Working abroad: emigrating to the English-speaking world

Most people live in the country they were born in — worldwide, only one in 30 of us comes from somewhere else, but this number is growing. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), there were 281 million (first-generation) migrants in the world in 2020. That’s more than twice as many as in 1985 and over three times the estimated number in 1970.

Migration is never easy. Even in the best in the best circumstancesunter den besten Umständencircumstances, it involves complex bureaucratic[wg. Aussprache]bureaucratic processes and, in some cases, restrictions on work and travel. And procedures have to be repeated regularly when renew sth.etw. verlängernrenewing or changing one’s visa status.

Jim Gotcher, a senior partner of the California-based law firmAnwaltskanzleilaw firm Global Immigration Partners, says migrants need the help of an expert to avoid mistakes that might jeopardize sth.etw. gefährdenjeopardize their status. “Every country has its particular immigration laws, ministries or agencyBehördeagencies, systems and processes,” he told Business Spotlight. “While there may be some general similarities, each country is different. With US immigration, an innocentunschuldig; hier: harmlosinnocent mistake can be irreversiblenicht rückgängig zu machenirreversible and fatalverhängnisvoll, folgenschwerfatal to qualify for future immigration benefits, so it is important to find a trusted adviser.”

An innocent mistake can be fatal to qualify for immigration benefits

The US: a complicated situation

Global Immigration Partners has supported businesses and individuals on immigration matters for over 40 years. Both Gotcher and his colleague David Raft describe America’s immigration process as “convolutedverworren, unübersichtlichconvoluted” — this adds to the cost for immigrants (or their sponsors) and to the paperwork and wait times.

Raft says the US hasn’t updated its immigration policies since the 1990s. As legal immigration is often mixed up with illegal immigration, there’s political opposition to reform of any kind. “due towegenDue to the ‘hot potato (ifml.)heißes Eisenhot potato’ that immigration issueProblemissues present politically, there’s been legislative gridlockStillstandgridlock over the past three decades, making this the longest period of time without significant immigration reform in the history of our republic,” Raft says.

Another problem that Raft point sth. outauf etw. hinweisenpoints out: “The US is not as agileagil; hier: schnellagile as other countries in adopt sth.etw. einführenadopting visa types to meet current, specific needs.” Even in this era of remote workArbeit(en) im Homeofficeremote work and globalization, there are relatively few pathwayWegpathways for foreigners who want to live and work in the US. Often, they have to find an employer to sponsor them, which is difficult when you’re not in the country, or make a “substantial investment” to open a business in the US.

Most visa categories are limited. Each year, 65,000 H-1B visas are available, which allow people to work temporarily in speciality occupations in the US. To live and work there permanently, you need a Green Card. Most applicantBewerber(in)applicants require both a Green Card application and an immigrant petitionAntrag, Gesuchpetition — usually, this is provided by a sponsor. Although about a million Green Cards are available each year, the majority of them are given to the relatives of existing US residents.

Find out more: www.uscis.gov/green-card

The UK: recent changes

Until 2021, EU citizens didn’t need a work visa for the UK. Now, the government has revise sth.etw. überarbeitenrevised its points-based immigration system, which had apply to sb.hier: für jmdn. geltenapplied to non-EU migrants since 2008 and now applies to migrants from the EU as well. Under this system, applicants need at least 70 points to qualify for a skilled-worker visa, which allows them to live and work in the UK. They get 50 points if they have a job offer above a minimum skill level and speak English. There are further points for things like having a high salary, a relevant PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)Doktor(titel)PhD, or for working in a sector in which there are labour shortageArbeitskräftemangellabour shortages.

The feeGebührfee for a skilled worker visa has increased recently — to as much as £1,639. And in 2024, the standard health-care surchargeAuf-, Zuschlagsurcharge, which visa holders pay annually(all)jährlichannually, jumped from £624 to £1,035. Also, in response to a high net-migration figure (+764,000 in 2022), the government has raised the minimum salary requirements (to £38,700 for skilled workers, for example).

While not as divisivespaltend, kontroversdivisive as it is in the US, the topicThematopic of immigration is hotlyhitzighotly debated in Britain. Business groups often criticized the Conservatives’ anti-immigration position, as it made labour shortages worse. However, the new Labour government also plans to lower net migration by reducing the numbers of low-skilled migrants while favouring workers with qualifications in key sectors.

Find out more: www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/settle-in-the-uk

Due to the rising cost of living, public opinion is changing

Canada: a friendlier nation

Canada is the world’s most-accepting country for migrants, according to the Gallup Migrant Acceptance Index for 2023. In that year, Canada welcomed 471,550 new residents, the most in its history, and the government expects to take in 500,000 a year by 2025.

Most new residents enter via economic pathways, using a points-based model. The system gives preference to younger candidates with job offers and high levels of education. Other important factors include professional experience and language ability (in English and French). It is also possible to apply to sb./sth.hier: sich bei jmdm./etw. bewerbenapply to individual provinces directly, which select people based on regional economic needs.

Due to a housing shortage and the rising cost of living, public opinion about immigration in Canada is changing. A 2023 survey by the Toronto-based Environics Institute found that 44 per cent of Canadians feel there’s too much immigration — an increase from 27 per cent the year before.

Find out more: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html

Australia: many possibilities

Under Australia’s General Skilled Migration programme, applicants must get at least 65 points to gain a visa. The system takes into account factors such as age (30 points if you’re between 25 and 32 years old), level of education (15 points for a bachelor’s or master’s degree; 20 points for a doctorate) as well as work experience and English ability. There are many classes of visa with varying conditions — for example, a training visa allows people to take part in workplace-based occupational training in Australia and stay for up to two years. A business innovation and investment visa allows entrepreneurs to stay in Australia indefinitely.

Find out more: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/permanent-resident/overview

In most countries, economic immigration pathways give preference to young and educated migrants, but family pathways exist, too. If your partner or child is a citizen or resident of a country, there’s usually a way for you to emigrate there. In all of the countries mentioned here, that also applies to same-sex couples — even those who come from countries that don’t recognize same-sex marriage.