UK Migration on the Rise Despite Govt Efforts

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.

UK Visa and Immigration News Update

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.

Useful Tips for People Travelling to the United Kingdom

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

30 June Strike Planned UKBA will be affected

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

Quicker Settlement for Tier 1 Entrepreneurs and Investors

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.

UK Foreign Worker Visa Policy Update February 2011

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.

US Economy Growth better than UK's

UK Economy Update

Passport About to Expire? What to do to TRANSFER a UK VISA to new Passport.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE UK IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS?

If you hold a valid UK Visa with LEAVE TO ENTER OR LEAVE TO REMAIN and your current PASSPORT is about to EXPIRE the UKBA can TRANSFER the RESIDENCE PERMIT to your new PASSPORT

You DO NOT HAVE TO TRANSFER THE RESIDENCE PERMIT INTO YOUR NEW PASSPORT. however if you decide not t do the transfer you HAVE to CARRY BOTH PASSPORTS TO CONFIRM YOUR STATUS.

The UKBA will not/cannot TRANSFER any RESIDENCE PERMITS at Passport Control when you arrive in the UK.

If the RESIDENCE PERMIT confirms that you permission to live in the UK (SETTLE) permanently you need to request a NO TIME LIMIT (NTL) stamp by submitting form NTL

2011 Working in the UK

In the past it has not been too difficult for Highly Skilled individuals to immigrate and work in the UK without a job offer or sponsorship from a UK Based Employer HOWEVER the UKBA has recently closed this entry route to applicants from outside the UK.

Through the Tier 2 (General) Visa UK based employer can SPONSOR FOREIGN WORKERS

The process of Sponsorship includes an employer applying for a sponsorship license from the UKBA to be able to employ foreign workers by issuing Certificates of Sponsorship

In order to meet the UKBA requirements under Tier 2 (General) and sponsorship the UK Employer must:

be a legitimate Company operating legally in the United Kingdom
must have Human Resource facilities to deal with immigration control
must have a dully appointed individual that will use the sponsorship management system

This list is not complete and anyone looking to make such an application should contact our offices

UK Visa Issues in the Premier League

In the past we have seen a number of foreign footballer's experience visa issues. The latest story in 2011 so far has been Manchester City's newest signing Bosnian Edin Dzeko after he experienced some UK VISA Issues.

His 27 Million Pound deal with Manchester City could fall away unless he secures the necessary papers which according to sources were missing when he arrived in the UK on Wednesday.

In general visa applications can take up to 28 days to process and the concern for the striker is that the transfer window closes on January 31.

UK Sports Visitor Visa Explained

Sport Visitor Visa for the UK:

The intention behind this type of visa is to allow a method for sportspeople coming into the UK to do one of the below without having to apply under the points based system.

What type of people and sports qualify for the Visa?

Anyone coming to the UK for a specific event, tournament, competition or series of events or as a member of an international overseas team. This also includes people coming for type events and exhibition matches.

This type of Visa is also for people entering the UK for personal appearances and promotions like Television Interview, book signings, negotiating contracts or to arrange sponsorship deals.

Also people that are looking to enter the UK to undertake a trial as long as the trial is not in front of an audience either paying or non paying.

UK Permit Free Employment Explained

With the announcement recent rule changes to the UK Immigration System meant to be implemented in April 2011, I have been receiving a large number of questions about PERMIT FREE EMPLOYMENT and the rules attached.

Permit free employment means work that does not require permission IE: Certificate of Sponsorship etc.

Some existing types of permit free employment are:

Sole Representative of an overseas company
Overseas newspaper representatives, news agencies and some broadcasting agencies

Dependents of any of the above types of Visas

SOLE REPRESENTATIVE QUALIFYING CRITERIA

Applicants must have been employed outside the UK as a member of an overseas company that has its base and conducts most of its business overseas.

The company cannot have another branch or subsidiary in the UK.

Must be considered a senior employee with full permission to make decisions without consulting the mother company

Must intend to be employed on a full time basis in the UK and not undertake any other employment with another company

Cannot hold a majority of the shares in the overseas company

Must be able to accommodate and support any family members without public funding

Must satisfy the English Language Requirement (Click here for more info on the English Language Requirement)

CAN MY FAMILY MEMBERS JOIN ME IN THE UK?


Applicants are able to bring their family members to the UK in any of the above categories

This includes Husbands, wives, civil partners, or eligible partner and of course any children under the age of 18

Manchester International Border Control implements facial recognition

27 November 2009- People landing at Manchester Airport can save time by using facial recognition systems at the airport.

These high tech systems were recently launched at Terminal 2 after a successful installation at Terminal 1 in the previous year. These facial recognition systems allow travelers with an automated secure route through the UK border.

Over 300,000 people have already used them at the airport. Any UK or EU passenger aged 18 or older who has an electronically chipped biometric passport, issued since 2006 can opt for the self service gates instead of the regular manned queuing border control.