Family reunion has been and remains the basis of US immigration policy. There is no limit on the number of spouses, children and parents of US citizens but there are limits on other categories. Since 1 October 1987, the quota of 600 immigrants per year for the family preference classes (i.e. other family members) from a dependent territory (which Hong Kong is classed as) has been raised to 5,000. This was an administrative move to reduce the backlog of preference visa applicants, i.e. those already approved in principle but waiting their turn for a place.
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Canada sets no immigration quotas by country. A global planning level is announced for the year ahead by 1 November each year.
This level is modified annually to accommodate changing
social, economic
or demographic circumstances. People with comparable qualifications from anywhere in the world have an equal chance
an equal chance to settle if they meet Canadian selection and admission standards. The planning ranges for 1986-88 are
1986 1987
1988
103,000 115,000 115,000 125,000 125,000 135,000
business migrants etc.
Within these global targets there are different sub-groups, such as family class, assisted relatives, independents, The independent selected worker category, which had been closed for some years, was reopened in February 1986. Applicants in this category and the assisted relatives group are selected according to a points system designed to reflect the demand for their skills.
22
The Australian system is similar to that of Canada. Its global non-discriminatory policy was introduced in 1972. In 1981 the Business Migration Programme began and in 1986 the Independent and Concessional (i.e. assisted relatives) migration categories were introduced. The global quota for the financial year July 1988 to June 1989
1989 is 140,000, up from 132,000 the previous year. In 1975, intake was only 58,000.
23
The effect of the points systems used by Canada and Australia is to target the better educated and holders of particular skills.
24
A breakdown of the persons emigrating in the period 1984-8 by destination country is as follows -
Year
Canada
US A
Australia
Others
Total
1984
7,919
9,928
3,843
1,495
23,185
1985
8.232
>
8,377
3.964
1,510
22,083
1986
5,615
8,041
4,441
1,191
19,288
1987
16,254
7,284
5,208
1,125
29,871
1988
24,588
11,426
7,846
1,606
45,466
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