The United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have established various immigration programs, each of which has its own eligibility requirements. The professionals at Immigration Solutions can evaluate which of several popular immigration programs you and your family may be best-suited to apply for and also help you through each stage of the application process to immigrate to the USA, Australia, Canada or New Zealand.
Below, is an overview of various immigration options that may be available to you. More detailed information about the different immigration programs can be found on our webpages for the USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
US Diversity Visa Program
The United States of America is the world’s #1 immigration destination, with over one-million people from every region of the Earth approved to immigrate to the USA each year. Out of an overall US population of around 319 million people, approximately 41 million are immigrants (20% of the world’s entire immigrant population, according to the United Nations). The USA has a long, proud tradition of welcoming immigrants who left their home countries in search of the “American Dream” in this amazing land of opportunity and the resulting diversity is a key reason the United States is known as “The Great Melting Pot.” In fact, this idea of many people from different backgrounds blending together as one united people was so important to America’s “Founding Fathers” that the Latin phrase E pluribus unum (“From the many, one”) was chosen as the official Motto of the United States of America, as seen on the Great Seal of the United States and on US currency.
Today, the American Government continues to desire a diverse democracy and this is why the US Congress established the Diversity Visa (DV) Program by passing the Immigration Act of 1990. The goal of the Diversity Visa Program is to further diversify the US population by making available a Permanent Resident (PR) Visa to the United States for up to 50,000 foreign nationals from different regions of the globe each year. Since fairness is an important American value, the US Congress decided to use a lottery system to randomly select which of the approximately 10 million applicants to the DV Program would be among around 100,000 winners chosen annually to have the opportunity to apply for the 50,000 Diversity Visas authorized to be issued each year. That is why this US immigration program is known as the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program (also referred to as the Green Card Lottery). Foreign nationals who are randomly selected as winners of the Green Card Lottery, successfully pass the Consular Interview that follows and are issued a Diversity Visa are authorized to move to America as US permanent residents. If you would like to immigrate to the United States and want to find out if you qualify to participate in the US Diversity Visa Lottery Program, click here!
Australian Immigration Programs
Australia is one of the top destinations for skilled foreign workers from all over the world due to its strong economy, high standard of living, spectacular scenery and immigrant-friendly attitude, among other reasons. Approximately 200,000 people from around the globe are issued a Permanent Resident (PR) Visa to Australia annually through various Australian immigration programs. Sustained immigration to Australia has made the “Land Down Under” one of the most multicultural countries on Earth, in which 28% of its 24 million residents were born overseas.
One of the most popular Australian immigration programs is the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program which offers a PR Visa to Australia to eligible skilled foreign workers whose occupations are in high demand in Australia and who meet all of the requirements established by the Australian government. Two of the main subclasses for the GSM program are the Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Visa to Australia and the Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 Visa to Australia. To learn if you are likely to meet the criteria to apply for immigration to Australia through the GSM Program, click here!
Canadian Immigration Programs
Canada continues to be one of the most popular places on the planet for people seeking opportunities for a better life. This is not surprising since Canada is one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, has some of the “most livable cities” in the world (e.g., Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary), boasts a highly-rated education system, offers excellent healthcare and enjoys an expanding economy. Although Canada is the second largest country on the map and rich in natural resources (such as oil, natural gas, timber and precious metals), it only has a population of 35 million people and lacks enough human resources to meet the demands of Canadian companies for experienced employees possessing the necessary education and job skills.
In order to keep its economy growing at a healthy pace and for other important reasons, Canada’s government has created several Canadian immigration programs, each of which has its own eligibility requirements. Some of the key Canadian immigration programs include the:
- Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Provincial Nominees Program (PNP)
- Quebec-Selected Skilled Workers Program (QSWP)
- Family Sponsorship Program
- Caregiver Program
Through these various Canadian immigration programs, approximately 250,000 foreign nationals are approved for a Permanent Resident (PR) Visa to Canada every year. People who are granted a PR Visa to Canada are allowed to live long-term in this scenic country, may work legally or start their own business, receive free basic healthcare, attend educational programs, and apply for Canadian citizenship after living in Canada at least four years as permanent residents and meeting other criteria. Those who have been issued a PR Visa to Canada may also be able to sponsor eligible family members for Canadian permanent residency. There are additional Canadian immigration programs which offer skilled foreign workers a Temporary Work Visa and/or Work Permit which authorizes them to live and work in the country for a certain limited amount of time, but may give them the option to apply for a PR Visa to Canada later, after they meet certain criteria. To find out which Canadian immigration program you may qualify to apply for, click here!
New Zealand Immigration Programs
New Zealand is a South Pacific island paradise that is known for its spectacular scenery, laidback lifestyle, and strong economy. There are a variety of factors that attract thousands of individuals from around the globe to immigrate to New Zealand every year. Many people want to move to New Zealand to live in one of the safest countries in the world and experience its high standard of living. The warm, welcoming attitude shown by “Kiwis” to New Zealand newcomers also draws many people to this beautiful country of sunny beaches and magnificent snow-capped mountains. Whether you are seeking jobs in New Zealand or simply want to enjoy the relaxed “Kiwi” lifestyle, a work visa to New Zealand can give you and your family many great opportunities.
There are several immigration programs available for skilled foreign workers who want to move to New Zealand. For example, you may be able to immigrate to New Zealand through the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa program or via a temporary work visa program, if you meet the eligibility requirements. To learn whether you qualify to apply for a work visa to New Zealand, click here!