Showing posts with label Emigration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emigration. Show all posts

Monday, 5 December 2011

Immigration To

According to UN statistics, a stagering 200 million people globally lived outside of their native country of birth in 2005. Approximately one-third of these international immigrants resided in Europe. When talking of European migrants, approximately 254,000 immigrated to Africa. 8,730,000 immigrated to the Americas. 6,830,000 immigrated to Asia. 35,395,000 decided to immigrate within Europe. 2,813,000 immigrated to the Oceania region. Finally around 2,149,000 chose to immigrate to Southern hemisphere countries that are still developing.

Taking a closer look on how exactly this translates to the regions of Europe:

Northern Europe - 1,868,000 resided in the Americas. 309,000 resided in Asia. 3,406,000 resided in Europe. 1,605,000 resided in Oceania and 60,000 in the developing South.

Eastern Europe - 2,275,000 resided in the Americas. 5,620 resided in Asia. 18,609,000 resided in Europe. 183,000 resided in Oceania and 1,806,000 in the developing South.

Western Europe - 109,000 resided in Africa. 1,704,000 resided in the Americas. 726,000 resided in Asia. 4,659,000 resided in Europe. 368,000 resided in Oceania and 109,000 in the developing South.

Southern Europe - 100,000 resided in Africa. 2,883,000 resided in the Americas. 183,000 resided in Asia. 8,723,000 resided in Europe. 656,000 resided in Oceania and 173,000 in the developing South.

Source: Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011.

By far the biggest immigration to, has been a shift from the Eastern Europeans to other areas of Europe. Clearly for someone like myself who's only just immigrated from London to New Zealand, It's all too clear to see that the influx of Eastern Europeans has been the most noticeable. It's also interesting to see that in relative terms, African countries still only account for a minuscule amount of European immigration. Also I've noticed a few surprises in respect of Western Europe immigration to the Americas. Figures from a decade or two show an actual decline in those that immigrate to the Americas. Also a levelling out of migrants that immigrate to Oceania countries.

So, where are you thinking of immigrating to? Could it be that you're an Eastern European that's tired of inferior earnings and you want to try your luck over in Western Europe? Maybe your a European that will immigrate to Asia and take advantage of the Chinese market and quite possibly reap the rewards of totally fresh emerging countries like Burma. Perhaps you intend to migrate from Southern Europe and potentially escape the austerity measures countries like Spain and Portugal have to implement and therefore immigrate to Western Europe.

However, you could always do what I decided to do and try your luck in Oceania! Clearly anyone with a trade under their belt will always find decent work options open to them. I'm lucky in the respect that my own personal immigration to New Zealand was allowed under a Partner Visa. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you really think it through.

When Admiral Wellington decided if he should choose that particular time to strike his foes, he'd always write a list of pro's and con's. He'd then add up the list and go with the column that had the shorter list. You could start off making your own list. Get your family and friends to help you decide what should go on the list. After all, what could be important to them, could be immaterial to you, and vice-verca. Absorb as much information about the region you want to immigrate to. Think about your needs today, but also think about the future too.

Well it's a lovely summers day in Hamilton today. I'm still a practical virgin when it comes to immigration, but this adventure has surely begun on the right footing. With family around me that care, and will make the difference when all is said and done!

Wherever and with whoever you decide to immigrate to, I wish you the very best of luck with your very own adventure. The ex-pat community will help you settle in and in no time, you might wonder why you didn't make the big move sooner.

As ever, I thank you for reading and your precious comments are always welcome.


God bless.

Alan





Wednesday, 23 November 2011

How To Use Your Skills Volunteering, To Aid Your Visa Application

Now, because I'm lucky enough to have a New Zealander for a wife, I've not had to use my qualifications, skills and experience for my New Zealand visa application. I'm applying for a partner visa instead. One of the down sides is that I cannot conduct any paid work whilst I'm waiting for my application to be processed.

This has given me the idea to use the experience that I gained when I worked for an organisation based in Dagenham, Essex that work with disabled, elderly and vulnerable people. If you're not already aware 2011 is the international year of volunteering. So, what better excuse to roll up your sleeves and help your fellow man!

This doesn't just apply to my own personal New Zealand emigration, this can apply to you too. There's organisations that can point you in the right direction, so that you too can not only volunteer your own experience and skills and get a personal reward from helping those less fortunate than yourselves, but also it tells the relevant immigration service in the country you want to settle in that you're community spirited! That has to help with your visa application! Right?

So it's a win/win situation! You get out and about, helping others and explore much more of your new surroundings earlier on than you might have done otherwise. You'll most likely make a heck of a lot of friends too in the process. Also, if you're an 'outdoors' type of person you might even get fitter in the process. Not only that, but, It'll help with anxiety and 'post emigration blues', in that it'll keep your mind occupied and lessen pining you may have when missing your home country.

If you've never volunteered before, don't let that put you off! Organisations won't expect the earth from you  and will really value any time you can help. Even if that's just an hour a week that's 52 hours a year! Right? Imagine if everyone you know did this for their fellow man, I'm sure the world would be a different place!

If you'd like to get some contacts or ideas, Sir Richard Branson's book called 'Worldwide Volunteering' would be an invaluable purchase. It's literally packed with ideas for gap year, holiday or emigration volunteering. With over 250,000 placements in over 200 countries, you'll find the right choice for you.



Giving my time to help others has been a real life enriching experience. I look forward to helping my New Zealand cousins once we've arrived in a week's time.

As always, keep positive and thanks for reading. Don't forget to bookmark if haven't already and I look forward to hearing your comments.

God bless

Alan