visa may be revoked, whether immigrant or non-immigrant. Below are some of the consequences that can cause you a lot of problems.
Immigration takes shoplifting very seriously. Even if for a small amount, if you are caught in the act of shoplifting, it can greatly affect your status in certain countries. Take for example in the United States, the Immigration Law sees shoplifting as a “crime involving moral turpitude”. It is considered defraud and can bring about serious immigration consequences.
According to the United States Immigration Law, an alien can be deported if the alien is convicted of a crime that involves moral turpitude within five years of having legally entered the country or having been issued a legal permanent resident status. Shoplifting, as mentioned earlier is a moral turpitude. Therefore if you have only been in the US for less than five years, or it has not been 10 years since the approval of your permanent residence status, then you can be deported. However, if the maximum period of imprisonment is less than a year, then this should have no bearing. However, there are some states that treat theft more seriously, with the minimum term of incarceration of at least a year.
