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[gwynethpaltrow8]

I've spent the last year and a half looking into moving out of the United States to England, or Australia. I have to admit, it has become rather depressing because their immigration laws make it damn near impossible for me to have any hope of moving there for anything other than studying (and leaving immediately after). I have also noticed the US is pretty damn strict with immigration while i was looking into all this. Why is this? Is it because of terrorism? too much population? poor economy? they want fewer idiots entering the country? hell, it seems to me like everyone is stuck their own country unless they're some sort of genius. I've noticed that people of above average talent (as in international recognition for the skill, like art, composing, or writing) have a fairly good chance of immigrating (though I've got to look more into this to make sure i'm not misunderstanding it though). However, the odds of an artist having international recognition without dying first seems rather slim (that's art as in painting and such im referring to, not so much the writing and composing).
So basically what I'm saying is that immigration has become impossible for the most part and I'd like to understand why it has become so difficult.
thank you in advance for our answer.
also, I have taken another look at Australia immigration and their adding some new program called SkillSelect that will supposedly make it easier for employers to find applicants from out of the country. I suppose I'll be looking into that some more once they begin it on July 1st.

[bellden]

why would any country want more below average people

[jen]

Too many illegals, end up on welfare, no job, housing. Too many children that parents cannot take care of, so the Gov. has to help.
Leeching of Gov. programs.

[baigh75]

Australia has many, many more people wanting to immigrate there than can be absorbed and so we can afford to be very choosy about only accepting immigrants who can contribute skills that are in short supply here. Why on earth should we accept mediocre people or people who don't have skills that we need: we need the jobs that such people would take for our own citizens and for the close family members of skilled immigrants.

The UK is in a similar situation but has the added problem of being forced by EU membership conditions to accept anyone from the EU regardless of whether they have anything useful to contribute and so has had to place severe restrictions on non EU immigrants.

I think you'll find that SkillSelect will make it harder to get to Australia for many intending immigrants. As things stand at present, anyone with an eligible occupation who can pass the points test can apply for a visa and is virtually guaranteed to get one eventually unless they are denied on character or medical grounds. SkillSelect will allow DIAC to cherry-pick intending applicants and many people who would be able to lodge a visa application under the current rules won't ever get an invitation to lodge one - they simply won't get past first base which is the submission of an EOI. As for employers finding it easier to find overseas applicants, that will only be the case in a small number of cases where severe skill shortages apply and the applicants will still need qualifications and experience in an eligible occupation. No employer is going to bother looking through the SkillSelect database looking for an artist and in any case, that occupation is not eligible for anything other than a temporary visa: it doesn't qualify for any kind of permanent visa even if a willing employer can be found. Finding applicants has never been a problem for most employers - finding employers who are willing to be sponsors is and can be expected to remain the main stumbling block.