DEAR VIEWERS,IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IMMIGRATION/STUDY ABROAD/LIVE AND WORK IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, PLEASE GO THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES IMMGRATION SECTION IN THIS SITE. ALSO NOTE THAT THE IMMIGRATION RULES WILL KEEP ON CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR SO WE ADVISE YOU TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE RESPECTIVE COUNTRY IMMIGRATION SITES FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION.THANK YOU FOR VISITING EZEEGUIDE

Rosaiah quits, Kiran Kumar Reddy new Chief Minister for Andhra Pradesh, India Now

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Konijeti Rosaiah on Wednesday stepped down after14-and-a-half months in office citing “advanced age and work pressure” and Speaker of the Assembly Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy was chosen by the AICC leadership to succeed him.
Fifty-year-old Reddy will be sworn in as the 16th Chief Minister by Governor E.S.L Naraimhan at Raj Bhavan at 10 a.m. on Thursday. The Governor earlier accepted Mr. Rosaiah's resignation and requested him to continue in office till the formation of a new government.
On a day of swift developments, Mr. Rosaiah declared his intention to quit at a press conference in the Secretariat from where he drove to the Raj Bhavan and submitted his resignation. Mr. Rosaiah succeeded Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on September 3, 2009 after the latter was killed in a helicopter crash.
The 78-year-old Chief Minister told The Hindu that the strain of office was telling upon his health and he had requested the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership during his visit to New Delhi on Tuesday to relieve him “of the burden.”



Twin challenges
Under these circumstances, the AICC leadership favoured putting in place a new Chief Minister who has the energy and stomach for facing the twin challenges of the agitation for a separate Telangana State and the continued defiance by Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. Another factor that appeared to weigh in favour of a change was the need for the government to be prepared to face the fall-out of the Justice Srikrishna Committee's report on the Andhra-Telangana issue. The report is expected to be submitted before December 31.A team of senior AICC leaders comprising Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Law Minister Veerappa Moily and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad flew in here by a special flight from New Delhi as observers for a CLP meeting to choose Mr. Rosaiah's successor.


Resolution passed
The CLP unanimously adopted a one-line resolution, requesting Congress president Sonia Gandhi to select the new leader. It passed another resolution expressing deep appreciation for the services rendered by Mr. Rosaiah as Chief Minister.
Mr. Mukherjee briefed Ms. Gandhi about the CLP proceedings. He later invited Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy to the Lake View Guest House for consultations after which an official announcement was made that Ms. Gandhi had chosen Mr. Reddy as the new CLP leader.
After his return from New Delhi on Tuesday evening, Mr. Rosaiah kept his decision to quit a secret till the last moment. He announced late at night that a CLP meeting was being convened to discuss party affairs. A majority of the 33 Ministers were also in the dark.


“No political reason”
Mr. Rosaiah held that there were no political reasons for his resignation. He said that earlier, as Finance Minister, he had to handle only one department, but upon his elevation as Chief Minister, he had to coordinate the activities of all the departments. “The burden on me became heavy,” he said.


Deputy CM
PTI reports:
Mr. Moily told journalists that Ms. Gandhi had decided that the State would have a Deputy Chief Minister from the Telangana region. The name for the post will be decided later, he said.

Tier 1 (general/HSMP) to be closed;Tier 2 (general) subject to a limit of 20,700 places for 2011-12

A Clear story about Current UK Immigration Cap
25th November 2010: A day after the Home Secretary announced the number of skilled migrant workers with job offers coming from outside the EU will be cut by a fifth, it is now clear that Tier 1 (general) route will be closed.


Tier 1 (entrepreneur and investor) route, on the other hand, would be reformed, while Tier 1 route for persons of exceptional talent would be introduced.

The UK Border Agency has asserted: `The Home Secretary announced on 23 November 2010 a number of changes to immigration policy in respect of Tiers 1 and 2 of the points-based system, designed to deliver the government's commitment to place a limit on non-EU economic migration to the UK.

`Further details of these changes will be published before they are implemented in April 2011.

`The changes announced are: Tier 1 (general) route will be closed. Tier 1 (entrepreneur) route will be reformed to make it more attractive. We will introduce flexibilities and create a new avenue for promising start-up companies which do not meet our investment threshold.

`Tier 1 (investor) route will also be reformed to offer an accelerated route to settlement, depending on the level of investment.

`The Tier 1 (entrepreneur) and Tier 1 (investor) routes will not be subject to a limit on numbers.

`A Tier 1 route for persons of exceptional talent will be introduced. This will cover migrants who have won international recognition in scientific and cultural fields, or who show sufficient exceptional promise to be awarded such recognition in the future.

`Applications by those with exceptional promise will be endorsed by a competent body in the relevant field. The 'exceptional talent' category will be subject to a limit of 1,000 places. Tier 2 will continue to be open to migrants working in these fields.

`Tier 2 (general) route will be subject to a limit of 20,700 places for 2011/12.

`This limit will not apply to: in-country applications from those already in the UK; dependants of Tier 2 migrants; Tier 2 (general) applicants who are filling a vacancy with a salary of more than £150,000; Tier 2 (sportsperson) applicants; Tier 2 (minister of religion) applicants; and Tier 2 (intra company transfer) applicants.

`Tier 2 (intra company transfer) applicants in the established staff sub-category will be able to stay in the UK for up to five years if they are paid more than £40,000 per year; those paid between £24,000 and £40,000 will be able to enter for up to 12 months within a specified period.

`The current rules will continue to apply to Tier 2 (intra company transfer) migrants in the graduate trainee and skills transfer sub-categories.

`Tier 2 (general) applications will be restricted to graduate-level vacancies. The Migration Advisory Committee will advise us on what are to be considered graduate-level jobs, and we will amend the shortage occupation list accordingly. Existing Tier 2 (General) migrants in jobs below graduate level will be able to extend their permission to stay if they meet current requirements.

`The minimum level of English language competency for Tier 2 (general) applications will be increased from basic to intermediate level (B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference).

`Applications for certificates of sponsorship will, where the limit applies, be considered on a monthly basis. If the monthly allocation is oversubscribed, applications will be ranked according to: shortage occupations in the first instance; whether the post requires higher academic qualifications; and salary.

`Potential workers who are granted a certificate of sponsorship will have three months in which to apply for a visa.

`There will be a new criminality threshold, requiring applicants to be clear of unspent convictions, for all those applying for settlement.

`Tier 1 and Tier 2 migrants applying for settlement will need to meet the salary criteria that applied when they last extended their permission to stay.

`If an applicant fails to pass the minimum English language requirement, their application for settlement will be refused.

Indian students face trouble over new UK visa rules

hsmp-visa-uk_26
The Indians students in UK are in trouble because of a new visa rule. They have badly hit by the new strict immigration rules. The new rules reportedly disenfranchise non-European nationals in the country despite of holding Highly Skilled Migrant visas.
The Indians said that they had switched from student visas to the HSM Program (HSMP). The HSPM visa allows non-European nationals to work in Britain and settling in UK. Now,Britain has changed its criteria for HSMP visas and the new rule came into force in early December last year.
At least 30,000 Indian HSMP visa-holders have been affected and they have formed a campaign group, HSMP Forum Ltd, to fight and to establish the old rule again.
On February 6, the forum filed a case in the London High Court asking for a judicial reviewto end the government’s punitive visa policies.
Amit Kapadia of the HSMP Forum said;
The Indians switched to HSMP visas after completing their higher studies. But now, they won’t qualify for further HSMP visa extension.
The new change in HSMP extension rules doesn’t allow people to continue their careers and settle in UK due to the unfair changes to the HSMP extension criteria.

UK Border Agency said good bye to immigrants untill 2015

Ineffective Immigration capped: Annual limit of 21,700 under skilled, highly skilled routes
New rules to take effect from April 2011

24th November 2010: The number of skilled migrant workers with job offers coming to Britain from outside the EU will be cut by a fifth. From next year, it will be capped at 21,700.
Image
Home Secretary Theresa May has also asserted skilled workers without job offer will be limited to 1,000 people of exceptional talent.
Quoting the Home Secretary, the UK Border Agency said: `A raft of new measures will strictly control the numbers that can come to the UK and work from outside Europe.


As well as limiting the number of skilled non-European workers that businesses can bring into the country, the Home Office is tightening the intra-company transfer route, which will sit outside the annual limit, and restricting Tier 1 of the points-based system - the 'highly skilled' tier - to all but entrepreneurs, investors and people of exceptional talent.
The introduction of an annual limit was a coalition government pledge and will allow Britain to remain competitive in the international jobs market, while ensuring that migrant labour is not used as a substitute for those already looking for work in the UK.

To control those coming here, the government has committed to: introducing an annual limit of 21,700 for those coming into the UK under the skilled and highly skilled routes - 20,700 under Tier 2 (General) and 1,000 under the new 'exceptional talent' route; raising to £40,000 the minimum salary for those coming under the Tier 2 (Intra company ransfer) route for more than 12 months; restricting Tier 1 to all but entrepreneurs, investors and the exceptionally talented; and requiring occupations in Tier 2 (General) to be at graduate level.
The government was determined to make changes to Tier 1 when it was revealed that approximately one-third of those coming through this route were actually doing low-skilled jobs once they were in the UK. Businesses have made it clear that their priority is to fill their specific vacancies through Tier 2’.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: 'Today's announcement has set out a clear, rational approach to which workers we will allow into the UK job market. We have set out an approach which will not only get immigration down to sustainable levels but at the same time protects those businesses and institutions which are vital to our economy.
 'We will take action on all routes into the UK, and these changes are crucial if we are to limit the numbers coming here to work while still attracting the brightest and the best to the UK.

 'We have worked closely with businesses while designing this system, and listened to their feedback, but we have also made clear that, as the recovery continues, we need employers to look first to people who are out of work and who are already in this country.'


Image
The new rules will take effect from April 2011. Applicants under Tier 2 will still be required to apply for a visa from the UK Border Agency through the points-based system, will have to be of graduate level, be sponsored by an employer and will be awarded points based on scarcity of skills and salary.
 However, they will be competing against other applicants for a visa to enter the UK and, in months when the limit is oversubscribed, those with the most points will qualify for one of the certificates of sponsorship available each month.

Separately, businesses can bring in their own employees through the Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) route - but they must be earning more than £40,000 to stay more than 12 months, and their stay will be restricted to 5 year

Tougher days ahead for foreign students in UK

*On cards, a review of student visas 
*Students undertaking non-degree level courses to face stringent rules.
Image
22nd November 2010: It’s getting tougher by the day for the students.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron reiterated he would stick by his election promise and numbers of immigrants would be cut to ‘tens of thousands’ a year.

Cameron said it was ‘perfectly possible’ to meet the pledge; and this would be done by slashing the number of non-EU students and people allowed to settle in the UK, as well as the cap on foreign workers.

The announcement would be backed by a review of student visas. With this, those seeking to undertake non-degree level courses are expected to face more stringent rules.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said this would be done by slashing the number of non-EU students and people allowed to settle in the UK, as well as the cap on foreign workers.

Even as it is now clear that simply lazy or just incapable Britons have paved way for the migrant workers in the job sector, the UK Prime Minister has taken a serious view of immigrants landing up with jobs for which Britons have the same skill. He has decided to crack down on widespread abuse of the visa system.

Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions illustrate more than 30,000 British care assistants and home carers were out of work – yet almost 1,700 were brought into the UK in a year to March 2010. Although there were more than 4,500 software professionals claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, more than 1,000 were recruited from abroad.

The announcement came after the official figures were interpreted to reflect thousands of non-EU workers were taking up jobs for which large number of jobless Britons had the same skills.

A research also found that workers granted visas for so called ‘highly-skilled’ posts ended up employed in fast-food outlets, warehouses and doing jobs such as mixing concrete.

The officials also doubted on claims by businesses that they would be unable to cope up with the process, if the Government placed a strict cap on economic migration.

The research also reflected, out of the permits made available under the current interim cap, which came into force this summer, only 39 per cent had been assigned.

Just three of the 10 businesses that traditionally brought in the largest number of non-EU workers have used more than 50 per cent of the permits available to them.

The immigrants coming in on student visas to study at bogus colleges and then overstaying has been a matter of concern in the past also.

The Prime Minister said he was sticking to his promise to reduce net migration to Britain – the difference between the number of migrants arriving and those leaving – to ‘tens of thousands’. Net migration currently stands at almost 200,000.

Cameron said the big picture depicted that immigration between Britain and the rest of the EU was pretty much in balance.

Cameron further added it was between Britain and the rest of the world where it was out of balance. 

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Schedule

World Cup 2011
Match
Date
Teams
Venue
1
19 Feb
India vs Bangladesh
Dhaka
2
20 Feb
New Zealand vs Kenya
Chennai
3
20 Feb
Sri Lanka vs Canada
Hambantota
4
21 Feb
Australia vs Zimbabwe
Ahmedabad
5
22 Feb
England vs Netherlands
Nagpur
6
23 Feb
Pakistan vs Kenya
Hambantota
7
24 Feb
South Africa vs West Indies
New Delhi
8
25 Feb
Australia vs New Zealand
Nagpur
9
25 Feb
Bangladesh vs Ireland
Dhaka
10
26 Feb
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan
Colombo
11
27 Feb
India vs England
Kolkata
12
28 Feb
West Indies vs Netherlands
New Delhi
13
28 Feb
Zimbabwe vs Canada
Nagpur
14
1 Mar
Sri Lanka vs Kenya
Colombo
15
2 Mar
England vs Ireland
Bangalore
16
3 Mar
South Africa vs Netherlands
Mohali
17
3 Mar
Pakistan vs Canada
Colombo
18
4 Mar
New Zealand vs Zimbabwe
Ahmedabad
19
4 Mar
Bangladesh vs West Indies
Dhaka
20
5 Mar
Sri Lanka vs Australia
Colombo
21
6 Mar
India vs Ireland
Bangalore
22
6 Mar
England vs South Africa
Chennai
23
7 Mar
Kenya vs Canada
New Delhi
24
8 Mar
Pakistan vs New Zealand
Pallekelle
25
9 Mar
India vs Netherlands
New Delhi
26
10 Mar
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
Pallekelle
27
11 Mar
West Indies vs Ireland
Mohali
28
11 Mar
Bangladesh vs England
Chittagong
29
12 Mar
India vs South Africa
Nagpur
30
13 Mar
New Zealand vs Canada
Mumbai
31
13 Mar
Australia vs Kenya
Bangalore
32
14 Mar
Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
Pallekelle
33
14 Mar
Bangladesh vs Netherlands
Chittagong
34
15 Mar
South Africa vs Ireland
Kolkata
35
16 Mar
Australia vs Canada
Bangalore
36
17 Mar
England vs West Indies
Chennai
37
18 Mar
Sri Lanka vs New Zealand
Mumbai
38
18 Mar
Ireland vs Netherlands
Kolkata
39
19 Mar
Australia vs Pakistan
Colombo
40
19 Mar
Bangladesh vs South Africa
Dhaka
41
20 Mar
Zimbabwe vs Kenya
Kolkata
42
20 Mar
India vs West Indies
Chennai
43
23 Mar
First Quarterfinal
Dhaka
44
24 Mar
Second Quarterfinal
Colombo
45
25 Mar
Third Quarterfinal
Dhaka
46
26 Mar
Fourth Quarterfinal
Ahmedabad
47
29 Mar
First Semifinal
Colombo
48
30 Mar
Second Semifinal
Mohali
49
02 Apr
FINAL
Mumbai


2010  Cricket ODI Rankings
Rank
Country
Points
1
AUS
125
2

IND
124
3

SA
121
4

PAK
113
5

NZ
109
6

ENG
107
7

SL
106
8

WI
76
9

BANG
55
10

ZIM
26

2010 Cricket Test Rankings
Rank
Country
Points
1

SA
122
2

SL
120
3

IND
119
4

AUS
116
5

ENG
105
6

PAK
84
7

NZ
80
8

WI
76
9

BANG
13
10

ZIM
0