UK Migration Update

UK Visa| UK Foreign Secretary - Ministerial Week at United Nations

2011-12-13T01:12:00.000-08:00

UK Visa| Video Footage on the Eurozone Act

2011-12-13T01:08:00.000-08:00

UK Minister for Europe talks about the Eurozone Act 2011 and explains a little about the Act. The intended treaty is meant to set to enable European countries to set up a Euro-zone Stability Mechanism, which is meant to secure financial stability in the EU.

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UK Visa| Video Footage on Cybersecurity

2011-12-13T00:58:00.000-08:00

Baroness Pauline Jones discusses major UK cyber security issues like cloud computing, theft and fraud.

How to renew your British Passport: How to Video

2011-09-29T01:53:00.000-07:00

Video on how to renew your UK Passport

UK Migration Update

2011-09-29T01:45:00.000-07:00

UK Foreign Secretary|United Nations General Assembly

UK Foreign Office Video Footage: Foreign Secretary

2011-09-29T01:37:00.000-07:00

UK Foreign Secretary talks about the largest attempt the UK Foreign Office is undergoing to improve the reach, ability and other useful diplomatic skills that the foreign office needs to reinforce their network around the world.

UK Visa and Immigration news:

There is a disruption to the UK Points Based System and the system will only be back online on the 1 October 2011, this may affect Tier 2 applications. Any Tier 2 or related applications should wait until the system is back online to proceed.

EU Finacial Crisis Video

2011-09-26T00:24:00.000-07:00

UK Labour Govt Immigration Secrets Made Public

2011-09-26T00:09:00.000-07:00

Reports that were kept from the public, show that immigrants that came from Bulgaria and Romania to the UK had low education levels and were making more out of work/unemployment benefits, in fact the figures suggest that as much as 15% of migrants from Bulgaria and Romania were making out of work benefit claims.

The Labour party has been accused of withholding this information, which
is contained in 5 reports, due to the party attempting to avoid any damage beofre the general election last year.

There are reports that say that there are even more damaging figures in the report that suggest according to findings, immigrants from all countries around the world are less likely to find work than UK natives and may participate less in civic duties.

Until 2008 the UK had pretty muh an "open door" policy which resulted in record numbers of UK Visas, UK work permits and other permissions being approved

The Govt then introduced a points system with a view to curb the numbers of foreign people entering the UK, making it considerebly harder to obtain a skilled visa for the UK.

The UK Govt did make some promises to 'manage' the flow of EU migrants into the UK but in truth the systems in place do not fully deliver on any level.

Carers of British Citizens Judgement Explanation

2011-09-22T01:51:00.000-07:00

The Court of Justice of the EU recently confirmed the judgement on a case of Ruiz Zambrano.

The judgement basically allows the right of residence, for the carer of the Dependent UK citizen in the circumstance when the carer has no other claim to residence in the UK and the removal from the UK would mean that the UK citizen would need to leave the EU.

The UK Immigration authorities will now need to change the immigration regulations and enable a person in this situation to be issued with a document that allows them to stay in the UK on the basis of the Ruiz Zambrano judgement.

As a temporary measure the UKBA will issue a certificate of application to people that can show:

Proof that the dependent person is UK citizen
Proof of the dependency between the carer applicant and the UK citizen
sufficient documentary evidence of the relationship between the carer and the UK citizen

The certificate is intended to allow the applicant to stay in the UK until the application is decided.

UK may have to suspend spending cuts

2011-09-21T00:13:00.000-07:00

UK Actor swims down River Thames for Charity

2011-09-19T23:27:00.000-07:00

UK Chancellor George Osborne on Eurozone Crisis and International Response

2011-09-19T23:24:00.000-07:00

In this short Video clip the UK chancellor Mr. George Osborne calls on Leaders in Europe and asks them to send more clear signals that they are dealing with the financial crisis:

Liberal Democrats Public Opinion Video

2011-09-19T23:19:00.000-07:00

UK Marriage Visa Consultation Video

2011-09-19T02:16:00.000-07:00

UK Marriage Visa and Settlement Changes are Due

2011-09-19T02:10:00.000-07:00

The UK Immigration Minister, Damian Green has confirmed in a speech that the UK Govt is tackling the issue of UK marriage Visa and Settlement route. In the speech he stressed the importance of looking at abuse of the Marriage and Settlement Visa into the UK.

Currently there is a consultation on this issue and also on preventing these visa applications bypassing UK Immigration Laws which is possible at the moment.

Recent Reports Have Shown:

About 20% of UK Marriage Visa Sponsors were either unemployed or had an income below that of the national minimum wage.

37% of these sponsors were living with either other family or friends

In 2009 2,6 million pounds was spent on telephone translation services and 400,000 GBP on document translations

Two thirds of a sample of marriage visa applicants that were approved in 2009 had never visited the UK before making the permanent move.

The UK Govt is currently undertaking a consultation on assessing the changes that should take place:

there needs to be a more clear defined definition on what makes up a real marriage and help identify shame or fake marriages

introduce a new minimum income threshold for those sponsors in the UK looking to sponsor a family migrant

extension of the period from 2 to 5 years in order to apply for settlement, this too should help curb the abuse of the marriage visa and settlement routes

all marriage visa applicants under the age of 65 need to show that they have a basic understanding of everyday English.

VIDEO GUIDE ON HOW TO PLAY EUROMILLIONS

2011-09-01T03:42:00.000-07:00

Following our recent posts on the National Lottery and different games that can be played, I thought it could be useful to post this video guide.

National Lottery Reports Increase in Numbers

2011-09-01T03:18:00.000-07:00

The UK National Lottery has been running for many years.

Recently they have reported an increase in the numbers of people playing across the network of lottery based games.

It is interesting that in times of financial uncertainty throughout history increases in lottery, betting and gambling can be seen.

On their site they have a section that demonstrates some of the good causes that the lottery proceeds help with.

The video displays a children's therapy centre in Cardiff receiving a nice amount from funds from The National Lottery fund.

We also found a nice page with a history of UK Scratch Cards from the National Lottery. Their Online Scratch Cards history display page contains images of the different types of cards or scratch off's dating from 1995 when the first National Lottery Scratch Cards were printed.

UK Migration on the Rise Despite Govt Efforts

2011-09-01T02:29:00.000-07:00

Migration to the UK is reported to have risen by 21% even though the UK Govt has taken the most dramatic measures to reduce the numbers overall. The rise has been attributed to an increase in the numbers of migrants arriving in the UK from Poland and other EU Countries. Many UK Employers and Businesses have had to turn more to EU Migrants to fill the skills gap shortage in the UK left after the immigration changes made recently.

Also another interesting fact that was found was that fewer people had left the UK, which opens a question on why?

The financial crisis across Europe has seen a rise in employment in many EU states meaning that many more migrants from European countries will try and seek employment in the UK.

The UK Coalition Govt has openly admitted to making the changes to the immigration with a view to reducing numbers and this has clearly not happened. One could argue that the measures taken have allowed for a situation where the different European Communities living in the UK will keep rising and still hinder the keeping of the UK Culture.

A good example here is when a EU Migrants partner is entering the UK there is no requirements for English level check as with non EU States currently.

Video on UKVisas and the role they play in UK Visa applications

2011-08-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

Older video I stumbled on with an explanation on the role that ukVisas plays in the visa application system for the UK.

Interesting Video: Britain through my Eyes

2011-08-25T00:21:00.000-07:00

Well shot video with UK Photojournalist Andre Camara commenting on his life in the UK over the past 20 years.

UK Visa and Immigration News Update

2011-08-23T03:18:00.000-07:00

Recently we have noticed that there has been a rise in the amount of UK immigration scams that the UKBA have picked up on. Just today we picked up on two different stories about different abuses of the immigration system. The one story which we found alarming is the story about an immigration law firm boss being jailed for a massive immigration scam. The report explained that this UK Immigration Lawyer was giving his clients false documents like fake education certificates, payslips and letters.

We have written many previous posts on how important it is to select the correct UK immigration lawyer or company. It is extremely disturbing to me that this kind of thing goes on, even though we are all aware of immigration abuses, but when you find a lawyer willing to abuse the system it makes it somehow feel even worse.

I am not a lawyer and have been doing UK visas and Immigration for 8 years and would never attempt to deceive the UK authorities or my clients.

UK Prime Minister on Recent Riots

2011-08-09T07:16:00.001-07:00

Infographic on the cost of Private Tuition Fees in the UK

2011-08-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

I found this info-graphic on the telegraph web-site with a whole host of other articles on UK student fees :

I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information but thought that it was useful to post either way.

London Riots Video Footage: Thugs caught robbing young boy on Camera

2011-08-09T06:57:00.001-07:00

UK Riots Live Footage

2011-08-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

Video Footage UK Riots

2011-08-09T01:46:00.000-07:00

Seriously disturbing footage of the UK riots. This footage was taken on Sunday 7th August in Tottenham. The UK seems to be going through some real turbulent times, just last year we witnessed similar riots and looting taking place with the Student Protests.

Theresa may On London Riots

2011-08-09T01:33:00.001-07:00

Riot Footage: Shop Owners Try Defend Their Own Stores

2011-08-09T01:31:00.000-07:00

London Riots

2011-08-09T01:17:00.000-07:00

Over the past 3 days there has been terrible rioting and looting across the UK. This violence has spread to Liverpool, Birmingham,Bristol and Nottingham. The initial spark that set off this catastrophic series of events was when a peaceful protest in Tottenham turned bad when police shot a man dead.

There have been apparently over 400 arrests and about 70 people so far have been charged with varying offences. UK Police forces have been stretched to their limits and it seems as if even the army have been considered for helping with the trying to control this violence.

The current financial situation globally together with an overall bleak general outlook makes it hard for anyone to see positive in life. The issue is that mindless violence like this does not help in any way. You only have to look at the scenes filmed over the past 3 days and you can see the destruction and mayhem caused.

Not only are these riots and looting extremely destructive but they are going to cost large sums of money to repair.

This is certainly not the brightest time for the UK and with the Olympics coming up this should surely draw more attention to security issues too.

Useful Tips for People Travelling to the United Kingdom

2011-08-02T00:41:00.000-07:00

The UK has always and will remain a vital destination for many people from all over the world. Regardless of the difficulties people experience with applying for UK Visas and the constant UK visa rules and law changes many people still require the permission to enter the UK for various purposes like:

Study
Visiting Family
Working
Tourism

When travelling to the UK it is important to consider the following tips:

Always check that your passport is valid and that any children travelling with you have a valid passport or travel document.

Do not give false information or documents to the UK border Agency Employees

There are restrictions on what you can bring in to the UK, especially food products and a list of other prohibited items that cannot be brought into the UK.

Obviously no drugs, weapons or other counterfeit goods can be brought into the UK

Limits on items like tobacco and alcohol apply and should be checked

Cash of over 10,000 Euro should be declared if you are from outside the EU

Some medicine in the UK requires a prescription so make sure that you confirm this before you leave as this may be confiscated at the UK border

UK Business Secretary Vince Cable Speaks at UKTI Business Summit

2011-07-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

UK Business Secretary Vince Cable adressed the importance for investment into the UK by foreigners in helping the UK economy.

He announced that almost 95,000 jobs were created or safeguarded in the UK in 2010/11, he went on to emphasize that this is a good indicator that foreign companies in the UK are sticking around and more than that they are succeeding and anticipating a positive and lucrative future for the UK economy.

The last few years and last year in particular were very tough around the world including the UK but the figures displayed do show some signs that the UK did attract a fair amount of inward investment from foreigners.

The UKTI is the body that deals with Trade and Investment for the UK, and supports foreign businesses coming to the UK and has been heavily focused in preparing the UK for foreign investment.

UK Trade and Investment Lord Green Talks about foreign Investment

2011-07-27T04:35:00.000-07:00

UKTI video emphasizing the need for foreign investment into the UK and the jobs required by the UK govt in strengthening the infrastructure in the UK.

Mayor of London on London 2012 - Video Update

2011-07-27T04:23:00.000-07:00

Boris Johnson gives an update on the Olympics due in London in 2012.

UK Energy Envoy Visits the USA

2011-07-27T04:18:00.000-07:00

UK Foreign Office Video of British Climate and Security Envoy talking in Chicago about his two day visit to discuss national security threats to both the UK and the USA posed by today's current reliance on fossil fuels. Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti met with business leaders, politicians and civic leaders.

2011-07-27T04:11:00.000-07:00

UK Foreign Office Video in which UK Foreign Secretary William Hague discusses why the Horn of Africa is important to the UK.

UK Govt Announces Exceptional Talented Migrants Visa Tier1 Quotas

2011-07-21T01:08:00.000-07:00

Following the changes to the UK Immigration System and the closure of many of the previously popular UK Working Visa Options (Like Tier 1 General), today the UKBA announced that on the 9th August 2011 the New Tier 1 (exceptional talent) category will open.

This new type of UK Tier 1 Visa is designed to attract to the UK seriously talented leaders in the fields of

Engineering
Art
Humanities
Science

The UKBA confirmed that they will be issuing up to 1000 Tier 1 (Exceptionally Talented) in the first year.

They also confirmed that this new UK Visa route will be overseen by internationally recognized bodies that will be advising the UKBA and attempting to ensure that only the most talented individuals get issued with this kind of visa.

The Royal academy of engineering will get up to 200 places to issue

The British Academy will be able to nominate up to 200 places in the fields of social science and humanities

Arts Council England will get the opportunity to give up to 300 spaces

Royal Society will be able to nominate up to 300 spots in the fields of Science

It looks as if Migrants looking to enter the UK on a Tier 1 (exceptionally talented) will not necessarily have to be employed but a recommendation from one of the above groups is essential in order to receive the visa approval.

Any Tier 1 (Exceptionally Talented) approved applicant should initially receive 3 yrs and 4 months validity on their visa and should be able to extend their stay under the visa for a further 2 yrs and then settlement could be available after 5 yrs.

This visa is not major news for majority of the population as the requirements will surely be at a very high level but for that small percentage that do qualify it seems to be a really good route.

Every day lately I am experiencing affects of the changes to the Immigration System and the tightening of not just the visa rules and permissions but also on the process and the knock on affect it is having with many applicants being refused visas lately.

In fact now since 4th July 2011 there has been even more drastic changes to the Tier 4 visa for the UK and one of my clients learnt that he may not be able to work at all during his studies as his college is not considered a Higher Learning Institute but rather a private college.

click here to read about......

Utilizing Holiday Time Effectively for UK Students

2011-07-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

Tips for saving Money for UK Students

2011-07-18T01:54:00.000-07:00

Applying for University in the UK

2011-07-18T01:49:00.000-07:00

UK Govt Launches Family Visa Consultation

2011-07-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

Following the post on the proposed changes to the Settlement/Family/Dependent Visa set to come into force soon, the UKBA has announced they intend on the following changes:

They will be looking at curbing sham marriages by defining more clearly what (to them) constitutes a real marriage

A major new plan is to set up a minimum income threshold that UK Sponsors will need to earn or demonstrate in order to support the new migrants in the UK and help with integration into life in the UK.

Changing the period that a migrant (on the basis of marriage) needs to spend in the UK before they can apply for settlement from 2 to 5 years.

English level needed to demonstrate when they apply for settlement is set to be changed to B1

Working with local organisations to try curb abuse of vulnerable people forced into sham marriages

Reviewing the appeal process for family visitor visas

For more detailed info you can click here

Settlement-Family Visas due to change

2011-07-13T03:15:00.000-07:00

I read an article on the Telegraph web-site that confirmed that there will be some major changes to UK Settlement and Family Applications. The changes mentioned in the article are extending the period of time needed to claim settlement from 2 years to 5 years.

The changes are another step that the authorities are attempting to reduce the numbers of migrants entering the UK and also their aim is to limit the abuse of this particular Visa as they claim that there have been many sham marriages in the past few years. If a couple needs to remain together for 5 years before the migrant can claim settlement rather than the 2 years currently then the idea is that this would curb abuse.

The article also confirmed that the consultation will look at Article 8, right to family life with a view to assessing how this should be decoded.

I have not found any published articles or news about this on the UKBA website or other web resources but as soon as I locate any confirmation on the details I will post accordingly.

UK Ticket Holder Wins Euromillions Record 161 Million Pounds

2011-07-13T02:43:00.000-07:00

An unidentified (as yet) British Euromillions Lottery ticket holder stands to become the 430th richest person in the UK. There were another two UK-based lottery winners who each won 1,7 million when they matched 5 numbers and the bonus lucky star.

The national lottery officials did verify that this winning jackpot amount was the biggest yet in the UK and in Europe with the previous record being 113 Million pounds won the previous year in October.

UK Gas Prices set to rise in August

2011-07-13T02:25:00.000-07:00

new changes to to UKBA Website due soon

2011-07-12T05:51:00.000-07:00

There are changes due to the UKBA website which are set to commence from 18 July 2011. The idea here being that the UK govt intends to have one integrated web-site for UK Visa applicants from all over the world.

Currently if you are looking to enter the UK on any kind of Visa, there are different processes for some countries and the information available is spread across a confusing network of embassy and partner websites.

If you are already in the UK on a visa then there different processes from those entering the UK for the first time and these changes aim to consolidate and improve the information available for both types of applicants.

These changes are welcome albeit very late in my opinion.

New UK Embassy in Juba, Sudan

2011-07-11T00:23:00.000-07:00

UK Tier 4 Student Visa Update-New Tier 4 Application Forms

2011-07-10T23:33:00.000-07:00

There are new Tier 4 UK Student Visa Application Forms Available for all people looking to apply for a UK Student Visa in the coming days. weeks or months.

The UKBA will still accept TIER 4 UK STUDENT VISA APPLICATIONS on the previous application form up until and including 24 July 2011, however the rules for applying for a TIER 4 VISA must be up to date and include all the latest relevant supporting evidence.

As with all UK VISA APPLICATIONS lately it is vital to submit the necessary application form together with various supporting evidence. The supporting evidence should cover any areas of the Visa application that may need further clarification and I use a general rule that is to make each UK VISA Application package as thorough and as easy to understand as possible.

At least One copy of each type of document should always be made, in fact I suggest keeping all papers submitted on hard copy and on file electronically,just to be secure that in the event of any lost document at least you have the back up copy.

Depending on where you are located will greatly affect the way in which you submit any UK Visa application for example if you are applying for an initial or extension application.

For all forms and guidance notes you should double check to confirm that you are using the latest valid UK visa application form

Click here for an exciting opportunity

Feedback on UK Immigration Cap- Risky for UK Businesses

2011-07-07T03:22:00.000-07:00

A group of MP's from across all parties have warned that the Home Office policies to reduce the number of migrants entering the UK hold a significant risk to UK Businesses at the most crucial time when skilled workers are needed. The global need for skills and growing competition for skilled labour is increasing,the group of MP's commented that the limit of non EU workers in the UK potentially could do more damage in the long run economically for the UK.

The general idea to limit the number of foreign workers and the introduction of the UK Immigration Cap was also used as a political tool too to generate confidence in UK Voters.

The group made special note that the UK should appear open for business at this crucial time. instead of scaring off investment or development because of lengthy, confusing and difficult bureaucratic processes.

Many multinational companies raised concerns that the policies for the Tier 2 Sponsor were not clear and also that they feared to be refused after spending money for the process.

In fact it was also reported that many UK Businesses were reporting skills shortages at a time when UK unemployment is high.

A prominent UK economist claimed that the skills threshold was a further barrier to non EU Migrants which excludes certain professions entirely from applying to work in the UK under either a skilled or less skilled position.

Another major issue raised by large companies based in the UK was the lack of confidence in applying for urgently needed skilled staff in the event financial situation improves and for certain industries that could improve more quickly than others how quickly they could react to skilled staff requirements from outside the UK and EU.

Tier 4 UK Student Visa Changes come into effect today

2011-07-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

4 July 2011
Today further changes to the UK Tier 4 Student Visa come into affect.

I published the changes in details and some views on how these will affect international students looking to study in the UK.

We will have to wait and see how these changes practically affect the visa submission procedure and visa decisions.

WEBSITE OWNERS CLICK HERE

Heroines in Chemistry discussed by FCO

2011-06-30T02:06:00.000-07:00

On the 16th June Foreign Common Welath Office Scientific Adviser talks about major female influences in Chemistry and Science. With 2011 being the international year of Chemistry an event that highlighted the role of Nobel Prize winners Marie curie and Chemist Dorothy Hodgkin.

Support for British Business Overseas

2011-06-30T01:53:00.001-07:00

UK's new EU Bill explained

2011-06-30T01:47:00.000-07:00

wanna make some extra passive $$$

New UK Student Visa-Tier 4 Update

2011-06-29T01:11:00.000-07:00

I was busy reading through the newly published document regarding UK Tier 4 Study Visa NEW POLICIES. Once again the UKBA have done a good job at making the Tier 4 Visa Process more confusing.

1st off the document starts with a weak attempt at describing the new arrangements for "low-risk" applicants. A Tier 4 applicant willbe considered to be a Student sponsored by a Highly Trusted Education Sponsor, is applying for entry clearance in his/her country of nationality and who is a national of:

Australia
Argentina
Brunei
Chile
Croatia
Canada
Honk Kong
Japan
New Zealand
South Korea
Singapore
Taiwan
Trinidad and Tobago
USA

The UKBA may approve Tier 4 applications from these nationalities without certain documentation, however they go on to say that all Tier 4 Applicants should hand in all supporting evidence with their Student Applications. So whats the point in this really.

In my opinion its just a way to make it seem as if they are at least trying to alleviate the current situation around UK visas and Immigration

The rest of the document is just as confusing and can be seen HERE

I am also concerned about the maintenance section that now seems more involved.

These rules are set to come in on the 4th July 2011 and this morning I have just returned from a meeting with the UK embassy and the embassy employers confirmed that they still have not received any indication on how to deal with new applications.

What they did confirm is that they have recently received more UK Visa refusals than ever before and many of the refusals were due to maintenance requirements.

I always suggest that any potential student looking to make an application uses a professional service especially lately however even now with certain types of applications I am starting to stop my service temporarily until I can confirm what will happen in the future.

For example yesterday I had to turn away a potential UK Business Visa where in previous years I would have gladly attempted to provide the best service. I just am not prepared to commence with any case where I do not feel more than confident that I can get approved.

Entering the UK as an Artist or Musician-Update from UKBA 28.06.2011

2011-06-28T02:58:00.000-07:00

The UKBA released a response to recent media statements about the points based system and how it has affected the ability of top musicians and artists from entering the UK.

The UKBA spokesperson made a typical statement that basically just confirmed that any creative visitor genuinely visiting the UK to perform are welcome but that they still need to meet the entry requirements for the UK and or possibly may rather need to apply for a specific UK visa.

The UKBA has also published a document that goes into further detail about entering the UK as an artist or a musician

check out the full document here:

Exciting Opportunity for Blog/Website Owners

30 June Strike Planned UKBA will be affected

2011-06-27T02:53:00.000-07:00

The UKBA has announced on their web site that there will be a 1 day strike starting the evening of the 29th June and ending midnight the following day 30 June 2011. This strike is set to affect the UKBA staff inside the UK. The UKBA has confirmed that there may be delays at border control posts across the UK as their focus remains securing the UK's borders and properly managing UK immigration control.

They cannot confirm how this strike will affect the different posts like airports, international rail stations and ports however they have listed some pretty basic info for people travelling into and out of the UK

I suggest that anyone booked to enter the UK for the first time with any kind of longer term visa or UK Tier 4 visa on that date prepare themselves well. I would keep a copy of all important application documents with you and obviously make sure that all the details on the visa inside the passport are 100% correct and there is no missing info or misspellings.

bloggers read here

UK Tier 4 Student Update-More Changes from 4 July 2011

2011-06-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

There were more changes to the Tier 4 UK Student Visa system announced today, these changes will come into affect from 4 July 2011.

The changes to the Student Visas are as follows:

-require that sponsors/education institutions will need to vouch that a new study course follows academic/logical/authentic progression

-extended list of study courses where students need to receive ATAS clearance

-work restrictions to allow students undertaking a course at postgraduate (higher education institutions) and publicly funded education institutions ONLY

-new maintenance requirement to ensure that study and living expenses funds (maintenance) are genuinely available to the student, by using a new declaration on visa application form

-the UKBA will publish a list of financial institutions that do not, on the basis of their experience, confirm financial evidence well enough

-UKBA will explain the situation of overseas universities and colleges with campuses inside the United Kingdom

-bring in a faster application process for certain low risk nationalities wishing to study at Highly Trusted Institutions

-new restriction on dependents being allowed into the UK, only those students studying at Postgraduate Level on courses lasting 6 months or more, and for govt sponsored students courses with a duration of at least 6 months

-new restriction on ability to offer accountancy courses that are accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants to those who have platinum or gold status by ACCA.

These changes are once again making it harder for certain types of students wishing to study in the UK, we have noticed that a number of applicants we have spoken with have chosen to study in either Australia, Canada or the USA as the constant rule changes and tightening of the procedures have made their experience with the UK difficult and tedious.

Truth is that genuine students who are studying at reputable UK Tier 4 Sponsors will not have too much difficulty in obtaining their Visa's. As always I suggest using an immigration specialist or lawyer to verify that all your application is correct. The main area to be careful and thorough in understanding is the maintenance requirements/rules, this is an area where many applicants fail to provide satisfactory evidence.

With my Tier 4 Student clients I ensure to request that I see a copy of their financial evidence long before we submit to give enough time to make any changes or request further evidence.

The UK National Lottery-Some News and Updates

2011-06-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

The UK's National Lottery is the biggest lottery in the UK at the moment, it is more commonly known as the lotto. There are a number of different games that fall under the term National Lottery and remains an extremely popular method of easy gambling in the UK. All prizes won in the lottery are tax free and paid in one lump sum payment.

It is estimated that The National Lottery has created over 2500 millionaires which is a staggering figure.

Eligibility to play is as follows:

Lottery is not restricted to UK residents so any nationality can purchase a ticket
Players must be 16 years or older
Online ticket purchases are limited to people with UK bank accounts only, a UK residential address, and being physically present in the UK when purchasing the ticket
Lottery Tickets are not transferable
Commercial Syndicates are not permitted

Available Games

Lotto

Where six numbers are randomly drawn from numbered balls from a machine, players would have chosen a sequence of numbers beforehand. A match of 3 or more numbers will receive a prize with obviously increasing value with the more matching numbers. There is always a bonus ball too which applies to people with matches of 5 numbers.

Lotto Hot Picks

Similar to Lotto and uses the same numbers and concept but the player chooses the numbers and the number of balls drawn. This game is more commonly known as five games in one.

Thunderball

Where a player chooses 5 numbers from 1-39 and 1 THUNDERBALL number from 1-14 . Prizes can be won by matching the regular numbers and the THUNDERBALL numbers.

Lotto Plus 5

This is a new game and is offered fills the gap in the alternate lotto draw days, Again matching 3,4,5 and 6 numbers with jackpot reaching 250,000 GBP.

EuroMillions

This is a lottery with added lotteries from Austria,Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Spain.

Scratchcard and Instant Wins

The National Lottery also sells scratchcards, these are small card like boards with an area on them that can be scratched off. Once scratched if the player has 3 matching symbols/numbers/pictures/amounts. At the moment the highest prize is about 100,000 GBP and tickets can be bought from many vendors and supermarkets across the UK. Online instant win games are available similar to online scratchcards and may involve things like dice or matching symbols/numbers/pictures/amounts. The prizes vary from game to game but like online scratch cards and regular scratch cards the player is made aware immediately of whether a prize has been won and what the prize amount is.

New UK English language test providers-update May 2011

2011-05-16T00:24:00.000-07:00

Current Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications that are being submitted or have been booked to be submitted are permitted to use English Language Ability evidence from the previous list as long as the applications are received by the UKBA on or before 17 May 2011.

This means that any applications sent in from the 18 May 2011 will need to use one of the English Language Test Providers from the new list for Tier 1 & Tier 2.

For UK spouse/partner/dependent applications applicants may use the previous list when booking an English proficiency test up until 17 July 2011 thereafter only evidence from the updated list will be accepted.

The English language test is a vital element of UK VISA APPLICATIONS and I always suggest to my clients that they take as much practice as possible and even take preparatory courses to improve all aspects of their English language ability.

Wherever possible I recommend taking the IELTS as over the past 10 years this test has proven to be the most reliable and thorough testing.

Questions with UK Immigration minister

2011-05-09T00:31:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since my last post, this is a rather interesting video clip of Damien Green, UK Immigration Minister answering some immigration questions sent in by the UK public.

Tier 4 UK Student Visa Changes to English Language

2011-04-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

21.04.2011

Following the UKBA's announcement that the TIER 4 UK STUDENT VISA SYSTEM is being changed again, yesterday the New English Language Requirements were implemented.

Any Foreign Student looking to study in the UK from 21 April 2011 will need:

International Student studying Degree Level and above courses in the UK need to show a level of B2 on the CEFR.

International Students studying at below degree level, including Foundation courses, pre-sessional courses or English as a foreign language will need to show a a level of B1 on the CEFR.

New English Language Test provider List Published

2011-04-07T04:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the UKBA announced a new list of English Language Test Providers .

Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications that have already been taken/booked with the existing list of test providers can be used provided that the applications are received by the UKBA on or before the 17 March 2011. From the 18th May 2011 only test on the updated list will be acceptable.

If you are applying as the spouse/partner you can also use a test with the existing Test Providers provided the application is received by the UKBA on or before the 17 July 2011, BUT from 18 July 2011 any application of this type needs be accompanied by a certificate from the new updated list.

If you are planning to Study in the UK you will need to use the new list as of 6 April 2011.

For the updated list click HERE

UK Tax Changes Video

2011-04-07T00:37:00.000-07:00

UK Budget Cuts Video

2011-04-06T03:51:00.001-07:00

Annual Limit for Foreign workers in the UK comes in to force

2011-04-06T03:48:00.000-07:00

The annual limit for Tier 2 (Non EU Workers)comes into action today 6th April 2011, recently the UK Govt also announced the Tier 4 Student Visa Changes and also recently the UK Govt made an announcement that they intend to make some changes to permanent Settlement applications later in the year.

The Tier 2 Changes have been clearly defined in previous posts of this BLOG.

The Intra-Co Transfer which is outside the annual limit will also be amended in 3 distinguishing ways:

The job needs to be on the graduate occupation list in the UK.

Applicants paid 40,000 GBP or more will be able to stay longer than 1 year and could be granted a further 3 years with the possibility of another extension of 2 years

Applicants paid between 24,000-40,000 GBP will only be permitted to stay in the UK for no longer than 1 year (12 months) at which stage they need to leave the UK and will not be eligible to reapply for 12 months.

New Tests for Sickness Benefit in the UK

2011-04-05T02:19:00.000-07:00

NHS Reforms to be put on hold- Video

2011-04-05T02:14:00.001-07:00

New UK Visa Fees from 6th April 2011

2011-04-05T00:34:00.000-07:00

UK Visa Fees are being raised from 6th April 2011 following the announcement made by the immigration minister this February.

The new immigration fees will come in to affect on the 6th April so if you are thinking of or about to submit an application to either study, visit, settle or work in the UK you should either pay for the application online (if available in you area) or confirm what the new fees will be so you avoid any problems when submitting the UK visa application.

There are also new fees for UK education providers and for UK Based Employers applying for a sponsorship license.

For the full breakdown of the New UK Visa Fees please click here for the UKBA's PDF document.

NHS REFORMS AND THE CHALLENGES FACED

2011-04-04T04:18:00.000-07:00

Top Businesses back StartUp Britain

2011-04-03T02:30:00.000-07:00

UK Legal Adviser found guilty of Immigration Fraud

2011-04-03T00:59:00.000-07:00

The UKBA has reported a story I thought I would share with my readers:

An immigration adviser based in Uxbridge has been found guilty of breaching immigration laws, and helping submit fraudulent UK Visa Applications and has received a 6 year prison sentence.

The Indian national was found to have created false documents and employment histories for clients that were applying for extensions to their current UK visas. It was even reported that the guilty adviser had arranged for regular payments to be made into his clients accounts to make it seem as if they were receiving high salaries and were in Highly Skilled Employment.

In this industry it is all too easy for legitimate visa applicants to be taken advantage of and mislead, in this case it seems though as if the Visa applicants themselves would have to had agreed to the adviser's underhand and illegal practices.

Often for immigration purposes it is required for applicant's to have reference letters, employment confirmations and various other official forms of supporting evidence ready for their visa approval or extension applications.

In this instance it is clear that much of the adviser's practices were illegal and in fact in the cases where the clients agreed to knowing what the adviser was doing- these people also now face sentences of 6-10 months in prison and thereafter deportation.

Tier 4 Student Visa Changes

2011-04-03T00:37:00.000-07:00

Last week the UK Govt announced some major changes to the UK Tier 4 - Student Visa system.

The UKBA has published the below documents following the announcement of the Tier 4 Changes:

statement of intent outlining the details of the changes
updated policy guidance Tier 4 migrants from 21 April 2011
updated guidance for Tier 4 Sponsors from 21 April 2011

It seems as if the new changes to the UK Tier 4 Student Visa are set to come into force on the 21 April 2011.

If you are looking to submit a Tier 4 Application be sure to read through the changes and if you need any clarification on how these changes will affect you please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to help.

UK Student Visa Video

2011-03-30T04:29:00.000-07:00

Millionth New UK Passport Issued

2011-03-30T04:26:00.000-07:00

UK Goods Trading Gap Grew review

2011-03-30T03:03:00.000-07:00

UK Census 2011

2011-03-27T05:39:00.001-07:00

UK Anti Govt Cuts Violence

2011-03-27T01:37:00.000-07:00

Additional Changes to Tier 4 Policy - UK Student Visa

2011-03-24T02:17:00.000-07:00

The new policies announced this week claim at keeping genuine Foreign Students considering the UK as a top international study destination while making it more difficult for students to abuse the immigration system in the UK.

Time Allowed in the UK on a Student Visa

The maximum time for foreign students in the UK studying at NQF 3-5 will be set at 3 years while those students at NQF level 6-7 will be 5 years.

In the situation where a student needs an extension but is not moving to the next NQF level then the UK Sponsoring Institution will have to confirm the academic progression.

International PHD students and cases where there is a need for professional qualification can stay longer than 5 years.

UK Budget 2011 Video

2011-03-24T01:43:00.001-07:00

More on UK Student Visa Policy Changes 2011/2

2011-03-24T01:37:00.000-07:00

Another major policy change announced this week by the UK Govt was the closure of the Post Study Work Visa .

The closure date is set for April 2012.

Other main points confirmed this week:

International Graduates from UK Universities with a recognized degree will be allowed to switch into Tier 2 Sponsored Employment and there will not be limit placed on the numbers of Graduates switching into Tier2.

only graduates that switch into Tier 2 inside the United Kingdom and before their current tier 4 Student Visa Leave Expires.

Regular Tier 2 rules will apply in terms of requirements besides for the Resident Labour Market Test.

Foreign Graduates/Students with good entrepreneurial ideas will receive more support from the UK Govt and could be allowed to stay in the UK to develop the business or idea.

New Tier 4 UK Student Visa Rules Explained

2011-03-24T01:11:00.000-07:00

Following the announcement of the changes to the Tier 4 UK Student Visas by the Home Secretary earlier this week I thought I would provide some more details into some of the points outlined.

English Language Level

Anyone coming to study in the UK at undergraduate level will need to achieve level B2 in each of the four language areas.

Anyone looking to study at lower level courses will need to achieve level B1

Anyone intending to study outside of Universities will need to supply a test certificate from an independent English test provider confirming that they have achieved this level. Universities will be allowed to vouch for a student English ability if the student is looking to study at degree level or above.

Border Agency Officers will now be able to refuse an applicant/migrant who can not speak English without an interpreter present.

Financial Evidence for Student Applications

The new policy in the maintenance/financial evidence requirements states that all applicants are to sign a new declaration that the funds used in the visa application to show the maintenance are genuinely available for use in coming to study in the UK.

The UKBA will refuse student visa applications where the bank statements used cannot be verified, A list of local banks in each country will be established and published shortly.

A quicker process for student applications will be introduced for foreign students looking to study at Highly Trusted Sponsors aiming at not needing to supply more documentation than the CAS and Passport.

Work Allowances for Foreign Students

International students at recognized institutions (Universities) will keep their permission to work 20 hours a week part time and to do placements where the ratio from work to study is 50/50.

Students studying at publicly funded FE colleges will still be able to work 10 hours a week in apart time capacity.

All other students will not have a right to work part time and work placements will need to be in the ratio of 66/33 study/work.

Tier 4 Student Dependents Rules

In order to bring a dependent into the UK the student will need to be on a postgraduate course (NQF Level 7 and higher) at a UK University which is more than 12 months in duration or a Govt Sponsored Student.

All dependents should be able to work in the UK.

UK Student Visa Changes Confirmed

2011-03-23T01:35:00.000-07:00

Once again the UK Govt has announced major changes set to affect the Tier 4 Student Visa making it more difficult by toughening the entry criteria, limiting work entitlements and closing the Post Study Work Visa option are some of the steps mentioned.

It had been reported that many so called students were essentially abusing the immigration system and up to 26% of these students studying at private institutions could not be accounted for.

Other changes confirmed:

Students looking to study in the UK will have to possess a higher level of English (upper intermediate B2) instead of the current B1 level (lower intermediate)

The Govt is limiting the time a student can spend in the UK to 3 years at lower levels and 5 years at higher levels.

Dependents of Postgraduate Students at Universities and dependents of govt sponsored students will only be allowed to stay in the UK.

The Post Study Work Visa will be closed and only graduates with a firm job offer from a Tier 2 Sponsoring employer will be allowed to stay in the UK.

Only students at UK Universities and Govt Sponsored Colleges will retain their right to work in the UK and all other students studying at lower courses will loose their right to work while studying in the UK.

You can read more on the Tier 4 report from the UKBA here

NHS Debtors Consultation

2011-03-22T03:25:00.000-07:00

The Department of Health and the UKBA recently conducted some consultations to review migrant's access to the NHS.

As a result of the consultation the UKBA will implement some new changes to the Immigration Rules later this year in October 2011.

Basically the rule states that anyone who fail to pay their discharge debts to the NHS in excess of 1000 GBP will under normal circumstances be refused permission to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.

The NHS will provide detailed information to the UKBA to enable them to identify debtors but no medical information will be shared.

For the full report on the consultation you may either check out the Department of Health Web Site or may you may view the report HERE

Royal Mail to cut 3,400 jobs

2011-03-22T02:54:00.001-07:00

UK Student Visa Scam Video

2011-03-17T04:12:00.000-07:00

Quicker Settlement for Tier 1 Entrepreneurs and Investors

2011-03-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday it was confirmed the foreign entrepreneurs and investors that contribute to the UK's Economic Growth will be given an extra motivation to come to the UK by reducing the time it takes to settle in the UK.

Those foreigners looking to come to the UK under Tier1 Entrepreneur or Tier 1 Investor will be allowed to settle in the UK faster provided they have invested large sums of money in the UK.

People who invest 5 million pounds will be allowed to settle after 3 years and people investing 10 million pounds or more will be allowed to settle after only 2 years compared with the current 5 year settlement requirement.

These new rules will apply to new investors and those already in the UK, as well as the rules set out above Tier 1 Entrepreneur migrants will also be allowed to settle faster if they create 10 jobs or turn over 5 million in a 3 year period.

Also the new Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) will be running from April 2011, this category is meant for recognized or potentially recognized leaders in the fields of arts, humanities and sciences.

There are only 1000 of these visas available per year and applicants do not need sponsorship or employment but will need to be endorsed by an accredited body. These bodies will be announced in the near future so check back for a full list soon.

Food Prices in the UK leading to social unrest?

2011-03-15T05:34:00.001-07:00

Ex Lib Dem Candidate in Fees Scandal

2011-03-15T05:31:00.001-07:00

UK Govt confirms removal of 8 occupations from shortage Occupation List

2011-03-15T01:39:00.000-07:00

The Govt has confirmed that 8 occupations will be removed from the current shortage occupation list.

Once these 8 occupations are removed from the list the Govt reports that the number of positions available to foreign workers in the UK will be reduced from 500,000 to about 230,000.

In addition to this announcement the UK govt also confirmed that they will be removing 71 professions from the current approved list of 192 jobs under the Tier 2 Visa Category as they have found these to be below graduate level.

The Migration Advisory committee has reported that of the 8,400 certificates of sponsorship issued to foreign workers in 2010 65 % of these would not have qualified with the new rules coming in April.

UK massive export gap report

2011-03-14T01:45:00.000-07:00

UK Worker Registration Closing

2011-03-13T05:13:00.000-07:00

UK Immigration Minister Damian Green confirmed that the Worker Registration Scheme will be closing on the 30 April 2011.

The Worker Registration Scheme is a transitional arrangement introduced in 2004 when the A8 (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia) joined the European Union.

This Scheme enables the UK Border Agency to monitor: the the UK Labour Market, type of employment these people are undertaking and the total impact these people are making on the UK economy.

With the closure of the Worker Registration Scheme A8 Nationals will have full access to the UK Labour Market with the same conditions as other EU nationals from 1 May 2011.

A8 nationals looking to work in the UK will also receive the same entitlements to out of work benefits as other non A8 nationals.

UK Public Sector Pension Cuts

2011-03-10T03:43:00.000-08:00

UK Pension Overhaul

2011-03-09T06:36:00.001-08:00

Civil Unrest as food Proce soars?????????

2011-03-09T06:33:00.001-08:00

Higher Skills Levels for UK Shortage Occupation List

2011-03-07T01:17:00.000-08:00

8 new job titles were recommended to be removed from the UK Shortage Occupation List by the Migration Advisory Committee.

MAC have already suggested that 71 occupations be removed from the qualifying list for Tier 2 . These steps are set to comply with the Govt's aim of raising the level required to NQF 4 and above.

MAC has suggested removing more job titles including skilled meat trimmers, skilled meat boners, high integrity pipe welders and senior care workers HOWEVER care home managers and nurses working in care homes will not be affected as these jobs are already at NQF Level 4.

MAC also confirmed that fewer number of chefs are skilled to NQF level 4 and above and made further recommendations that only those chef positions requiring a 5 year relevant experience period and a salary of 28,260 GBP annually.

UK Unemployment

2011-02-17T00:36:00.000-08:00

UK Benefit Reforms Revealed

2011-02-17T00:32:00.000-08:00

UK Foreign Worker Visa Policy Update February 2011

2011-02-17T00:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the New Changes to the UK WORKING VISA SYSTEM and the ANNUAL LIMIT were announced by the Home Office.

UK Employers looking to hire non EU skilled workers will need to apply for a certificate of sponsorship from the UKBA for a specific job rather than receiving a number of certificates to issue each year.

The Govt also confirmed that employers filling a position with a salary of 150,000 GBP or more will not be included in the annual limit of certificates of sponsorship that may be issued.

Foreign NON EU WORKERS looking for work in the UK will have to hold a graduate level job, meet salary and employment requirements and speak an intermediate level of English

Intra Company Transfers to the UK are not part of the annual limit BUT have been changed in 3 areas:

-The job has to be in an occupation on the graduate occupation list

-Foreign Employees paid between 24,000 GBP and 40,000 GBP will only be allowed to stay in the UK for a maximum of 12 months. These people will need to leave at the end of this 12 month period and will not be allowed to re-apply for a further 12 months

-Employees paid 40,000 GBP or more will be able to stay in the UK for more than 1 year. These individuals will be issued a further 3 years with the chance to extend for a further 2 years.

UK Migration Update

More Video on UK Exam Board Scandal

UK Visa| UK Foreign Secretary - Ministerial Week at United Nations

UK Visa| Video Footage on the Eurozone Act

UK Visa| Video Footage on Cybersecurity

How to renew your British Passport: How to Video

UK Migration Update

UK Foreign Office Video Footage: Foreign Secretary

EU Finacial Crisis Video

UK Labour Govt Immigration Secrets Made Public

Carers of British Citizens Judgement Explanation

UK may have to suspend spending cuts

UK Actor swims down River Thames for Charity

UK Chancellor George Osborne on Eurozone Crisis and International Response

Liberal Democrats Public Opinion Video

UK Marriage Visa Consultation Video

UK Marriage Visa and Settlement Changes are Due

VIDEO GUIDE ON HOW TO PLAY EUROMILLIONS

More Video Footage of National Lottery Proceeds being used to help Community

National Lottery Reports Increase in Numbers

UK Migration on the Rise Despite Govt Efforts

Video on UKVisas and the role they play in UK Visa applications

Interesting Video: Britain through my Eyes

UK Visa and Immigration News Update

UK Prime Minister on Recent Riots

Infographic on the cost of Private Tuition Fees in the UK

London Riots Video Footage: Thugs caught robbing young boy on Camera

UK Riots Live Footage

Video Footage UK Riots

More Video Footage on UK Riots

Theresa may On London Riots

Riot Footage: Shop Owners Try Defend Their Own Stores

London Riots

Useful Tips for People Travelling to the United Kingdom

UK Business Secretary Vince Cable Speaks at UKTI Business Summit

UK Trade and Investment Lord Green Talks about foreign Investment

Mayor of London on London 2012 - Video Update

UK Energy Envoy Visits the USA

UK Govt Announces Exceptional Talented Migrants Visa Tier1 Quotas

Utilizing Holiday Time Effectively for UK Students

Tips for saving Money for UK Students

Applying for University in the UK

UK Govt Launches Family Visa Consultation

Settlement-Family Visas due to change

UK Ticket Holder Wins Euromillions Record 161 Million Pounds

UK Gas Prices set to rise in August

new changes to to UKBA Website due soon

New UK Embassy in Juba, Sudan

UK Tier 4 Student Visa Update-New Tier 4 Application Forms

Feedback on UK Immigration Cap- Risky for UK Businesses

Tier 4 UK Student Visa Changes come into effect today

Heroines in Chemistry discussed by FCO

Support for British Business Overseas

UK's new EU Bill explained

New UK Student Visa-Tier 4 Update

Entering the UK as an Artist or Musician-Update from UKBA 28.06.2011

30 June Strike Planned UKBA will be affected

UK Tier 4 Student Update-More Changes from 4 July 2011

The UK National Lottery-Some News and Updates

New UK English language test providers-update May 2011

Questions with UK Immigration minister

Tier 4 UK Student Visa Changes to English Language

New English Language Test provider List Published

UK Tax Changes Video

UK Budget Cuts Video

Annual Limit for Foreign workers in the UK comes in to force

New Tests for Sickness Benefit in the UK

NHS Reforms to be put on hold- Video

New UK Visa Fees from 6th April 2011

NHS REFORMS AND THE CHALLENGES FACED

Top Businesses back StartUp Britain

UK Legal Adviser found guilty of Immigration Fraud

Tier 4 Student Visa Changes

UK Student Visa Video

Millionth New UK Passport Issued

UK Goods Trading Gap Grew review

UK Census 2011

UK Anti Govt Cuts Violence

Additional Changes to Tier 4 Policy - UK Student Visa

UK Budget 2011 Video