Immigration Policies

Immigration policies of countries reflect their attitude toward immigration. There was no strict immigration policy in the ancient period. With increase in the consciousness about political identity each country formulated a set of conditions, to regulate people migration. Immigration policy is a set of guiding principles for the procedure of immigration. The immigration policy is revised according to the motives of the government, for instance the countries, which have low population growth, have liberal immigration policies. However, the growth of terrorism has forced countries to become more stringent in their immigration policy.

The immigration policy is a set of terms and conditions, which are essentially satisfied by the immigrants. Legal immigration is possible only for immigrants, who fulfill the eligibility criteria mentioned in the immigration policy of the particular country. The policy also determines the rights of the immigrant in the country. The immigration policy provides a comprehensive outlook to manage the economic and social life of the immigrant. Some countries have strict policies regarding the permitted activities of an immigrant in their country. The immigration promoting countries have lenient policies regarding the civic life of immigrants, which help them integrate easily with the culture of the country.

The government develops the immigration policy according to the social and economic conditions prevailing in the country. The policies are legalized by immigration law and population increase and anti immigrant sentiments influence the formulation of strict policies. Policies also consider issues regarding illegal immigration, for instance the policies of many countries enforce strict regulations to limit illegal immigrants while the immigration policies of a few countries have provisions to provide amnesty to illegal immigrants.

The immigration process can be postponed if the policy requirements are not strictly adhered to. Awareness about the policy is essential to avoid any problems. The immigration office provides guidance about the immigration policies of the country.