Top 3 countries to immigrate to and highlights in their visa policy post lockdown

Every year millions of people leave their home countries for better opportunities in highly developed nations. These migrations are in search of better work opportunities, for higher education or to shift base to a new country for personal reasons. In turn, a lot of countries have extremely pro-immigration policies making it easier for migrants to get their visa applications approved.

 Countries make visa applications and acceptance easy to improve their economy and attract talent from all over the world. IELTS exam is the one exam that is widely accepted across countries however candidates are unsure whether they should even give IELTS in COVID19. Due to the lockdown, the IELTS exam centers were also shut down in a lot of countries. 

Thankfully, now that the number of COVID19 cases is reducing in many parts of the world, testing has started. Moreover, during the pandemic, even when the whole world lockdown was in lockdown, the immigration offices across the world made some landmark changes to make the visa application process conducive in spite of the restrictions posed. 

We have been keeping an ear on the immigration policies and have curated a list of the top 3 countries to migrate to via the IELTS exam even during the pandemic and the changes in their immigration policies to expedite your visa application and acceptance process. No need to wait for another year to start your visa process, with these visa policies in place you can migrate easily even in lockdown.

1. Canada

Canada certainly tops the list for being one of the most immigration-friendly countries. Their work visa, permanent immigration, and student visa application process are pretty straightforward. Moreover, Canada as a country offers hosts of opportunities for professionals, students, and permanent immigrants. Canadian Immigration office has updated its policies in the lockdown and these are some of the major changes:

• Good News for Temporary Visa Holders: People who hold temporary Canadian Visas and appeal to have the validity of the visa extended online can continue to stay in the country till the new application is reviewed.
• No Halts in the Visa Process: Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has said they won’t halt or reject an application if the documents are not complete and applications who, because of the lockdown, are finding it difficult to complete biometrics or medical exams will also be given respite.
• Express Entry Draws to Continue: In spite of travel restrictions, IRCC is going ahead withdrawing and more than a thousand candidates have received ITA for PR. So that’s good news for people looking to migrate to Canada!
• Students get a Reason to Smile: IRCC is recognizing online education and giving credits for it to the students. International students get the provision to start online classes at their Canadian colleges in the 2020 Fall and still be eligible for a work permit post their education is complete.

You can get all the latest updates on Canadian immigration policies at CIC News.  

2. The United Kingdom 

It is one of the countries where people migrate both for higher studies and for work opportunities. The UK Immigration office has drafted some policies which will really benefit the students who were to start their fall semester in prestigious UK Universities. They have also tried to speed up the application process. Let’s see the policies below:

• Respite for Students: The UK Home Office has relaxed study guidelines for students who want to take the graduate route. They are now permitting students to complete a part of their studies by distance learning and giving them the opportunity to switch to the graduate route with the condition that they return to the UK for their final semester.
• Application Process is On: The UK Home office has resumed processing the application from 1st Jun 2020, after a period of 3 months. Countries, where UK visa offices are open, are also issuing United Kingdom Entry Clearance Visas for a 90-day validity period instead of the traditional 30-day period.
• Get an Exemption: If the English language test, like IELTS, is a mandatory part of your application you can request an exemption if the test centers in your country are closed due to the pandemic.
• No Limit of Work/Volunteer Hours: The UK Home office has lifted the limit on the number of hours that tier 4 students, tier 2 workers, academic researchers, and a short time visa holders are permitted to work on

3. Australia 

Australia has been a preferred country to immigrate to for a long time owing to the abundant work, livelihood, and study opportunities the country has to offer. There are millions of people, from across countries, who move to Australia and have found their dreams come true. In this pandemic, the Australian immigration office has made significant changes in its immigration policies.

• English Proficiency Test Deadline: The Australian immigration office will be giving extra time to applicants to produce their English Proficiency test results as they understand that the test center services will be disrupted in countries across the world.
• Free Visa Application: Students who have been unable to finish their studies within the duration of the visa date can now apply for a free visa extension application. This is a welcome move for students whose visas were expiring reaffirming that Australia is an extremely student-friendly country.
• Granting Visas: The Australian government has begun giving visas to students living abroad so that they already have their Australian visas and are travel-ready once the borders open and traveling is safe. This means you should not delay your IELTS exam preparation as Australia is granting visas! You can immigrate as soon as travel bans are lifted.
• Online Learning is Counted: If you are learning online then those online courses are not in vain as the Australian government has said that the students who hold a visa for Australia can use these online hours to apply for a post-study work visa.
• Come Post-Study: Graduates who held a student visa can apply for a post-study work visa outside Australia if they are unable to return due to COVID-19

These three countries, Canada, the UK, and Australia have been really prompt in changing their visa policies during the pandemic and have been working hard to welcome students from all over the world into their countries post the crisis is over. If you are unsure of where to immigrate because of the epidemic, look at these policy changes and decide the country of your dreams. As a lot of these countries are giving applicants time to produce their English proficiency test results, it is recommended that applicants begin preparing for the IELTS Exam and utilize the time they have. IELTS IDP and British Council have started conducting tests in many cities across India. 

To know if IELTS testing has started in your city, check this official link of IELTS IDP. British Council IELTS has also released updates for Indian candidates. So don’t delay your preparation! If you are looking for a safe, comfortable, and convenient online course to prepare for the IELTS exam, explore our website for the various courses we offer.