According to a report published by the UK Border Agency, it has been proved that every year plenty of UK marriage visas are granted to people who come from Pakistan, but these go through without a proper immigration check!
If reports are to be believed, almost six thousand seven hundred and fifty people from Pakistan were given UK marriage visa in the year 2009. The report stated that almost one third of these people obtained their visas through faking procedures, hence almost 2,000 of these UK marriage visas are given to fraud people.
Also, the reports pointed out that almost in 31 per cent of the above cases, the officials from the UK immigration authorities could never find ample proofs that the applicants could support them financially as well when they are on their way to join their spouses living in the UK.
A lot of applications are found to be decked with plenty of spelling mistakes which may give rise to the evidence that they are fraudulently done! In some cases, unexplained financial deposits have been found as some applicants are found to have lied about their jobs and getting certain benefits related to tax system.
According to Damian Green, who is the UK Immigration Minister, this is a serious matter. Lack of scrutiny has lead to thousands of UK Marriage visas granted to fraud people.
To avoid such instances, prospective applicants are always advised to file a genuine immigration process by going through a legal immigration consultant.
UK has made announcements of lifting the temporary ban on Tier 4 (General Student) Visa from the applications made by Indian students from North India (centres included New Delhi, Chandigarh and Jalandhar). The lift has come after six months when the temporary suspension came into action. After one month, the suspension was fractionally lifted for certain foundation courses as well as courses meant for post graduate studies.
According to an official statement, the amendment should be considered as an immediate effect as the applications can start applying for the same. It also stated that commencing August 12 onwards, suspensions on other courses would also be removed, barring the English language courses. The suspension of the English language courses would continue to hold its existence by the UK Border Agency.
Also, reports say that the UKBA would soon come out with a secure English test requirement on August 12. It would be meant for applicants intending to apply Tier 4 (General Student) visas.
Applicants who are going for courses that are below degree level (barring the foundation courses and English level courses), they are required to pass the English language test. It is essential to take this test a UK Border Agency-approved provider before going for the application process of a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
For those planning to file applications under the Tier 4 (General Student) visa category from August 12 would be required to clear the secure English. This is also applicable for those applying for a CAS.
Commencing 19 July 2010 onwards, UK Immigration has introduced the Tier 1 Visa limit. It is the first time that a limit of this kind has been announced on Tier 1 categories. For those applicants intending to apply under the same category, here are the changes brought into it:
An interim limit is kept on application filed under Tier 1 (General) visa category from 19 July 2010 to 31 March 2011.
The applicant would be required to get 100 points (earlier it was 95 points) if he is planning to switch to the Tier 1 visa category and previously falling in some different category.
The implementation of Tier 1 limit means an exaggerated processing time for Tier 1 visa. Therefore consult an immigration visa expert and know your chances of qualifying. In addition, apply for it as soon as possible to remove any chances of visa processing delays.
The limit would not apply to you if you are into following situation:
If the applicant is already in the UK and are present in the category which gives him the freedom to switch to the Tier 1 visa. The applicant would still be required to get the increased 100 points in order to qualify for the Tier 1 visa
If the person is a dependent of a Tier 1 Visa applicant.
If the applicant is intending to apply under the Post-study work or Investor Visas in Tier 1 category.
Here are some other facets needed to keep in mind:
If the applicant manages to show previous earnings of £150,000, the points would be hiked from 75 to 80 points.
If the applicant holds an MBA degree, the points would be hiked from 75 to 80 (provided the degree fulfill the requirements linked with getting visa)
A pardon for all the refugees in Britain has been ruled out by the government of the nation. The UK government has committed itself to a summer of major crackdown when it comes to illegal migration. This is especially for those undocumented migrants coming from outside the European Union. There have been cases of fake marriages to obtain a visa as well as human trafficking.
Damian Green, the Immigration Minister affirmed that a cap would be set on immigration by this autumn for those who would want to enter from outside the European Union. However, permitting refuge to a certain set of undocumented migrants who are already residing in the nation has been approved by some of the law makers and few sections of the ruling coalition. Granting amnesty would mean that these people could work and pay taxes and reside legally in the nation. However, such an amnesty has been completely ruled out by Green.
As per Green, the main objective of the coalition government is to bring about a pressure downwards when it comes to immigration from nations not belonging to the EU. This is to ensure that the total immigration numbers falls down to tens of thousands till the next election which is to take place in 2015. More so, there has been a common perception that the borders of the nations are not well protected and it is easy for people to walk in illegally and reside here. This thought has to be changed for which measures have to be taken. This could be done only be reducing the number of people coming to UK which would also cater to restoring the confidence of the public.
He also said that France would not be followed when it comes to women wearing full face covering veil. Such laws would not be adopted in Britain. This would be against being a tolerant and a mutually respectful society.
According to researchers, by 2051, Britain would be comparatively more diverse than what it is today. Ethnic minorities are expected to make for one-fifth of the population in Britain. As per the experts at the University of Leeds, the ethnic minority groups would increase to about twenty percent in 2051 from the eight percent in 2001. With this, the study also says that the population would jump to 78 million from 59 million in 2001.
It is also being predicted that these ethnic minority groups would migrate to more prosperous areas from the most deprived localities. More so, the black and the Asian population are expected to rise by large numbers.
At the same time, the White British and Irish groups are being assumed to grow at a much slower rate. When compared, there are higher chances of immigration by Other Whites to grow the fastest. This is especially being contributed to by the European people, people from the US and the Australasia walking in to UK.
It is also being predicted that there would be a fall in the total number of white people in UK. This is going to fall to 79% in 2051 from the 90% in 2009. In the meantime, immigrant groups from South Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are expected to grow very much.
This study took 3 years to be completed and projects the annual population till 2051 for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. At the same time, it is very difficult to predict exactly how people move in and out of a nation.
In order to conclude on the findings, existing data of sixteen different ethnic groups were used to generate a computerized model. This model was used to set a trend on ethnic population for the future under various circumstances.
The UK government has brought out amends regarding it cap on immigration from the non-European countries. The main purpose behind this is to reduce the number to such an extent and bringing it down to what it was in the 1990s. The government of the nation feels that by implementing such cuts, it would be able to come to the expected stage very soon.
In April 2011, an annual limit would be brought about for all those applying for the Tier 1 (General) under the points based system. For the time being, an Interim Limit would be implemented from 19th July 2010 which would be enforced on a temporary basis till April 2011. However, till 19th July 2010, the assessment would be continued as it was before.
The Interim Limit is the number of the applications under the Tier 1 (General) that would be considered each month. With this, the pass mark would also be increased to 100 from 95 points.
However, this Interim Limit would not be applied for the Investor, Entrepreneur and the Post-study work programs under the Tier 1. The latest application form as well as the guide would be published on 19th July 2010.
All the applications would be considered on a first come first serve basis. Incase, an applicant applies after the interim limit has been crossed, then it would be considered the next month. These applications would be considered as per the order of the date. However, the applicant would be informed of the same.
At the same time, if an applicant is residing in UK under the Tier 1 (General) or would want to apply for an extension or another program, he would not be considered under the Interim Limit.
With Australia tightening its immigration rules and making amendments in its occupation list, students from all over the globe are thinking US and UK as their prospective study destination. Chinese students are not lagging behind too.
The student recruiters in China are pacing up in sending the students to US and UK, seeing the less stringent rules as compared to Australia. Further, other aspects like racial attacks and closing down of certain private institutions have resulted in the increased popularity of US and UK with regard to the land of Kangaroos.
Various students who recently attended the Beijing International Education Expo are of the similar view that their recruiters are eager to send them to the educational institutes in the UK or US.
True that Australia is seen as one of the most liked countries for commencing higher studies, but the students have confirmed that Tier 4 UK visas and US F1 are easier ways to gain entry in the concerned countries a compared to Aussie land, that is what these students have to say on the issue.
Critics believe that students are still eager to make Australia as their study destination but with the crack down of lower level of courses, students are gradually running away from the country. The strict qualifying criteria sometimes create delay in the immigration process, hence making it difficult for the students to commence further.
If you are one of those students, who are facing dilemmas in choosing the apt study destination, consult a Study Visa expert for more info!
UK has come up with new immigration policy which is going to affect the Indians most. They form the largest group amongst non –European Union skilled immigrants residing in United Kingdom. Indians are going to be most affected with the limitation of 24,100 on work permits of immigrants imposed on the category of skilled workers. This policy of United Kingdom is going to be implemented from July 19 to March 31, 2011.
Theresa May, home minister of UK says that government of UK do understands the benefits from immigration to the country but there has to be a control on that. Influx of capable and talented candidates would surely contribute in the economy of the country but excess of immigration will put undue pressure on public services and country resources. Such measure by UK government is taken to avoid any rush of visa applicants for migration.
Director of Highly Skilled Migrant Program, Amit Kapadia in a statement to the press said that this cap on migration of non EU workers will affect the Indian professional the most because mostly non EU immigrants come from India only. The migration of skilled workers will go down to a large extent of about 10,000 rather than 100,000. Now the process of selection of workers will also be changed with the imposition of cap. They will now prefer those workers whose need is greatest in UK .Some reports have revealed that many high-income professionals many not be given the priority in the cap. The popularity of immigration cap increased during the election campaign especially by The Conservative Party.
UK’s home minister Theresa May is going to take a new decision of imposing a cap of 24,000 on non EU professionals between the months of July 2010 to April 2011.But her decision will be affecting many non Europeans professional who every year migrate to UK for employment purposes. Many leading professionals from India and other non European Union countries have come together to speak against this decision.
This policy will affect the lives of many Indian professional as major non European Union migrants to UK migrate from India only. This is not fair because imposing the cap of 24,000 from this month to July 2011 means UK employers can not recruit more Indians and non Europeans once the limit is reached to cap. But this decision is going to face much opposition by Asians and non EU professionals.
Indians are highest in number to be hired as employees in companies such as IT, education, medicine and other service sectors annually. So, any such cap or limit will be facing maximum opposition from UK business and industries. Forcing a cap can stop easy movement of talented, capable and creative candidates who have contributed the most in making UK a strong nation.
Representatives from Cameron government and British trade have expressed their opposition to this new policy as this would degrade the economic conditions of the nation. Because it restricts the company to recruit capable individuals from other countries whose talent and creativity help the economy to boom
UK government has said that it is not against the immigration because it has cultivated the nation culturally and has also helped in developing the economy. But it must be controlled to protect the UK citizens with unemployment and depletion of country resources.
Here is another instance of sham marriages in the United Kingdom, where the man involved was being arrested by the UK Border Agency officials. The accused was a Nigerian, who is now behind the bar. The fake marriage was taking place in Northampton.
The 39-year old Nigerian man, Samuel Alonge was going to marry a lady, Ruthina Apostel, who is from the Netherlands, in April. The lady was also put into custody, but later freed on bail. The man had entered the UK over a decade ago, but stayed in the nation even after his visa expired. Reportedly, he possesses a fake Nigerian passport, a false UK visa and counterfeit gas bill for a Northampton residence, as well as a false tenancy agreement and used the credentials to marry the Dutch lady. The man has been jailed for fourteen months for these serious immigration offences.
His marriage to the Dutch lady seemed to be a way to obtain legal permission to stay in the United Kingdom. Alonge would have been granted the right to stay in the nation, after the sham marriage to a bride who belongs to a member country of the European Union, which is Netherlands, unless he had committed the offences of possessing counterfeit credentials and providing them for the marriage.
After serving fourteen months of jail sentence, the Nigerian man will be removed from the United Kingdom. Of late, the instances of sham marriages have been growing in number in the UK. Till now, under the UK Border Agency operations, many people have been arrested for this offence. With the latest case, the assistant director of the agency cleared that sham marriages should not be considered as one of the major options to get the permission to stay in the United Kingdom. If the officials find a marriage illegitimate, or discover that people are trying to abuse the nation’s immigration system, the people in question are bound to face the challenges!
