According to news by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, thousands of undocumented Punjabis are making Europe as their homes in an illegal manner. According to the report, they are entering the premises in huge numbers every year. The stats say that almost 20,000 enter the European countries on an annual basis, without proper visas or documentations.

Some of them end up being in jails, some lose their money in lakhs, while some commit suicide as they fail to get the required jobs and settlement, courtesy their illegal status. The report clearly points out towards the direction that illegal migration not only creates havoc in the life of the applicant but destroys the surroundings of the prospective country to which they are migrating.

KC Saha, former consultant of UNODC brought out these facts in front of the media. The report says that it is easy to conduct illegal immigration from big cities as the people behind it can remain anonymous and carry on with their illegal activities.

The aspect of Illegal immigration is harmful for the government of all the countries as it enhances the instances of terrorist activities to a major extent.

Other countries like Austria, Germany, France, Spain, to name a few, face similar incidents of illegal immigration every year. Therefore, it becomes mandatory that government should come out with stringent security checks to stop this continued process.

The sad part is that many of them spend millions of Rupees for illegal immigration when they can take legal immigration by spending the around five million Indian rupees under the Canada Immigrant Investor Program

Recently, few Indians have been arrested in the United Kingdom for multiple immigration offences. The UK Immigration took the Indian citizens, including twelve men and a woman into custody, while they were caught during the seizure of a Heathrow-based freight warehouse and residences in Hayes and South hall. They all are alleged with working illegally in Britain.

While conducting some inspections on the freight as part of the seizure of the Scanwell Freight Services, the immigration officials went on to interview its staff, in order to determine whether they are legally allowed to work in the UK or not. Eight Indians were found guilty of immigration offences at the time. The officials warned the freight company that it could be required to pay fine of up to 90,000 pounds for employing the eight people.

Following the arrests in the warehouse, searches were conducted at some residences as well in Hayes and South hall, where the officials arrested five more Indians and a South African man, guilty of similar offences. Seven accused amongst the fourteen are now in immigration detention. The UK Immigration is considering deportation of these illegal workers from the UK.

The UK Immigration is taking illegal working of the overseas workers as a serious concern. Because, this type of activities is likely to have an adverse effect on the local communities, since the foreign workers often take away the jobs from the local workers who genuinely deserve the jobs!

UK is planning to make study visa rules stringent for Ugandans, confirmed the British High Commission.

According to UK Entry Clearance Manager Susanah Richmond, certain amendments in the UK immigration rules are likely to happen very soon. For instance, students making their minds to enroll themselves in a study course less than a degree level would only be allowed to work for 10 hours a week. Earlier the prescribed hours were twenty!

Also, applicants planning to study a course for less than six months won’t have the permission to bring their dependants with them.

For those students who already have their dependants living with them, the later would not be allowed to work, provided the student applicant enrolls in a course lower than a degree level.

In addition, it is mandatory to have good proficiency in the English language. UK has tightened visa rules in the past also. Under the previously listed regulations, it is mandatory for students to prove that they enrolled themselves in an institution licensed by UK Border Agency. Additionally, it is a requisite to prove that the students can financially support themselves in the UK.

Richmond went on to say that the number of Ugandans applying for UK have slowed down by a huge margin. She also defended the hike in the visa fees, saying that the money is used in the processing of the application.

Stringent rules would further ensure genuine entry for legal applicants!

The government of UK has made some changes in the Immigration regulations, to further aid the entry of genuine students in the country. Below are the new amendments implemented under Tier 4 Student Visa. Have a look at them:

• If the student applicant is applying under Tier 4 Student Visa in General category to study a course which is not up to a Degree level course, then you will only work for 10 hrs/week.
• The minimum level of English course that Tier 4 Student Visa holders can enroll into is level B2 of CEFR.
• Applicants who are aged 16 or 17 and are applying under Tier 4 (Child) category, they are entitled to work only for 10hrs/week till the time their term is finished.
• Applicants applying for course for six month or less are not allowed to bring their relatives or family members.
• For those applying for a course lower than a Degree course won’t have the freedom to allow their dependants to work unless they fulfill the requirements set under Tier 1 or Tier 2 of the PBS.

Further changes would be introduced from April 2010. Students would surely be affected from the recent amendments, but this would ensure the entry of genuine applicants into the country. In addition, the rules would make sure that genuine students get the right time to work part time, in addition to their regular study hours.

As per the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), United Kingdom Immigration department may bring changes to the Tier 1 visa scheme in the near future. To be very precise, people with a Masters Degree, along with meeting the requirements of the particular visa category would find it easier to obtain a Tier 1!

Last year in December, the MAC put forward its recommendation to make changes to the requirements for the UK Tier 1 Visa, for instance, allowing people with a Bachelor’s Degree, not just Masters Degree or equivalent degree to immigrate under the said visa scheme. Of course, such an implementation would help many people to immigrate to the UK. If the changes recommended by the MAC are going to be amended, there would also be a provision under which prospective immigrants would gain points for previous annual earnings.

Undoubtedly, the recommended changes will prove to be a better chance for future immigrant to migrate to the UK. But, there would be some people as well who may not meet the requirements for previous annual earnings. Let’s see if the UK Immigration will put these recommendations into force or not. Let us hope for the best!

The UK Tier 1 visa scheme is designed to attract overseas talent from outside the European Union in order to let them contribute to the UK economy. This scheme is part of the Points-based system for employment-based immigration. Under this program, highly skilled professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, as well as foreign graduates of UK educational institutions are issued with visa to work in the UK!

After legally fighting to get an entry into the UK, American Rapper Snoop Dogg has finally won the battle and is now eligible to get an entry into the UK premises. The popular star was struggling to gain entry into the premises since the last three years.

Snoop Dogg, alas, Calvin Broadus, was officially banned in the year 2006 when he was involved in a fight at London’s Heathrow Airport. As a result, he had to succumb to the wrath of Immigration official and face a ban regarding an entry into the UK.

Since then, Snoop came out with a legal challenge, asking famous personalities like David Beckham to come out in his favor and help him overturn the ban. As a result, he finally managed to get out of the ban in the year 2008.

The wrath of government officials again brought the ban into existence when they took the case to the Court of Appeal where it was confirmed that the judge who overturned the decision may have misunderstood the case.

Unsatisfied with the decision, Snoop took the case to UK Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, where he managed to grab success in his arms. He tasted success, courtesy his clean background, his work as a football coach and his tabloid appearance on family-friendly programs!

It was finally decided that the Immigration officials were wrong to bar his entry into the UK premises. Reports say that the Home Office is not much pleased with the decision but Snoop is surely a happy man on the earth!

This year, a record number of Indians settled in the United States are venturing out to be a part of the United States House of Representatives. Most of these candidates are professionals who are in the age group of thirties and forties. For all the immigrants and those who are planning to migrate, this is definitely a source of motivation to make it big. This clearly shows that there is no dearth of opportunities for those who want to be successful and be a part of the change. Most of these Indian – Americans are conducting strong and effective campaigns with the help of communities having the ability to spend on resources.

As of now, no Indian – American has been a part of the US Congress. In the past, only two Representatives have made it who are Democrat Dilip Singh Saund from California and Republican Bobby Jindal from Louisiana. Another candidate from the Indian origin was Ashwin Madia from Minnesota who lost the election in 2008.

However, the story has been very different this year. Of the many competing, there are three candidates who seem to be the front runners for the Democrats. This is despite the fact that the party might have losses in the House as well as the Senate.

A record is also being made with the first ever Indian – American woman Representative – Reshma Saujani from New York coming into the picture. Others include Raj Goyle from Kansas, Manan Trivedi and Pia Varma from Pennsylvania, Ravi Sangisetty from Louisian and so on.

One of the above such Democrats include the forty four years old Amerish Bera who is commonly known as Ami. A Physician by profession, he has succeeded in acquiring the party’s nomination for the contest in November.

Ami feels that his Indo – American origin would add as an aid. Almost $140,000 was raised by him that is much more than the amount that his opponent Lungren had raised in 2009. As per him, more than half of his support would come from his Indian community in the United States.

All in all, this is a clear example of being driven and carving a niche for oneself in the new home.

Reports from the Office for National Statistics are depicting that immigration in the UK is falling at a fast pace. Applicants from Eastern and Central Europe have decreased by a huge margin.

According to UK Immigration, following are the observed statistics:

• Immigrants coming from Eastern Europeans to gain employment in the UK fell to 28,495 in 2009. The number was 30,600 in the year 2008 and 52,765 in 2007. The figures clearly show a huge decline in the number of workers coming from Eastern Europe.
• UK immigration in totality saw more incoming immigrants as compared to those leaving on an annual basis. But the overall UK immigration saw a decline in the quantity. It was 518,000 in 2009 while the quantity was on a high in 2008, taking the figures to 531000.
• Talking about Asylum applications, a slowdown of 30% was noticed in 2009 as compared to 2008. As a result of fewer applications, the number of removals from Britain has declined.

According to Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, net Immigration is down and UK borders have never been as strong as they are now, as seen from the results. He went on to say that the new PBS have granted ample control over immigrants, ensuring the entry of only those legal migrants who are needed in the UK.

In addition, issuance of ID Cards and fining employers who recruit illegal employees are some of the facets that would keep a strict check on Illegal Immigration.

The much-awaited changes to the UK Tier 4 Student Visa have finally been implemented on February 22, 2010. The changes have been made in an attempt to deter the fake overseas students from entering the UK. Let’s have a look at the implementation:

As part of the new implementations, all Tier 4 student visa applications must contain a CAS, that is Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, no matter the whether the applications are made from inside or outside the United Kingdom. From now all applications under this category of Points-System must be provided with a CAS number, as well as sponsor license number.

The applications should include a CAS statement, along with the student’s name; his/her birth date; title of the course he/she is intending to take; the start and end dates of the course; documents supporting the applicant’s qualifications; sponsorship details pertaining to financial assistance; and ATAS certificate (whoever is entitled to produce).

Even if an applicant was provided with a visa letter prior February 22, 2010, that needs to be altered with a Confirmation of acceptance for Studies. However, applicants of outside the UK who have been issued with visa letters and paid the visa fee prior February 22, 2010 are not required to replace their letters with CAS.

Along with these changes, there have been changes made to the Sponsorship Management System, the online tool that helps sponsors in the UK in bringing migrants.

All those students who are considering to migrate to the UK, should contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant in order to keep up with the latest implementations in the country.

The companies in the Unites Kingdom continue to hire Indian professions inspite of the current amends to cut down on the number of Indian immigrants walking into the country. With the impact of the recent economic downturn, the new rules and regulations for immigration have brought in.

Despite curtail on immigration, the companies are still recruiting Indian professionals to cater to all the current skill voids.

In the last three months, around nineteen percent of the employers have hired skilled migrants. This is as per the Chartered Institute of Personal and Development or the CIPD. This means that one in every five companies have recruited foreign skilled migrants to cater to their needs.

It was found that twenty four percent who are at a higher probability of recruiting foreigners belonged to the public sector organizations in the United Kingdom. This was when compared to the private firms which catered to only fifteen percent.

As per the poll conducted by the quarterly Labour Market Outlook in association with the institute and KPMG project that India and Eastern Europe are the most preferred locations for the business outsourcing.

Around fifty one percent which is a little more than half of the employers in UK intend to outsource their jobs to India. Another thirty seven percent that is more than one third have the intention of relocating the jobs to Eastern Europe.

It was also found out that about forty one percent employers who have vacant posts for which they are not able to find suitable candidates. So, from seven hundred employers, this makes it for two of every five employers. Hence, the debate of skill requirement arises again. And, one in every ten private firms intends to outsource its business in the future which would save money and bring in more business.

So, the main question that arises here is whether the current immigration cuts is going to have any impact on the economy of the United Kingdom.