Japan eyes more foreign workers in stealthy challenge to immigration taboo

Desperately seeking an antidote to a rapidly aging population, Japanese policymakers are exploring ways to bring in more foreign workers without calling it an “immigration policy.”

Immigration is a touchy subject in a land where conservatives prize cultural homogeneity and politicians fear losing votes from workers worried about losing jobs.

But a tight labor market and ever-shrinking work force are making Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s policy team and lawmakers consider the politically controversial option.

Signaling the shift, leading members of a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) panel on Tuesday proposed expanding the types of jobs open to foreign workers, and doubling their numbers from current levels of close to 1 million.

“Domestically, there is a big allergy. As a politician, one must be aware of that,” Takeshi Noda, an adviser to the LDP panel, said in an interview.

Unlike the United States, where Donald Trump has made immigration an election issue, Japan has little history of immigration. But, that makes ethnic and cultural diversity seem more of a threat in Japan than it may seem elsewhere.

And while Japan is not caught up in the mass migration crisis afflicting Europe, the controversies in other regions do color the way Japanese think about immigration.

LDP lawmakers floated immigration proposals almost a decade ago, but those came to naught. Since then, however, labor shortages have worsened and demographic forecasts have become more dire.

An economic uptick since Abe took office in December 2012, rebuilding after the 2011 tsunami and a construction boom ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have pushed labor demand to its highest in 24 years.

That has helped boost foreign worker numbers by 40 percent since 2013, with Chinese accounting for more than one-third followed by Vietnamese, Filipinos and Brazilians.

But visa conditions largely barring unskilled workers mean non-Japanese still make up only about 1.4 percent of the workforce, compared with the 5 percent or more found — according to IMF estimates — in most advanced economies.

So far, measures to attract more foreign workers have focused on easing entry for highly skilled professionals and expanding a “trainee” system that was designed to share technology with developing countries, but which critics say has become a back-door source of cheap labor.

This time, the LDP panel leaders’ proposal went further, suggesting foreign workers be accepted in other sectors facing shortages, such as nursing and farming — initially for five years with the possibility of visa renewal.

They also proposed creating a framework whereby the number of foreign workers would be doubled from around 908,000 currently, and the term “unskilled labor” would be abandoned.

In a sign of the sensitivities, however — especially ahead of a July Upper House election — panel chief Yoshio Kimura stressed the proposal should not be misconstrued as an immigration policy and said steps were needed to offset any negative impact on jobs and public safety.

After a heated debate in which one lawmaker said the plan would “leave Japan in tatters,” members agreed to let the panel organizers decide whether to make any revisions to the proposal.

Experts, however, say changes are afoot regardless of the semantics.

“The government insists it is not adopting an immigration policy, but whatever the word, faced with a shrinking population, it is changing its former stance and has begun to move toward a real immigration policy,” said Hidenori Sakanaka, a former Tokyo Immigration Bureau chief.

Two Cabinet members have already advocated adopting an immigration policy, as have some LDP panel members.

“The fundamental problem of the Japanese economy is that the potential growth rate is low,” LDP panel adviser Seiichiro Murakami said. “To raise that, big structural reforms including … immigration policy are necessary.”

The influential Nikkei business weekly has dubbed a foreign worker-driven growth strategy “imin-omics,” a pun on the prime minister’s Abenomics revival plan and imin, the Japanese word for “immigrants.”

Abe, however, has made drawing more women and elderly into the workforce and boosting the birthrate priorities, and publicly the government rules out any immigration policy.

Still, Abe’s right-hand man, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, said debate on more foreign workers lay ahead.

“We are seeking to mobilize the power of women and the elderly as much as possible, but at the same time we recognize that the acceptance of foreigners is a major issue,” Suga said.

He said the future debate would also consider the longer-term issue of permanent residence for less skilled foreign workers, but added caution was needed.

Conservatives are likely to resist major change.

For example, an ex-labor minister commenting at the LDP panel earlier on a proposal to let in foreign beauticians said the idea was fine, as long as their customers were foreign, too.

But hairdresser Mitsuo Igarashi, who has four barber chairs in his downtown Tokyo barbershop but only himself to clip and shave, wants to hire other barbers and doesn’t care where they come from. “We’ve got to let in more foreigners,” said Igarashi.

SOURCE-http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

DNA samples required for travel papers as border area in China’s Xinjiang tightens immigration procedures for Ramadan

Region has been hit by series of attacks blamed on Islamist separatist militants

People living in a border prefecture in Xinjiang must now give DNA samples when applying for travel documents.

The regulations were put in force before the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which started on Monday and was marked by the government’s customary ban on fasting by civil servants, students and children.

Residents in the Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture who wanted to apply for any type of immigration documents had to go to the police station nearest their registered homes to have their DNA samples, fingerprints, voiceprints and a three-dimensional image collected, the prefectural Communist Party committee newspaper Yili Daily said.

Religious freedom in violence-torn Xinjiang ‘unparalleled’, says China’s government

The new policy applies to ­applications for passports, two-way permits to Hong Kong and Macau, entry permits to Taiwan, and renewals of these permits. Applicants who failed to provide all the biological identification ­information would have their applications refused, the report said.

The prefecture of Yili, bordering Kazakhstan, is an ethnically diverse area of 2.5 million people, including Kazakhs, Uygurs and Mongolians. Some 64.7 per cent of residents are ethnic minorities and the rest Han Chinese.

China’s Xinjiang region to draft laws to combat religious extremism amid series of violent attacks blamed on Islamic militants

The policy comes amid efforts to combat a surge in violence in Xinjiang blamed by the authorities on Islamist separatists allegedly linked to jihadist militant groups including Islamic State.

Uygur rights groups say government restrictions on Islam have added to ethnic tensions in the region, where hundreds have died in attacks in recent years.

The government said in a white paper last week that freedom of religion in the region was “unparalleled” compared to any other period in Xinjiang’s history.

The Communist Party is officially atheist and for years has banned government employees and minors from fasting in ­Xinjiang, home to more than 10 million, mostly Muslim, Uygurs.

Several local government ­departments in Xinjiang have posted notices on their websites in the past week ordering restrictions on fasting during Ramadan.

Bride and prejudice: rare Uygur-Han marriages reflect ethnic tension in Chinese society

“Party members, cadres, civil servants, students and minors must not fast for Ramadan and must not take part in religious activities,” a notice on the government website of central Xinjiang’s Korla city said. “During the month of Ramadan, food and drink businesses must not close,” it added.

Yili Daily said the number of applications for travel documents in Yili had “skyrocketed” in the past year, from 20,000 in 2014 to 100,000 in 2015, after the authorities “twice simplified application requirements”.

More than 200,000 travel documents were expected to be issued this year, the report said.

source-http://www.scmp.com/

Immigration raid on Byron Hamburgers rounds up 35 workers

Nationals from Brazil, Nepal, Egypt and Albania among those arrested in raid across chain’s London restaurants

Dozens of staff at the Byron Hamburgers chain of restaurants have been arrested in an immigration swoop, it has emerged.

The Home Office has confirmed 35 nationals from Brazil, Nepal, Egypt and Albania were among those rounded up in the raid, which took place acrossLondon on the morning of 4 July.

A senior worker in one of the branches alleged that staff had been told to attend a health and safety meeting at 9.30am that day but immigration officials quickly arrived and started to interview people.

“It is fucking disgusting. Some of these people worked here for four or five years and they weren’t even given a chance to say goodbye,” said the worker who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A source at the Home Office said that reports that up to 80 staff had been deported were wide of the mark, confirming that 35 people were arrested on suspicion of breaches of immigration laws.

“They were arrested in order to progress potential immigration offences,” the source said.

Byron confirmed it facilitated the raid at the Home Office’s request but refused to respond to claims that it set up staff meetings on the false pretence they were for health and safety training.

It said: “We can confirm that several of Byron’s London restaurants were visited by representatives of the Home Office. These visits resulted in the removal of members of staff who are suspected by the Home Office of not having the right to work in the UK, and of possessing fraudulent personal and right to work documentation that is in breach of immigration and employment regulation.”

It said that the Home Office acknowledged that it had complied with its legal responsibilities as an employer but it had been shown “false/counterfeit documentation” by those at the centre of the alleged immigration breaches.

“We have cooperated fully and acted upon the Home Office’s requests throughout the course of the investigations leading to this action, and will continue to do so.”

Byron, which has 56 restaurants across the country, is owned by investment firm Hutton Collins which bought the chain in a £100m deal in 2013.

Reports of the raid first appeared in a Spanish language online newspaper, El Iberico, in London and quickly spread across social media, prompting plans of protests and boycotts of the restaurant.

Amelia Womack, the deputy leader of the Green party, said: “These reports are deeply shocking. If these accusations are true than the bosses at Byron should be utterly ashamed of themselves for turning people’s lives upside down.”

She said: “People who are settled and working in the UK should be able to apply for residency so as to continue contributing to our society and our economy.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Immigration enforcement officers carried out intelligence-led visits to a number of Byron restaurants across London on 4 July, arresting 35 people for immigration offences. The operation was carried out with the full co-operation of the business.”

SOURCE-https://www.theguardian.com

No Clarity ON Abu Dhabi Residency Visa Regulations

Abu Dhabi: Does one need to furnish a tenancy contract from Abu Dhabi to apply or renew a residence visa in the capital?

The answer is not clear with different versions of the rule abounding.

While the official government call centre insists an Abu Dhabi tenancy contract is an absolute prerequisite, an immigration official said the rule only applies to government employees.

“When I called 800 555, I was told that I need a tenancy contract from Abu Dhabi to renew my residence visa. I live in Dubai and my tenancy contract will not be accepted,” said an Indian civil engineer working in Abu Dhabi.

When this reporter contacted the call centre, similar requirements were reiterated. “The rule applies to all. Whether you are a public or private sector employee, you need to submit a tenancy contract from Abu Dhabi that is attested by the Abu Dhabi Municipality,” said the call centre agent.

However, when XPRESS approached an official at the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs -Abu Dhabi (GDRFA), he said the rule applies only to government employees.

“You should submit a copy of your company’s trade licence along with your application if your tenancy contract is not from Abu Dhabi,” said the official.

Last year, it was made mandatory for all employees across the UAE to submit a valid tenancy contract along with their residence visa applications.

However, the GDRFA Abu Dhabi office was accepting tenancy contracts issued in any other emirate.

A rule issued by the Secretariat General of the Executive Council mandates Abu Dhabi government empoyees to live in the capital or forego their housing allowance.

What now?

“Last week, we applied for new visas for some of our Dubai staff. But when we resubmitted the application with a trade licence copy of our company that has branches in Dubai and Ajman, the visas were issued,” said a PRO who works for an IT company in Abu Dhabi.

According to him, GDRFA officials are insisting on Abu Dhabi tenancy contracts for new residency permits.

Another PRO said their staff could not get residency permits as their tenancy contracts were from Sharjah. “Some applications got rejected when our staff who are based in Abu Dhabi but live in Sharjah applied for residency permits,” he said.

SOURCE-http://gulfnews.com/

Low-income workers get free housing in UAE

Free housing must be provided to workers who earn less than Dh2,000 a month from December on-wards, the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emigration announced 18th July  2016

Companies across the nation with more than 50 workers must comply with the ruling, which was issued by Saqr Ghobash, UAE Minister for Human Resources and Emigration. He warned that regular inspections visits would be undertaken by the ministry to ensure compliance, and that legal action will be pursued against firms that fail to adhere to the regulation.

“Experts spent several months studying the living conditions of low-skill workers. The decision comes after these recent studies into the labor market,” said Ghobash.

Accommodation for workers in companies employing more than 500 people has been regulated by the ministry since 2014. The applicable standards cover details such as the location of the accommodation, the provision of hygiene and medical facilities, and the availability of safety equipment and protocol.

Low-income workers welcomed the new decree, saying that paying rent is often a massive drain on meagre incomes.

Shajal, who earns about Dh1,000 and sends Dh700 of it home to support his family, said secure accommodation is a boon.

B.K., an Indian painter, also lives in a dedicated labour accommodation facility in Abu Dhabi’s Musaffah area.

“I am thankful for this accommodation as it is very difficult to find a room, especially because of the high rents. For example, sharing a room can set you back about Dh500, which is half my monthly income,” he explained.

Raj Praveen, a division manager at National Trading and Pharmaceutical Establishment, a trading company, said that many of the firm’s 2,000 workers live in accommodation located in Dubai’s Sonapur area.

“These workers earn very little, and having to pay rent makes things even more difficult for them. This ministry decree will therefore provide much relief,” he said.

“We provide both food and accommodation for our low-skill workers, and we believe that it improves their productivity and morale,” Rajpraveen added.

As reported by Gulf News, the minister had announced in January that companies which fail to provide labour accommodation short of international standards and requirements will not be granted new work permits.

“We want to ensure that labourers are not cheated of their rights, and that their living conditions are comfortable, sanitary and humane,” he had said.

source-http://uaelabourlaw.blogspot.in/

Will the Swiss introduce limits to immigration from the EU?

Watchmaker Marc Jenni peers through an eyeglass, carefully placing a tiny, new component into a shiny gold timepiece he is fixing.

He is a Swiss national, the third generation of his family to go into the horology trade. He would like his children to make Swiss watches too. "But I won't force them to," he says.

The Jenni family's small, independent shop in the centre of the pretty, medieval city of Zurich displays a range of ornate clocks that are hundreds of years old. One is made of wood, and is from the 1600s.

While such incredibly old pieces of work exist, Marc says the manufacture of one of the symbols of Switzerland is changing.

"If we look at the watch business, we can see about 80% of the workforce are foreigners from France, from Italy, from Germany."

Immigration is a hot topic in Switzerland. About one in four people here are foreigners. That's one of the highest proportions of foreign residents in the world.

"Immigration has always been an issue here," Marc says, but he welcomes the non-Swiss workers to his industry.

"It helps the Swiss industry. They earn a bit less, but get more money than most of their citizens at home. Everyone profits."

SOURCE-http://www.bbc.com/news

Finland Visa Information

Learn4good provides general information on study, travel, work visa and business visa requirements and the addresses of embassies worldwide. You should contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information or visa forms.

Who needs a visa?The Schengen member states – Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland – have jointly agreed about the rules concerning the movement of third-country nationals in their territories and decided which countries’ citizens are required to present a visa. Furthermore, each Schengen State has decided which travel documents citizens of different third countries have to present upon entering the country.

EU citizens
You will not need a visa for traveling within the EU.
There are 34 countries whose nationals do not need a visa to visit the EU for three months or less. These include Australia, Canada, Croatia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. The list of countries whose nationals require visas to travel to the United Kingdom or Ireland differs slightly from other EU countries. If in doubt, check with the nearest consulate of any EU country.

Non-EU citizens
Passport: You will need a valid passport.
Visa: If your visa is from a country fully applying the Schengen rules, it automatically allows you to travel to the other Schengen countries as well. Moreover, if you have a valid residence permit from one of those Schengen countries, it is equivalent to a visa. You may need a national visa to visit non-Schengen countries.
NOTE: Travelers planning a trip across the border to Russia must have a visa. It is advisable to get it at the Embassy of Russia in the traveler’s country of origin, because it takes at least eight weekdays to obtain a visa in Helsinki.

When arriving in a Schengen country, citizens of countries that are subject to the visa requirement must have a passport or some other travel document, which will remain valid until at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area. The travel document must have been issued within the previous 10 years. Citizens of countries that are subject to the visa requirement must always hold a visa when entering the Schengen area. Those holding a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen country do not need a separate visa.

Applying for a Schengen VisaIf you are required a Schengen visa for travel to Finland, you must visit the nearest Finnish mission or a mission of another Schengen country representing Finland in visa matters. The application must be lodged not earlier than three (3) months prior to the planned visit.

The required form is to be filled in and signed, and a passport-size photograph is to be attached to the application. Processing of the visa application can start only after the visa fee has been paid. The application form is to be submitted, together with a valid passport and the required additional documents, to the Finnish embassy or consulate at which the visa is applied for. The required documentation includes e.g. proof of valid travel insurance and flight tickets. Some embassies or consulates may require additional documentation, and therefore the applicant should always check the requirements with the mission in question.

If Finland does not have official representation within a country, another Schengen member state can represent Finland in visa matters. Likewise, Finland can represent another Schengen member state when agreed upon.

Types of visasA visa is an entry permit for a short, temporary stay of less than 90 days. Using this entry permit as a foreign national requiring a visa you are allowed to enter and stay in the Schengen area once certain other preconditions have been met. Despite possessing a visa these requirements for entry into the country are checked at the border. If the entry requirements are not fulfilled, the passport inspector of the Border Guard Service may refuse you entry.

• A single-entry visa – is issued for one journey during which you can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• A double-entry visa – allows entry into the Schengen area twice and may be valid within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• Multiple-entry visa – is granted for several consecutive visits to the Schengen area. The total duration of the stays may not exceed the number of days stated in the visa sticker, which may be up to 90 days in a 180-day period. A multiple-entry visa is valid for a maximum of five (5) years.
• Airport transit visas – are needed by citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka. If you require an airport transit visa, you are permitted to use the international part of the airport during intermediate landing or during a change between two journeys, and without entering the country in question.

What documents will be required?Passport: Citizens of Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Norway ) do not need a passport for entering Finland. EU-nationals, and citizens of Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland and Schengen Agreement countries can enter Finland with a valid passport or a valid identity card. All other nationalities require a valid passport.

The processing chargeThe processing charge must be paid in cash when you leave your application, except in the case of bank transfers at Finland’s missions abroad.

Who issues a visa and how long does it take to process a visa?A visa is issued by a diplomat or consul representative of a Schengen country. It is advisable to apply for a visa well in advance of the planned date of travel. A minimum of 14 days should be reserved for processing. If the visa application for Finland is delivered in your country to a representation of a mission of another Schengen country, the process will usually take much longer. Applications should be delivered well in advance so that there will be proper time to process them.

Appeal procedure for a visa:As from 5 April 2011, a visa applicant or a visa holder has the right to appeal against a refused, annulled or revoked visa by lodging an appeal to the authority that has issued the negative decision. The appeal must be addressed to the authority that has made the decision, for example a mission, by lodging an appeal against a decision. A person whose visa application has been refused, annulled or revoked, receives the decision together with a separate appeal instruction. The appeal must be lodged within thirty (30) days from the date when the decision was informed to the applicant. The appeal must be made in writing and either in Finnish or Swedish.

Like before, applicants cannot lodge a complaint against the visa decision to the administrative court. An exception to this rule is still family members of EU citizens who have used the right of free movement, who always lodge their complaints with the Helsinki Administrative Court. Unlike other visa applicants, they cannot lodge an appeal against a decision.

How long is the Visa valid for?
A visa granting multiple entries may be valid for one year at a time so that the number of days spent in the country of residence does not exceed more than 90 days within six months. The number of days will be counted based on the stamps in your passport. A multiple-entry visa may be valid for a year, a single-entry visa for six (6) months and a transit visa for three (3) months.

Other information:
Extending a visa when in Finland
Local police authorities can extend the residence time defined in a visa. The extended period of the residence permit must not exceed its final date and the total duration may not exceed three months within half year. In addition an applicant’s travel insurance must be sufficient to cover the extended time.

Vaccination certificate requirements:
No vaccination requirements for any international traveler.

Embassy contact information: 
Please contact the nearest Finland embassy for information on what documentation you may require to enter Finland. Finnish EmbassiesWorldwide.

SOURCE-http://www.learn4good.com/

Immigration Issue has to be Addressed Positively by the Labour Party

Post Brexit and the EU Referendum, immigrations have become an uncomfortable cause for the Labour party. With anti-migration sentiments haunting the party, it has been trying to put its foremost issue on the back burner, but owing to the latest developments, the party has found itself open to internal criticism and debate. The Pro-European Labour party has failed immensely in convincing its supporters to vote to remain as 70% of the Labour constituencies voted to leave, revealing a possible gap between the party’s ideals and the inclinations of its supporters! Opinion polls show that the issue of immigration was the basis for most voters choosing to leave the EU, something that needs to be re-evaluated to understand the failure of the remaining campaign. The Labour has to make a strong case supporting immigrations by busting immigration myths that led voters to leave the EU.

The Labour party has increasingly found it difficult to take a stance on the immigration issue ever since the end of Blair term, which also happened to be the last pro-immigration government with migration statistics that never dipped below 100,000. This, however, experienced a setback after the financial crash of 2008 and the aftermath of the Iraq War. Back in 2009, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) made a successful breakthrough by overtaking the Labour party during the European elections by securing the second-highest MEPs after Labour and in 2010 established a successful campaign that promised an annual limit on immigration to the UK. In 2015, the UKIP secured the third-highest votes with 12.5% votes with an enhanced campaign to curb immigration, this time to the scale of thousands. Following Brexit, the anti-migrant campaign has only become stronger. The Labour’s stance on immigration on top of the current sentiment of distrust over the economy has been the biggest deterrent to the party’s majority.

Throughout the period of unrest that surrounded the immigration issue, the Labour has maintained a pro-migration stance. While Gordon Brown campaigned for “British Jobs for British Workers” during the 2010 elections, followed closely by Ed Miliband’s campaign on “Control on Immigrations”, the anti-migration camp was winning, and more so, piggybacking on irrational fears of the public. The leadership elections that closely followed the 2015 elections were also famous for contenders who promised restrictions on immigration with Liz Kendall being the most vocal frontrunner for the campaign. Kendall refocused on the white working class with a stance that encouraged cuts to the tax credits availed by the EU migrant workers. The campaign was weakened with Jeremy Corbyn’s victory; however, as several political analysts pointed out, the anti-migrant sentiments prevailed. MPs within the Labour Party, such as John Mann and Simon Danzcuk, have long been criticising the party’s stance on immigration, and such voices would only get louder post Brexit.

However, adopting an anti-migrant stance would only backfire against the Labour Party as the current anti-migrant sentiment sweeping the nation is anything but rational! Studies have already proven that

the concerns raised by the anti-migrant camp are factually erroneous. Not only have studies shown that immigration does not affect property or wage rates negatively but also established a positive link between immigrants and their contribution towards the economy, which turns out to be in the tune of £20 billion more than they take. Studies have also established the fact that the camp has overestimated the number of EU migrants in the country. A recent poll conducted by Ipsos MORI showed that the average estimate of migrants in the UK is 10.5 million which is way off from the projected figure by 7 million, thereby lending a blow to the beliefs of voters who were concerned about the effects of immigration when they were least affected by it, thereby rendering it totally irrational and false. So what is the undercurrent that strengthens this campaign? As most political analysts opine, Fear! Most politicians and tabloids have made a career out of selling fear about Britain’s migrants, and seem to account for the prevalent economic crisis. It wouldn’t be wrong to also point out that this newfound hatred towards the European migrants has racist undertones as much of the anger is directed towards the racial stereotype of eastern Europeans and the Middle East refugees than the well educated western Europeans. As Britain is slowly turning into a post-factual democracy, the truth is based on sentiments than facts.

If the situation is assessed accurately, Labour is paying a heavy price for letting the anti-migrant camp gain centre stage that allowed the UKIP and conservatives to promote xenophobic sentiments, which gets only worse with Theresa May’s premiership. Not only is May known to be a supporter of the anti-migration campaign but she is also known for her legacy at the Home Office for migration targeting and mass deportations. The Labour Party, as it appears, seems to have lost the battle when it comes to immigration with a small chance of turning back the tide. The need of the hour for the party would be to initiate fresh debates on immigration and challenge the rationale resented by politicians and the media alike. Until then, it’s a wait and watch game!

Interested in migrating to the UK? At Y-Axis our experienced process consultants will not only guide you on the latest visa regulations but also help facilitate your visa application and processing. Call us today for a free counselling session with our process consultants and get a step closer to achieving the life of your dreams.

SOURCE-www.y-axis.com/

Former MI6 chief warns against visa-free Turkish immigration

A former head of MI6 has said the European Union offering visa-free access to millions of Turks is like “storing gasoline next to the fire” as he warns of a “sea change” in continental politics.

Speaking on the BBC’s World on the Move day of migration coverage, Sir Richard Dearlove set out his concerns and thoughts.

He told the programme that “shutting the door on migration is not an option” and that the number of immigrants coming to Europe over the next five years could run into millions.

“For the EU, however, to offer visa-free access to 75 million Turks to stem the flow of migrants across the Aegean seems perverse, like storing gasoline next to the fire one is trying to extinguish,” he said.

With 1.6 million migrants arriving in Europe in 2015, he warned that once established within the EU the new arrivals would have freedom of movement across the 28 member countries.

He said their arrival on the continent had far-reaching social and political consequences. “The geopolitical impact is set to reshape Europe’s political landscape as those citizens who feel, rationally or not, that their interests and cultural identity are threatened assert their influence,” said Dearlove. “This has already happened in Austria with the resurgence of the defunct Freedom party. Other extreme right populist parties in other European countries will follow.”

He said the rise of extremist populist rightwing movements suggested voters were disillusioned at the failure to control the number of immigrants. He added that Europe’s current migration crisis was “more serious” than that of postwar 1945 because it was “global in nature”.

The former spymaster said the impact of mass migration was “eating away at the willingness of EU states to act together”. He said this was rendering the EU “impotent in the face of the most serious social and humanitarian problem” it had yet faced.

Dearlove added: “Europe’s leading politicians, each caught up with their own problems, show little common determination to break out of this cycle of deterioration.”

And he said the failure to meet the challenge of migration by the “present configuration of 28 vastly differing national interests” suggested it may have outlived its historical role.

He added: “The steady rise of extremist populist rightwing movements in many European states suggests that many voters share this sense of disillusionment. The failure to control inward migration is the common denominator which explains their growth.

“Their rejection of the postwar European dream may not yet be of sufficient strength to break the EU apart and Europe’s conventional parties may yet be able to hold the line if improved control of migration can be achieved.

“However if a politician like Marine le Pen of the Front National can command the support of one in four, perhaps even one in three, French voters this does represent a sea change in the continent’s politics.”

SOURCE-www.theguardian.com

African Union launches Pan African passport

During the opening ceremony of the African Union’s 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, the AU (African Union) introduced a Pan African passport for the citizens of African states. Held on 17 July, the Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government at the KCC (Kigali Convention Centre), Rwanda, saw people urging for unity and brotherhood in the continent.

The AU passport is intended to allow people to move unrestrictedly within the continent. The first passports were given to Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad and the Chairperson of the AU and, and Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, by Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission.

Global News Network Liberia quotes Idriss Deby as saying that after he received the passport, he felt very proud to be a true son of Africa. He also focused on the importance of hastening integration within Africa in order for the continent to attain socio-economic growth for its citizens’ welfare.

Present at the conference held at the Kigali Convention Centre were the Heads of State of the AU (African Union), the Chairperson of AUC (African Union Commission), the Deputy Chairperson, the AU Commissioners, the Palestine President, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Members of the PRC (Permanent Representative Committee), the AUC officials, Heads of AU Organs, the press and other guests.

If you are interested in travelling to Africa either for tourism or business, come over to Y-Axis for availing assistance and guidance to file for a visa at one of our 19 offices located in most major cities in India.

source-www.y-axis.com/

Belgium shows the easy way to repatriate immigrants

Belgium has the European record for voluntary repatriation of illegal immigranr than staying illegally in Belgium. It’s all down to the government’s sophisticated and efficient system of support and incentives, which favors illegal immigrants who decide to return home. The government initiative, unlike those in place in other EU states, doesn’t just write a check and pay a one-way fare. It also offers support for reintegration in their homeland, with funds for restructuring a house and medical services.ts. In 2015, it carried out 4,000, including many Afghans and Iraqis, who, after trying in vain to obtain refugee status, preferred to return to their country of origin rathe

Source-http://www.west-info.eu/

How 3,000 Indians got into the UK with fake papers sold by Portuguese gangs exploiting immigration loophole

Thousands of Indians entered Britain illegally using fake documents bought from criminals exploiting an immigration loophole exposed by The Mail on Sunday last week.

The forged papers entitle holders to obtain EU passports using a bizarre but entirely legitimate back door which gives those living in former Portuguese colonies the right to come to Europe.

An estimated 3,000 Indians have entered the UK in this manner with the help of a gang operating in Lisbon, London and Leicester, paying the criminals up to £22,000 a time.

Last night, MPs demanded that David Cameron force Portugal to end the loophole. Tory MP Bill Cash said: ‘This blatant abuse needs to be closed down immediately.’

Under Portuguese law, Indians born in Goa, Diu and Daman before 1961, or their children and grandchildren, can apply for Portuguese passports because these were colonies of Portugal until that year.

As a result, 20,000 Indians obtained Portuguese passports in India, and came straight to Britain without even setting foot in Portugal.

Now we can reveal that Portuguese police and the UK’s Home Office and National Crime Agency have gathered evidence indicating that 3,000 Indians obtained the passports with false birth and marriage certificates provided by the gang.

In December Home Office, NCA investigators, Leicestershire Police and Portuguese immigration officers raided seven properties in Leicester and one in London. A suspect of Pakistani origin, described as a linchpin in the gang, was arrested in Leicester.

SOURCE-http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news

Foreigners acquiring Italian citizenship

 on the increase

The number of persons who acquire Italian citizenship is on the increase. During 2015 they were 178,000: + 37% over the previous year. To be noted that 37% of the total was composed of people aged under 18 years. The Region with the highest number of foreigners who acquired Italian citizenship last year is Lombardy (more than 45 thousand, representing more than 1/4 of the total), followed by Veneto (25,800 new citizens, 14% of the total) and Emilia Romagna 22,500; 12.6%). The total number in the six Southern Italian Regions was equal to just 9,793 new citizens. The figures were released by the ISMU Foundation indicating how, in this respect, our country is in contrast to the rest of Europe, where citizenship acquisitions are decreasing. Just think about the UK with a decline, between 2013 and 2014, of 82 thousand units. But also Spain (-20,000 units), Belgium (-16,000), Greece (-8,600) and Sweden (-6,700). In the meantime, in Italy the highest growth in absolute terms was recorded: +30,000 in 2014 compared to 2013.

source-http://www.west-info.eu/