The new Immigration Act has been in force in Germany since 1 January 2005. It aims to enable highly-qualified people from abroad to enter the German employment market more easily and to offer them longer-term prospects. For international students who have completed their studies in Germany, i.e. graduated, as per the act, after ending their studies, they can extend their stay and spend up to one year looking for a job in Germany that is appropriate to the qualifications. Highly-qualified foreigners, who have a job offer in Germany, can receive a (permanent) Settlement Permit without the need for any labour market checks or the approval of the Federal Employment Agency.