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Immigration

Immigration is when people who have citizenship in one country move to another country, not just for a vacation or even an extended break, but move to another country with the intention of working and living in that country on a permanent basis.

Legal immigration is when a person has entered a country which is different from the country in which they have citizenship, with the intention of setting up home and staying there after having obtained the correct visa etc for the country in which they wish to settle. Illegal immigration, on the other hand, is when people sneak into a country by the back door, so to speak, and do not have a legal right to stay in the country into which they have entered.

People live in different countries to where they have citizenship for many different temporary reasons, for which they will need a different type of clearance from the country of their choice. This may be for work purposes, study purposes (many students these days choose to study in countries other than their country of birth) or for a whole host of other reasons.

The clearance you need for immigration to another country depends very largely on the laws of the country where you wish to immigrate to. Most common methods and reasons of immigration include;

• if you hold certain qualifications which are in short supply in your destination country
• if members of your family have already immigrated, then you may be able to join them (legally)
• you may be able to immigrate by seeking refuge in your chosen country
• you may be able to immigrate by seeking asylum in your chosen country

The latter two will typically need proof that to return to your country of citizenship would put you and your family into very real and specific danger.