(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Worldwide Immigration Consultancy Services, or WWICS, is confident of achieving strong double-digit growth in business this year amid an upward trend for migration to developed countries, its top official said.
The world's largest immigration group recorded 20 per cent growth in business last year and helped around 5,000 families from the UAE to settle in Australia and Canada, the two most popular destinations for millions of applicants across the globe.
"There has been a growth of about 20 per cent of our business every year. Year 2012 has witnessed the same growth. It has been a very exciting, satisfactory and fulfilling year for us," Lt. Col. (retired) B.S. Sandhu, chairman and managing director, WWICS Group, told Khaleej Times in an interview during his recent visit to Dubai.
The group, which provides global resettlement solutions, has three offices in the UAE and has four more branches in Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. The three UAE branches at Dafsa, Jumeirah Lake Towers and Sharjah successfully support up to 125 cases per month for immigration to Australia and Canada.
"Every month about 100 to 125 families fly out supported by the three branches in the UAE to Australia and Canada on a permanent residency basis. We have seen mostly professionals move to these places followed by businessmen and students," he said.
Sandhu said 75 to 80 cases are filed with the respective authorities by the three branches in the UAE. These comprise all categories, including skilled, business and student, he added.
"Over the past 10 years, since we set up operations here, more than 20,000 families have immigrated and more than 10,000 students have gone to the US and Australia through us. This is only from the UAE."
Trend from GCC
Sandhu said the group's offices in other GCC countries, excluding Saudi Arabia, and Kenya have also noticed an upward trend in immigration cases as many expats are keen to seek destinations that offer permanent residency.
"We have seen many expats migrate from Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. WWICS has offices based in all of these locations. Many expats fly out from here to seek permanent residency. We have an office in Nairobi, Kenya, as well from where many seek to migrate," he said, adding that 8,000 to 10,000 cases are filed per year through the group.
In reply to a question, he said WWICS has 100 per cent success ratio for immigrant cases. The group's success is evident from more than 80,000 people who have happily settled in their dream destinations like Canada, US, UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
"Our success ratio is 100 per cent. We don't have any rejected applications. Each file that is selected by us is actively pursued. We ensure its finality into success," he said.
"We select the candidates based on the requirement by the government in these countries. We have an assessment form based on which we evaluate whether or not a person is suitable to go. The process is very thorough and all our applications have been accepted," he added.
"At WWICS, we provide complete resettlement from receiving the person at the airport to helping them integrate into the society, resettle, find a job and a home and get their permanent residency. It is a very comprehensive process that begins from the application and ends when the person is completely settled," he said.
Popular destinations
Sandhu said Australia and Canada are the most popular destinations for immigrants along with the US, New Zealand and some European countries.
"Most convenient countries to move to are Canada and Australia, which give permanent residency. These countries are open to immigrants as their population is currently stagnant. The majority of the population in these countries consists of single professionals and families without children," he said.
"For Canada, the provinces are very receptive towards migrators. Provinces such as Saskatchewan, Alberta, Nova Scotia and Manitoba are open. In the federal category, the choice is very limited. The federal list is expected to come out in May 2013. So we are sitting five months away."
He said Australia is open to immigrants in a big way. "More than 500 professionals qualify from different streams. With Australia, the process is also very fast where a person can fly out within 10 to 12 days of applying. When it comes to Australia, it is pretty much apply and fly."
He said students have a huge advantage in both Canada and Australia as they get jobs during their studies and then secure permanent residency.
In reply to a question about migration opportunities to New Zealand, he said the country is receptive to immigrants, but on a selective basis.
"New Zealand is good as it offers permanent residency to those who have a job offer validated and certified by the government. It also has an investor business programme."
Sandhu said the group is going to open its services for migration to Germany very shortly. "We are looking at opportunities for permanent residency for migrators to Germany."
To a question, he said some opportunities are available in a few countries such as Cyprus where people can get a second passport.
"We don't advocate that. We believe if you are going to a country, you should settle there permanently. You can't afford to keep moving," he said.
In reply to a question about the impact of the crisis in Europe and the US on immigration cases, he said Europe is no more on the group's list and the UK is totally out.
"The UK has one programme, the UK Entrepreneur Programme, where one can invest £200,000 and after five years avail permanent residency. One can invest this sum into an already successful business or they can set up their own business. We have had people migrate to the UK through us under this programme."
"There may be a crisis in Europe, but North America is doing extremely well. The US gross domestic product is among the highest in the world. The US GDP is around $15 trillion per year, as compared the GDP of China, which is $7.3 trillion. There are plenty of job opportunities in these countries."
To a question about higher migration costs, he said the increase is not phenomenal.
"We believe it is because of worldwide inflation. There may be a small rise in fees and costs, which is a result of rise in inflation of eight to 10 per cent, as well as other factors. But the rise in cost is not phenomenal," he concluded.
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