Those who are planning to immigrate to the United Kingdom in the near future, this piece of information is much needed for them! The UK Border Agency is soon going to introduce new immigration fees for various visa categories, since the Parliament has given its nod to the changes.

As part of the regular revisions done by the UK government, the new immigration fees were announced on January 20 and February 10, 2010. Now that the reviewed fees have been accepted by the Parliament, they are going to be on effect from April 6, 2010. The fees will be applicable for those who are intending to work, study, visit and stay in the United Kingdom. In other words, they are applied to Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4 and Tier 5 visas.

Most the revised fees are higher than the earlier ones. The fees include payments to the Migration Impacts Fund, a fund incepted by Hazel Blears and Jacqui Smith last year. The fees paid by the migrants towards the Fund go to the welfare of the local UK communities that comprise migrant populations. Check out the new immigration fees at http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/news/new-immigration-fees

Thus, it is clear that people who are going to submit visa application on or after April 6, 2010, they will need to pay higher charges when they get their UK visas. Along with the new immigration fees, the UK Border Agency will also revise a few application forms. The changes in fees and application forms may seem to be very confusing for you at times. Thus, it is advised that you hire the service of an Immigration and Visa Consultant in order to sail through the process of immigration smoothly.

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!

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.

According to a recent survey conducted by the government of United Kingdom on social attitudes, many locals feel that there should a major cut in the immigration. This response was inspite of the belief that the minority ethnic groups are amalgamating well with the local citizens.

The recent on the citizenship survey included the views and opinions on social attachments from 2001. The poll showed seventy seven percent of the local felt that three should a major reduction in the number of immigrants given a permit to enter. On the other hand, a little more than half of the respondents felt that the cut should be done by a lot.

The above results would now be easily used by all the anti – immigration lobbyists. According to these groups, the conventional political parties are always a step above with the electorate when it comes to this matter. Additionally, many voters also feel that it is one of the main issues which needs to given primary consideration.

The Department of Communities and Local Government conducted the above survey. The poll also said that eighty four percent of the local population nodded that a local suburb is an area where people of different ethnicities came together as one. The response to this was eighty percent in 2005 which clearly shows an increase and a positive sign. This clearly indicates that the response of immigration cut is not based on any form of racial discrimination.

However, the educated professionals and students had a favorable attitude towards immigration. This was not same case with the low wage workers who do not have good academic qualifications and usually end up competing with the immigrant workers. This has also led to the immigration as a backdrop for an electoral war.

Parties like the British National Party have raised doubts and fears in the minds of the people regarding immigration which has sidelined the local people. The survey included fifteen thousand participants from England and Wales.

However, according to the Labour government, the points based system which is applied for the citizens of the non – European countries has aided in the reduction of the number of immigrants.

A promise has been made by the Conservatives to put a hold on the number of immigrants being brought in each year. However, it is yet to be seen how it is to be implemented.

According to a report by Daily Mirror, Britain is making plans to educate the migrants coming to its country on the aspect of queuing in a proper manner so that they can learn to integrate well into the society! It means that the newcomers have to learn the art of queuing in various places, including buses to sandwiches to a cup of tea, to name a few.

Phil Woolas, Immigration Minister, also confirmed that UK community faces a lot of problems courtesy the overseas immigrants who fail to understand the concept of queues and head on towards the front, breaking all the rules. This may be prevalent in their culture but not in the culture of Britain.

Woolas went on to say that this pushing and pulling in queues cause a lot of resentment. He said that one of the most vital facets which bind the country together is taking one’s turn! Therefore, it becomes mandatory for the foreigners to understand the concept of queuing in order to adapt in accordance with the society. It is for the betterment of everyone in the society!

The Minister said that the idea of educating the foreigners on the issue of queuing has been given a lot of emphasis as the step would ensure that immigrants would understand the importance of accommodating well into a society. The step is vital from the point of view of British Sense of fair play too!

The implementation would surely create a feeling of unity amongst the migrants as well as the residents of the UK!