6 April onwards, UK Government will implement certain amendments in the Marriage Visa along with Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the Point Based System. The changes have been recommended by the MAC and are applicable for asylum applicants, armed forces and English for non-English speakers. The amendments also include implementing new points table which would further make it simpler for the highly skilled applicants who don’t have a Masters Degree.
According to Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, the changes are being implemented for the benefit of the UK. The amendments would help UK in crafting a strong and flourishing system, a system which is the cause of envy for the entire globe. Here are some o0f the changes mentioned:
Changes linked with English language qualifications for those applying for a PR status. The amendments would make sure that applicants would enroll themselves in accredited institutions and also make clear the progression which the applicants are required to prove.
Amendments would baffle asylum applicants from demanding humanitarian protection if found that they are linked with undesirable behavior.
Analyzing interview process for “solo asylum seeking children.”
Abolishing compulsions for asylum applicants to sign the interview record.
Minimizing the Marriage Visa Age to 18 for members of armed forces and their spouses.
Adding Monaco to the “Youth Mobility Scheme.”
The amendments would come into effect from 6th April and 7th April 2010.
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 recently launched 2010 UK Border Agency Strategy is decked with the following priorities towards illegal immigration:
Protecting the country for undocumented immigrants and ensuring that the borders are closed. In addition, the strategy includes blocking those who are seen as a threat towards the country!
Apart from the above, the strategy includes maintaining UK’S position as a prospective destination for business and inviting the potential applicants with perfect skills to work in UK.
Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis expressed his gladness towards co-sponsoring this launch and making a vital contribution towards barring illegal immigration. He went on to speak on the collaborative efforts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK Border Agency, who work neck to neck to provide some of the best visa services. In addition, the aspect of Illegal Immigration has been taken care of in a wider perspective. They are together working on returning the overseas prisoners and failed asylum seekers to their native countries!
Lewis further said that migration forms one of the critical facets when it comes to enhancing the prosperity of the developing world.
Next was the concern for human traffickers. Immigration minister Phil Woolas confirmed that almost 75% of the globe’s population, who come to UK, need a visa!
Let us hope that these implementations would keep a strict eye on the aspect of Illegal Immigration, not only in the UK, but all over the world!
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!
Under the new Immigration rules, Britain has increased its Immigration Visa fee, which would come into effect from April 2010, a move that would surely impact applicants from all over the world. For instance, applicants who apply to bring their parents to live with them from their country of origin would have to pay double the amount of fee (to more than £1,900) and an addition 10 percent would be charged for every child.
In addition, highly skilled migrants and international footballers who are planning to extend their stay would be proposed a £15,000 premium visa renewal service, as a part if the amendments made in the fee structure.
Phil Woolas, the Immigration Minister, confirmed that the applicants, who are getting the benefits from the Immigration system, should also play their role in funding it too. He said that it is fair that both should be mutually benefited as the fund will assist the staffs who work in the local communities and the 135 countries all over the globe.
Long term visit visa fee would be 610 pounds as compared to 500 pounds, charged earlier. The fee is for the visa valid for up to 10 years. The fee has been raised from 215 pounds to 230 pounds for the visa valid up to two years and for the one valid for up to five years, the fee has been raised to 420 pounds as compared to 400 pounds.
The basic cost for migrants who are intending to settle in the UK will see a hike of £644 from £585. If already in the UK, and are filing for “indefinite leave to remain,” then the fee has been increased to £840 as compared to £820. Applicants have to pay £655 in place of £640 if applying for a British citizenship.
The weak Immigration regulations in UK are allowing fake students to enter the premises on an illegal basis. Further they are abusing the Immigration system on which the Home Office memo is stating its worries in the regard to stop them.
According to the leaked memo, the Point Based System allows many illegal applicants to enter the UK on a Student Visa, with Immigration officers finding themselves in a state of ‘helplessness’ to stop them.
The new rules allow the previously rejected cases to enter the UK and study on a Student Visa, as the memo warns that the amendments have provided an opportunity to people who are looking for an easy access in the country. The misuse of Tier 4 Visas has been thoroughly discussed in the memo as well.
The memo further elaborated on the weaker Immigration rules that permit fake students to enter the country by giving example of a case where 33 students were to study in a UK College, on the basis of PBS.
Chris Grayling, who is the Shadow home secretary, stated that the system is “rotten.” On the contrary, Immigration minister Phil Woolas came to the rescue for the new system and called it “Transparent and Objective” as compared to the previous one.
The new system has provided approved educational institutions the freedom to serve as sponsors for International students with schools having the power to assess their eligibility and not the government.
The quantity of Sham Marriages by illegal immigrants has shown a massive increase in the UK since the last twelve months. The figures have shown a hike of almost 54% as elaborated by Home Office. The surprising issue is that the hike is seen after the Law Lords overturned a regulation that was crafted to bar the illegal immigrants from marrying.
Recent months have witnessed various scandals and major conspiracy which involved sham marriages in a major way. Various reports pointed out in the direction that the illegal immigrants fooled Anglican Church officials and made them believe that they are bona fide couples in order to gain a right to live in the UK.
Various marriage rackets are working in an illegal manner, a facet which has further enhanced the quantity of Sham Marriages in the UK in the recent times. Reports say that these rackets make use of Eastern European spouses as they are fully bedecked with right to be in the Britain. Therefore, illegal immigrants find them an easy prey to get married and settle down in the UK.
For instance a drug addict, Dennis Baiger, 26, paid a heavy amount of money in order to hire a bogus wife but was soon jailed for the entire illegal act. Similarly Peter Abbey paid a big amount for the same cause and was jailed for an year.
According to Phil Woolas, Immigration and Visa Minister, “a marriage does not grants an Immigration status to the applicant.” Applicants would not be issued a Visa if the immigration officers doubt that the marriage is not genuine.
Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recently reviewed the UK Tier 1 Scheme and following are the recommendations made for the same:
Applicants planning to migrate with a minimum educational qualification of Bachelors Degree should be eligible for UK Tier 1, provided they managed to get enough points and their previous earnings should be good enough for them to qualify under the category. At present, the applicants need a minimum Masters Degree to qualify for the same.
MAC recommends that “salary multipliers” should be reviewed.
Prospective applicants with previous annual income of a minimum of £150,000 should not go through any educational requirements.
MAC suggested that there should be an increase in the thresholds so that the applicants can get some relevant points for their previous income (no points for income under £24,000).
Professional qualifications should be applauded as equivalent to a Masters Degree.
Prospective applicants who are aged 39 or below should get necessary points.
The initial stay for Highly Skilled migrants should be reduced to “Two years” from the current “Three years.” If their employment falls in highly skilled category then, they may apply for an extension at the confinement of the two year span.
According to Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, the government will make its mind on the amendments suggested by MAC in the coming weeks.
Recently, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has made certain changes to the UK immigration rules relating to Tier 2 Visas, effective from 14 December 2009. As per the amendments, employers must require to advertise jobs in Jobcentre Plus for four weeks, whereas earlier employers were needed to advertise for one week or a maximum period of two weeks.
The change to the UK immigration rules is a part of the UK Government’s strategy to protect the British jobs for British workers. A period of four weeks is enough for an employer to find a local candidate who can fill the vacancy. During that time if the employer cannot find a British candidate, it has still the option to employ overseas workers on the Tier 2 Visa.
The British Borders and Immigration Minister, Phil Woolas said that the British Government has extended the amount of time that employers must advertise jobs in interest of the UK and workers from the resident labor market. According to the Minister, the change to the rules will bring better opportunities to the UK workers, as well as more time to apply for skilled vacancies. However, this does not mean that businesses cannot recruit skilled overseas workers. The new rule ensures that businesses can employ foreign workers, but not at the expense of British workers.
Here are a few highlights of the advertising requirements:
Employers who have already run advertisements are not required to re-advertise to meet the new requirements.
It is not necessary for the employers to advertise jobs for the full four weeks continuously. In case, if an employer cannot find anyone from the resident labor market, then it must advertise for further two weeks.
Even after running advertisements for four weeks if an employer cannot find anyone to fill the vacancy from the resident labor market, the employer can apply for Tier 2 Visa in order to recruit a foreign worker.
The Migration Advisory Committee recommended the change to the immigration rules relating to Tier 2 Visas in August. It was on September 7, 2009 that the British Government decided to accept the committee’s recommendations.
Immigration is becoming one of the most preferred choices for people from all over the world. They are gradually understanding the benefits linked with the aspect of migrating to an altogether new country and exploring the options provided by the same in a major way.
A recent report states that more than 590,000 applicants migrated to Britain last year and the number is likely to increase in the upcoming future. The figure increased by a huge margin as compared to 574,000 in the last year. Also 427,000 left the country as compared to 341,000 in the previous year, which forms a record in itself since the year 1991.
According to Home Office Minister Phil Woolas, the PBS (Point Based System) has allowed the government to have a greater control over people migrating to the UK.
The increase clearly shows UK as an applauded destination for migrants coming from all over the world. Also the increase in job opportunities, medical facilities, educational aspects and other such facets has added more feathers in its cap as far as Immigration is concerned. If you are making your mind to move to UK, it is better to consult an Immigration expert and fulfill your dreams of a healthy future.
