November Immigration News – Full overview
2 million homes will be needed for migrant families – 29th November 2010
A media report has revealed that Britain will need more than two million new homes over the next 25 years to cope with immigration.
Two-thirds of population growth is directly brought about by immigration. If the immigration influx continues at the current rate, Britain will have to provide 83,000 homes per year for migrant families,
Migrants marrying UK citizens must now learn English – 26th November 2010
As from tomorrow migrants who wish to join their partner in the UK will now have to take compulsory English tests, the government announced today.
All non-European members will have to demonstrate a basic command of English. The new rules, which will be introduced tomorrow, will allow the migrants to help them cope with everyday life in the UK before they are granted a Visa.
580,000 people moved to Britain last year, including a record 211,000 students – 26th November 2010
An official count has showed that during Labour’s last year in power, immigration pushed up Britain’s population by more than 200,000.
The new coalition government’s aim is half that of when Gordon Brown was in power. The biggest leaps occurred when Labour’s Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were in charge.
Immigration cap and increase in fees puts student off coming to the UK – 24th November 2010
With the immigration cap over their heads and now the increase in fees, international students will be put off coming to the UK to study.
The government has put a cap on student visas that will limit the amount of students that will be able to come to the UK to study.
Student visas will have to be slashed if the Government is to fulfil its pledge to bring net migration down from 196,000 to the tens of thousands by 2015. The number of students coming to Britain from outside the EU is estimated to be cut to around 87,000.
Immigration cap will damage many UK Businesses – 24th November 2010
Following the government’s decision to cap skilled migrant workers entering the UK, the health, IT, science and food catering industries are likely to suffer the most.
Statistics from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills reveal that a fifth of jobs available in the health sector are taken up by non-EU migrant workers, while 19% of roles in the food preparation trade such as head chefs and caterers go to non-EU migrants.
Full details of UK immigration cap – 24th November 2010
After a speech yesterday by Home Secretary Theresa May the UK Government has at last unveiled the limits that have been set for a permanent immigration cap.
UK visa numbers have suffered very tight restrictions and radical reductions that will drastically affect the UK economy.
The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) presented immigration cap recommendations however many of the recommendations have not been implemented.
The cap will affect non-EU migrants wishing to immigrate to the UK under Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the points based system.
Immigration Cap Set – 23rd November 2010
Home secretary Theresa May has said the number of migrant workers allowed to come to the UK from outside the EU will be slashed to 21,700.
Mrs May began her new immigration cap speech this afternoon by telling MPs: “We can’t go on like this.”
The official cap on immigration has been announced but in a compromise to the business community, will allow them to transfer some staff from outside the UK.
UKBA Revised policy guidance – 23 November 2010
The UK Border Agency has published revised policy guidance for applicants under the points-based system whose applications were refused solely because they did not meet the maintenance requirement.
If a person made their application within a certain time period and it was refused, they can write to the UK Border Agency and ask them to review their decision.
UK Visa Fees Increase today – 22nd November 2010
The postponed fee increase that was due to take effect from 1 November will come into force today.
The fee increase will affect many in-country immigration applications, including UK settlement visas, Naturalisation Visas, Tier 1 for General Highly Skilled Migrants and Tier 2 for Skilled Workers. Fees for applications made from outside the UK will also go up.
Lack of UK jobs doesn’t affect immigrants – 22nd November 2010
The Home Office have released figures that show Labour handed out thousands of employment visas to foreign workers but Brits that were qualified to do the job were forced to claim Jobseekers Allowance.
Iranian wrongly deported to Baghdad claims he was tortured – 22nd November 2010
A story in The Guardian has revealed that the continued deportation of failed Iranian asylum seekers to Iraq exposes them to torture and inhumane punishment in Baghdad.
The story came after Alan Salimi from Iran was mistakenly deported to Baghdad from the UK and was beaten and starved by Iraqi police officers.
UKBA criticised over fines issued to illegal workers – 18th November 2010
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) have been criticised for releasing misleading information about the number of businesses fined for employing illegal immigrants.
The independent chief inspector of the UK Border Agency criticised the agency for publicising the figure for the number of penalty fines issued, rather than the amount of fines that had actually been collected.
Fake immigration papers scam – 17th November 2010
An accredited legal advisor for immigration law was arrested today during a dawn raid under suspicion of helping hundreds of illegal immigrants stay in the country.
The 40 year old man is accused of making hundreds of thousands of pounds from a complicated operation that supplied immigrants with false papers and payslips that allowed them to remain in the country.
UK will relax immigration cap to help businesses – 16th November 2010
David Cameron will significantly increase the number of highly skilled EU migrants allowed to enter the UK each month, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Since the temporary immigration cap came into force, businesses have highly criticised the government because they have been unable to employ the highly skilled people they need to run effectively.
Scottish Government attacks plans for immigration crackdown – 15th November 2010 ]
The Scottish Government has claimed that tighter UK immigration controls will damage the economy and universities.
Fiona Hyslop, Culture Minister said in a speech at Edinburgh University that allowing greater freedom to Scotland over immigration is vital to support business and higher education.
Passengers entering Britain without having Passports checked – 15th November 2010
The Daily Telegraph has disclosed that dozens of international flights a year are entering Britain without being checked by immigration officers.
Following a Freedom of Information request, the UK Border Agency revealed that passengers on 133 flights have arrived in Britain without their passports being checked since 2006.
Four-year-old boy receives letter for deportation – 15th November 2010
The Home Office has sent a letter to a four-year-old boy informing him that he and his mother are facing deportation.
British born Cher Siyamuanya and his mother Netsui Karota, 28, received the letters warning they are facing deportation.
Netsui Karota spoke out against Robert Mugabe’s brutal regime so now fears returning to her homeland of Zimbabwe for fear she will be executed.
Four people arrested at Hamleys toy store for immigration offences – 12th November
A raid at Hamleys toy store on Regent Street, London has led to the arrest of four people for UK immigration offences.
The four cleaners were found to be working illegally after UK Border Agency officers executed a warrant early Wednesday morning.
UK Border Agency announces that November limit for Tier 1 Visas has been reached already – Apply before December to avoid further delays – 11th November 2010
The UK Border Agency has announced that the November target for Tier 1 (General) Visa applications from abroad has reached its limit. This means that no more Tier 1 General visas will be issued this month. The limit allocation reopens on 1st December 2010.
Thousands gain exemptions to UK Immigration Cap – 10th November 2010
Business secretary, Vince Cable has won the fight to have ‘intra-company transfers’ exempt from the annual immigration quota. The immigration cap poses a threat to thousands of foreign workers, however having the intra company transfers excluded from the cap has been a victory for Vince Cable.
In 2009, Intra Company transfers accounted for 22,000 or 36,000 skilled migrants working in Britain.
EU leak reveals UK to take major share of Indian IT workers under work permit agreement – 10th November 2010
Migrationwatch UK has revealed the contents of leaked European commission documents on the negotiations with India for the favoured admission of IT workers to the EU.
The documents have revealed that the UK immigration quota for some worker categories is 40% of the entire EU commitment – almost three times that of Germany and almost seven times that of France.
Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain claims asylum in UK - 9th November 2010
Pakistan cricket team’s wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider is claiming political asylum in the UK after fleeing from Dubai to London.
Zulqarnain spent nearly five hours at the Heathrow airport in London reportedly to discuss plans to seek political asylum in the UK with the immigration authorities.
UKBA visa system ‘may discriminate against Pakistanis’ – 8th November 2010
According to a report by the independent chief inspector, the UK Border Agency may be discriminating against Pakistanis in the way it hands out visas.
Chief Inspector, John Vine, who oversees the work of the UKBA, found that its staff were purposely making it more difficult for people to enter Britain from Pakistan than from Gulf States such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.
Immigration Rules to Be Tightened - 5th November 2010
The Home Secretary, Theresa May has announced that immigration rules will be tightened to ensure the total number of people settling in the UK is significantly reduced and only those who will benefit the country will be allowed to stay.
In her first major speech on immigration policy, she said the number of non-EU migrants had to be reduced to “sustainable levels”.
Abu Hamza wins passport court battle – 5th November 2010
Abu Hamza has won his appeal against the government’s attempts to strip him of his British passport.
The 52-year-old radical cleric, who is currently in jail for inciting murder and race hate argued that taking his British passport, would leave him “stateless” because he has already been stripped of his Egyptian citizenship.
France and the UK make joint declaration on immigration at summit – 4th November 2010
New measures have been announced by the French and British government to work closely together to stop illegal migration and tackle abuse of the asylum system.
The UK and France have signed treaties pledging to work more closely together at the summit in London earlier this week. It has been called a “new chapter” in defence, security and immigration co-operation by Prime Minister David Cameron.
New refined criteria for Employer Sponsorship licence applications - 2nd October 2010
The UK Border Agency has released a refined criteria for Tier 2 sponsorship licences to give employees greater certainty.
The refined criteria apply to Tier 2 General UK Sponsor License holders’ requests for additional certificates of sponsorship. It gives greater certainty by ensuring that all requests will be approved if in relation to an extension for a Work Permit holder or Tier 2 general worker hat is already employed by a sponsor.
Eight in ten people want tighter controls on immigration – 30th November 2010
According to a poll released last night, the public and a portion of Lib Dem supporters want immigration to the UK to have stricter controls.
The UK Government cap on visas for non-EU workers was proved to be supported in the poll. The YouGov survey showed 81% of people were in favour of the UK Immigration Cap.
ICT exemptions are a loophole in the immigration system – 30th November 2010
Since the government announced in July that Intra Company Transfers (ICTs) would be exempt from the immigration cap, the number of foreign staff entering the UK through the ICT route has leapt.
Between July and September 2010, over 8,000 non-EU workers entered the UK on ICTs. This figure is up by 30% on the same period in 2011.
X-Factor Gamu’s immigration fight continues – 30th November 2010
Former X-Factor contestant Gamu Nhengu has won the chance to temporarily remain in the UK.
Zimbabwe-born Gamu was scheduled for deputation last month however has been granted a stay of execution, allowing her to remain in Britain while officials reconsidered their decision.
