With too many years of uncertainty in waiting for a US greencard, Many skilled foreigners are leaving U.S.: Exodus rooted in backlog for permanent status. According to Immigration Voice, there are 526,000 pending green card applications, many from skilled and educated workers in the IT industry from India and China who have been waiting for 2 - 3 years. The usual wait is 6 years or more. US companies are losing senior people who are returning to their home countries now that the economies in China, India, and Russia are growing and provide better paying jobs than before.
Not only are immigrants returning to their home countries, but many are choosing other countries with relatively shorter and easier immigration processes, such as Canada and New Zealand.
So is New Zealand ready to welcome these skilled immigrants? Let's hope so. IMHO, with our economy slowing down and our objectives to grow our ICT sector, encourage exporting business, and raise our numbers in the health and medical field among many other things, skilled and educated immigrants with true business experience in bigger markets can only help us to get there faster.
Well I am not sure if there is an exodus, but I am considering moving to NZ or Canada. I have been here in the USA since 1998 legally. Went to school here and have been working since graduation. When I now think of applying for a Greencard, I need to find a sponsor and shell out $10000 and above all wait for 5-6 years even to apply for a Greencard.
Doesn't seem fair ain't it?
It takes about an hour (by yourself) to fill a NZ/Canada immigration application and about $1000. The more skills you have the better the chances..whoa! yes its that easy!
Posted by: Yes | Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 09:10 AM