Officers from the UK Border Agency arrested eight illegal migrants in Newton Abbott. These undocumented migrants were found in two separate businesses when a raid was conducted in this area. The raid was a part of planned operation run by the UK Border Agency to deal with the problems of illegal immigration, fake marriages, illegal working, sham colleges and other immigration related crimes.

The spots for the raid included the Saffron restaurant which is situated on the Queens Street. They checked the immigration status of the staff members of the restaurant and six men were found working there illegally. When they entered the restaurant, two men tried to protect themselves by hiding in some room upstairs but ultimately they were caught by the immigration officers. All the six men were from Bangladesh who came to UK for working purposes. Amongst them, three of them entered the UK illegally and other two were staying in the nation after the expiry of their UK Visa. And the sixth person was staying in the UK legally but he was breaching his visa conditions as he was not allowed to work in UK.

All of them were taken to Torquay police station for further enquiry by the immigration officers. They will be kept there as detainees till they will be deported from the UK as they are not allowed to stay in UK. Their employer will also be facing with penalty as a punishment for employing the illegal immigrants. Those who employ the illegal immigrants in their business are also punished and are subjected to heavy fine as civil penalty.

Another Chinese couple was found working illegally at Hoi Shan also located in Queen Street and arrested by Border Agency officers. The woman was thirty four years old and the man was forty four years old and they were also taken to Torquay police station for further enquires. They were failed asylum seekers who were staying in the UK illegally after their appeal for protection was refused.

The crime of illegal immigration is growing now days as people from developing countries move to foreign countries to support their families back at home. In developed countries like UK and US, their earning even from small jobs in primary sector is also quite high in comparison to developing countries.

Recently, a case of five Bangladeshi men came into light, who got arrested for working as an illegal immigrant in an Indian restaurant in Lincolnshire town of Stamford. The UK government is now taking measures to remove them from the country.

They were working in a restaurant, named Voujon Indian where they were caught by Britain’s immigration officer when he visited the restaurant for enquiry. The officers enquired them about their legal status and found that they were all working illegally as none possessed any legal permission to work in UK. Amongst them, two of them aged thirty-four years old and twenty-four years old exceeded the expiry of their work permit and the other aged 26 years old overstayed even after the expiry of his visa. The other two were 29 year old man who was an illegal entrant and 35 year old man who was a seeker of asylum. They all got arrested and thrown inside the jail. Soon, they all will be deported from UK.

The restaurant for which they were working for will now be paying up to 50,000 pounds as a penalty for employing the illegal migrants. This is an example for other business people who must make sure that their employees are legally allowed to work in UK; otherwise they also have to bear the punishment for hiring illegal workers. The rules of employing the foreigners are quite strict and must be followed otherwise irresponsible and casual attitude can take you to the doors of jail and punishment of heavy fine.

During a seizure at an UK restaurant, UK Border Agency officials have identified a woman who was working in the restaurant illegally. The Indonesian lady was sent back to her home land last Monday. The restaurant in question is located at Cattawade Street, Brantham.

The raid has also helped immigration officials catch two other unlawful workers in the restaurant who are not permitted to work in the UK. Both illegal workers are from China, who claimed refugee status, but failed to obtain so. Now the UKBA has detained the two and looking forward to remove them from the nation.

As a result of employing unlawful workers, the Oriental Cuisine restaurant is going to face £30,000 of fine, if the employer cannot prove that they did carry out proper checks prior to appointing the workers into the restaurant. The Oriental Cuisine restaurant is facing hard time for the second time, for similar offense. Two year ago, it had faced a penalty of £15,000 and made to pay huge amount on similar instance of appointing illegal workers.

But, it seems that the employer did not get any lesson from the previous experience. The restaurant has already been facing penalty and now faces another possible penalty. There are many instances, where employers are not aware of the measures they need to take in order to avoid providing employment to unlawful workers. While illegal entry to a country is an offense, people who provide engagement to those who have entered a country illegally are also an offense. And those who try to violate the immigration regulations are bound to face challenges.

UK Tier 1, which has also been given a term of Immigration Program, allows applicants to work in the UK for a time span of 2 years initially.  After that, they have the freedom to apply for the extension, which makes it a total of 5 years.

After the completion of this period, the applicants can apply for indefinite right to remain in the UK. In other words, they can apply for a PR status. This information is available in every UK Tier 1 Visa site, but as a consultant I would like to acquaint you all that applying for a UK Tier 1 does not means that you get the residency status from Day 1 itself! No! This facet means that Tier 1 visa only gives you right to live and work in UK. Residency visa can be applied for only after 5 years. A tier 1 visa holder would not be able to get all the benefits of the residency status immediately. So while opting for Tier 1 visa is a good bet in the short run, one should be aware that it is a non-immigrant visa.

Therefore, if the applicant has the responsibility of his family/kids on his shoulders, is it viable to apply for a UK Tier Visa, knowing the fact that the applicant would NOT get the guarantee of getting residency status from the beginning itself?

On the contrary, the applicants who are married, have family responsibilities, should opt for a visa program which offers you residency status from Day 1, it is advised to opt for Canadian or Australian Skilled Migrant program or a Federal Skilled Migrant program to reap the benefits of residency status from Day 1. Alternatively, those qualifying for Tier 1 as well as Canada/Australia may take Tier 1 visa and at the same time apply for Canada or Australia PR status. Keeping Canada or Australia PR as a back up to Tier 1 visa is an excellent idea.

On the other hand, a bachelor or a person who has no liabilities can try his hands in other Non Immigration programs initially, but after taking a thorough consultation from an expert Immigration consultant. Even for him having a back up PR status is not a bad idea at all.

Note: Every applicant is advised to opt for a different immigration program in accordance to their situations and financial conditions.

The Labor and the Conservative parties which are the two key political parties in Britain would release their General Election Manifestos this week. These manifestos are expected to have some new restrictions. These restrictions are specifically pertaining to immigration and more diligence being maintained for the student visas.

The manifesto of the Labour party is planned to be released by the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Birmingham. The declaration would cater to the issues pertaining to the local citizens and not just mere immigration. It also stated that by the end of the year, electronic border controls would be implemented that would aid in the counting of people walking in and out of the country.

Similar to the Australian system, a point based system would be introduced for those applying for residence as well as citizenship. Having excellent skills in English language would be the key criterion.

The manifesto of the Conservatives would be launched by David Cameron who is the leader of the Conservatives. This manifesto is expected to be absolute when it comes to immigration. It states a limitation on the number of foreigners being permitted to enter the United Kingdom. This caters to those migrants belonging to the nations that are not a part of the European Union. Thus, only a few would be allowed to work in the UK. The key reason behind this is the constant increase in the population which has become a burden on the public services and other local communities.

When it comes to the people belonging to the nations of the European Union, their movement could not be stopped by the British government. However, those not belonging to these nations such as India could be restricted.

New UK Visa rules, coming into action from this week, have created fears that they will hinder the rush of Indian workers coming to work in the UK. In addition, it will impact critical Indian investments in the UK too. According to the new measures, the gross salary package granted to a migrant must commeasure the salary given to a resident worker.

Commencing this news, reports say that delegates from Indian firms are anticipated to visit Britain and speak against the new measures. The new rules will require firms posting their workers to UK to pay salary equivalent to a British worker, a reason which has aroused the wrath of many firms in India.

There are many Indian companies who don’t have net assets to pay high cheques to the employers. The impact of these amendments would be visible in the months to come.

Another regulation, which has caused huge worries for Indian counterparts, is the withdrawal right to get a PR for applicants coming to the UK on intra-company transfers. According to Hindustan Times, the country has implemented this regulation without informing or consulting the Indian multinationals. This further will create huge problems.

According to Kenneth Clarke from the Conservative Party, it is mandatory to make sure that the Immigration process does not cause unnecessary delays in moving skilled workers here.

Stats say that Indian firms are second largest investing source in the UK, but the regulation would surely create huge impacts on the Indo-Britain Trade relationships.

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.

More on changes on Tier 1 amendments.

Significant changes were announced to the “Point System” and selection criteria and here is the summary of changes.

Check the changes in the Tier 1 Visa to UK in bigger size by clicking here.

Brief Analysis

1. The new policy would come into effect on 06/04/2010. Please note that visa Application centers in South India are closed for 5 days in the first week of April, So applicants interested in filing under current selection criteria only have time until the end of this month to lodge the applications prior to new rules coming into effect.
2. The initial leave to remain has been reduced from 3 to 2 years. This has been in effect since the last two months. This also effectively means that a successful applicant has 2 years to succeed in UK.
3. Points System Changes:
   • Highest Qualification required changed from Masters Degree to Bachelors degree.
   • Previous earnings (Equivalent):
     • Earnings have to be more than 25000£.
     • A variable change in the earnings threshold with the brackets increased considerably.
   • Age: Significant changes with points being awarded even for people in the age bracket of 35-40 and also as many as 20 points being awarded for those 29 and below.
   • UK Experience: Additional clause that the earnings have to be more than 25000£.
   • No changes in points awarded for UK qualification, English Language or Maintenance funds requirement.

Another significant point is one regarding the review of the Uplift ratios/ Salary Multipliers which has not been announced yet but will be done later this year. Currently applicants from India enjoy an uplift ratio of 5.3. This may change in future and we could be seeing a lesser uplift ratio once the new laws regarding this are announced. Lesser Uplift ratios clubbed with a Salary requirement which has already been increased will see a lot fewer people qualifying in India.

So if you qualifying under the current regulations, then apply immediately. If likely to meet new requirements, then again start getting papers together so that you can file the application on or after April 6th ‘2010.

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!

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!