7 tips to make immigrating anywhere a smooth ride

by Lavana James

Immigrating to another country is said to be as stressful as divorce or the death of a loved one but there are ways and means of making the immigration process a whole lot easier and more pleasant for you and your family.

Dealing with any nation's bureaucracy can be quite daunting and complicated if you do not really understand the process and requirements of moving to a new country. One of the smartest moves you can make to ensure a relatively hassle-free journey is to recruit the services of either an immigration consultant or a reputable immigration lawyer.

Too often you hear of prospective immigrants who have been turned down by the authorities simply because they did not provide sufficient evidence of skills, education etc. or provide the relevant documentation required for a successful application.

When you consider the amount of applicants and the time it takes to process each application then you really don't want to have to go right to the back of the queue simply because you weren't informed about the procedures involved.

There are generally seven ways of securing a visa to your new country of choice and once you have ascertained which category you and your family fall into then you can simply follow these easy steps

• Apply for a visa from your existing home base

• Receive the visa

• Immigrate to your new home

• Receive your permanent residence visa once you have fulfilled certain obligations specific to each visa type

• Once you have been in your adopted country for its required amount of time, you can then apply for citizenship if need be

Seven criteria that may qualify you for entry into another nation

• Business Visa - Entrepreneurs are generally welcomed to most countries with open arms as they positively influence both the economy and the employment rate in their adoptive country. Prospective business owners must have sufficient funds to sustain themselves and will have to transfer prescribed funds to set the business up. Persons who qualify for a Business Visa are generally eligible for permanent residence after a period of time.

• Work Visa - There is a general shortage of skilled workers in the world today and many countries actively encourage people with the relevant education and experience to immigrate. Prospective immigrants should fall into the age group of 19-51 years of age, should possess a permanent job offer from a locally registered company commensurate with both your experience and qualifications. In some cases the applicant may qualify for permanent residence as well.

• Retirement Visa - Retired persons who can produce proof of their financial sustainability are normally welcome to immigrate to most countries. Sufficient funds will be required to be transferred on acceptance and an application for a visa of this type must be made from the country of origin. It is generally possible to apply for permanent residence once you have successfully obtained your retirement visa.

• Relatives Visa - Family members of citizens are generally allowed to apply for a relative's visa and these members can apply for permanent residence, generally after a prescribed period in the adoptive country.

• Students Visa - People who wish to study abroad may apply for a student's visa but in most cases they cannot apply for permanent residence.

• Permanent Residence Visa - Many applicants of the above visas can successfully apply for permanent residence after a specified period of time. Be aware that permanent residence does not affect the person's citizenship and the holder of a permanent residence visa will still hold a passport from their country of origin.

• Citizenship - A person generally only qualifies for citizenship by birth, descent or naturalisation, the latter deriving from a valid permanent residence visa or permit.

About the Author
www.imcosa.co.za