Top UK Visa & Immigration headlines from the past month
Gaddafi: £4bn to stop Europe being flooded by illegal immigrants – 1st December 2010
Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi is demanding £4billion from the EU to stop Europe turning “black” through immigration.
Gaddafi warned that the EU could be swamped by Muslims unless the aid is invested in schemes to tackle illega`l immigration from Africa.
The dictator made the ultimatum at the summit of EU and African leaders in the Libyan capital Tripoli.
Three found in lorry load of Christmas trees – 1st December 2010
UK Border Agency officers have found three men hiding in the back of a lorry full of Christmas trees.
The three men, all Vietnamese were prevented from entering the country illegally after the lorry was stopped and searched in Calais in the early hours of Tuesday 23 November.
Nick Clegg to announce schedule to end child detentions – 2nd December 2010
Deputy PM, Nick Clegg is seeking approval from the cabinet for his plans to end the practice of detaining children in immigration removal centres.
Government sources suggest that Clegg wants to see no children in detention by Spring 2011.
The Liberal Democrat leader will tell the organisation Citizens UK this evening, via a videolink that he is near being able to announce the coalition’s plans for ending child detention.
Nick Clegg and David Cameron promised to end child detention. However Clegg is under pressure to make a decisive announcement after two deadlines were missed.
Manchester Airport criticised over loophole in immigration security – 2nd December 2010
Passengers arriving in the UK could leave Manchester Airport without having their passports checked.
John Vine, UK Border Agency’s (UKBA) independent chief inspector said they found two areas where people that have just flew into the airport could walk out prior to having their passports checked.
Gaddafi: £4bn to stop Europe being flooded by illegal immigrants – 1st December 2010
Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi is demanding £4billion from the EU to stop Europe turning “black” through immigration.
Gaddafi warned that the EU could be swamped by Muslims unless the aid is invested in schemes to tackle illegal immigration from Africa.
The dictator made the ultimatum at the summit of EU and African leaders in the Libyan capital Tripoli.
Three found in lorry load of Christmas trees – 1st December 2010
UK Border Agency officers have found three men hiding in the back of a lorry full of Christmas trees.
The three men, all Vietnamese were prevented from entering the country illegally after the lorry was stopped and searched in Calais in the early hours of Tuesday 23 November.
Nick Clegg to announce schedule to end child detentions – 2nd December 2010
Deputy PM, Nick Clegg is seeking approval from the cabinet for his plans to end the practice of detaining children in immigration removal centres.
Government sources suggest that Clegg wants to see no children in detention by Spring 2011.
The Liberal Democrat leader will tell the organisation Citizens UK this evening, via a videolink that he is near being able to announce the coalition’s plans for ending child detention.
Nick Clegg and David Cameron promised to end child detention. However Clegg is under pressure to make a decisive announcement after two deadlines were missed.
Manchester Airport criticised over loophole in immigration security – 2nd December 2010
Passengers arriving in the UK could leave Manchester Airport without having their passports checked.
John Vine, UK Border Agency’s (UKBA) independent chief inspector said they found two areas where people that have just flew into the airport could walk out prior to having their passports checked.
Scottish Government asks for separate UK Visa cap – 9th December 2010
The Scottish government has teamed up with business and industry leaders in a joint letter to UK immigration minister Damian Green to warn that the tough new UK Visa cap will damage the economy
The letter has asked for Scotland to have permission to vary the limits on UK visas so it can progress.
Tier 1 (General) visa limit reached for December 2010 – 8th December 2010
The UK Border Agency has announced that the December target for Tier 1 (General) Visa applications from abroad has reached its limit. No more Tier 1 General visas will be issued this month. The limit allocation reopens on 1st January 2011.
Student visa loophole could allow bogus applicants into Britain – 8th December 2010
The newly revised student visa rules have been found to contain a loophole that may allow tens of thousands of bogus applicants into the country.
Ministers have announced a crackdown on the system but Student visitor visas are exempt.
Illegal workers face Deportation – 9th December 2010
Four takeaway and restaurant workers arrested by UK Border Agency Officers now face deportation.
Two Bangladeshi men were detained at the Indian Spice takeaway, on Duke Street, Whitehaven, and a Chinese man and woman were arrested at the Regent Court restaurant, on Oxford Street, Workington.
New requirements for tier 1 Visa – 10th December 2010
As of 14 December 2010, migrants wishing to apply in the UK under Tier 1 or Tier 5 of the Points-based immigration System will need to enrol their biometric information as part of their application.
Couple jailed for sham marriage – 10th December 2010
A Nigerian man and a Czech woman, who pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing, have been jailed for staging a sham marriage in Lancashire to gain illegal entry into the UK.
The UK Border Agency have said that the Nigerian national, Idowu Komolafe, 34, has been jailed for 21 months for assisting unlawful immigration and perjury at Burnley Crown Court.
Four men deported after raids on shop chain – 13th December 2010
Four illegal workers have been deported to India following a crackdown on illegal immigration by the UK Border Agency.
Immigration and customs officers raided branches of the New Kwiki Mart chain of shops in Portsmouth late November.
Four of the men arrested for immigration offences have been deported to India.
Couple now face jail over UK immigration scam – 13th December 2010
A couple are currently facing jail after being found guilty of an elaborate attempt to stay in the country which involved a subsequent second bogus wedding using a false identity.
The picture of Samuel Bisaso and Rebecca Muwonge at their first, authentic, wedding proved to be the crucial piece of evidence in the trial.
UK crackdown against bogus immigration advisors – 13th December 2010
The British Government have approved tougher legislation to crack down on crooked immigration advisors.
The UK immigration system is also due to face tighter legislation to regulate immigration consultants and reduce growing threats of the system.
Student Visitor Visa extended for migrants – 13 December 2010
Tens of thousands of foreign students will still be allowed to come to the UK to attend private language schools for up to 11 months despite a crackdown on the visa system.
From 10 January 2011, English language students wishing to attend exclusively English language courses will be able to apply for a student visitor visa allowing them to stay for up to 11 months.
This extended student visitor visa will only be available to applicants outside the UK.
Detention of Immigrant Children to end in May – 16th December 2010
The Deputy Prime minister has announced that no child will spend Christmas in an immigration detention centre and the detention of children is due to end in May.
Nick Clegg has said that protecting children is more important than “paranoia” about UK borders.
The family wing at Bedfordshire’s Yarl’s Wood immigration centre will be closed immediately under the Government’s proposals.
Anger as death-crash asylum seeker stays in Britain - 17th December 2010
The father of Amy Houston who was killed in a hit-and-run by asylum-seeker Aso Mohammed Ibrahim, has spoke of his anger at a decision to allow the driver to stay in Britain.
Father, Paul Houston was outraged at the ‘ridiculous state of affairs’ that Ibrahim would not be removed from Britain.
The 33-year-old Iraqi left Amy Houston, 12, dying under the wheels of his car while already banned from driving. Mr Houston took the decision to turn off Amy’s life-support machine.
Illegal immigrant found working at the Thai Rack – 20th December 2010
UK Border Agency have arrested the Head Chef at the Thai Rack restaurant, St Albans for working illegally.
UK Border Agency officers visited Thai Rack, on George Street, on Tuesday and found that the 50-year-old Thai woman had overstayed her visa.
Major setback for Immigration Cap – 20th December 2010
The coalition government has received a humiliating blow to its attempt to impose a cap on immigration into the UK.
The High Court has declared that the interim cap that has been set for skilled and highly skilled workers from non-EU countries is illegal.
Those people who were affected by the interim cap are now free to make a new application for work visas for the UK.
The High Court has confirmed that the limitations that were imposed were unlawful because they were imposed without any parliamentary discussion or approval.
Tier 1 (General) to close overseas and new interim limit set for Tier 2 (General) – 22nd December 2010
Tier 1 (General) applications made overseas will stop being accepted from 00:01 on 23 December 2010 the UK Border Agency have announced.
The UK Border Agency have stated:
‘This is to ensure that we do not exceed the limit set by the government for issued Tier 1 (General) applications between 19 July 2010 and April 2011.
‘Tier 1 (General) overseas will not reopen for applications. Tier 1 (General) in the UK will remain open until 5 April 2011. There will be transitional
arrangements beyond 6 April 2011 for some applicants who are already in the UK, and we will announce details of these in due course.
UK immigration quota for skilled workers filled early – 28th December 2010
The immigration quota for 2011 has almost been filled so highly skilled workers wishing to immigrate to the UK in 2011 to work will now have to wait.
The yearly quota of 5,100 is nearing its close four months early as more highly skilled migrants from outside the EU apply to work in the UK.
UK Immigration will stay high – 30th December 2010
Measures implemented to by the UK Government to reduce net UK immigration are unlikely to have any significant impact during 2011 a think tank has warned.
A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), warns that EU citizens, whose movement the Government cannot control, could arrive in Britain in increasingly large numbers to look for jobs in the coming year.
UK Border Agency warns over illegal workers – 4th January 2010
The UK Border Agency have warned employers in Reading that a crackdown on illegal workers will continue in 2011 after a successful campaign by the UKBA in 2010.
In 2010 the UK Border Agency caught 15 businesses in Reading hiring illegal staff. A total of £110,000 in civil penalties was issued.
Abramovich crew denied UK Visa – 05th January 2011
Owner of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich invited many of his Mount Kilimanjaro crew to the United Kingdom only to have their UK visas refused.
Bogus students cost UK £500m a year – 06th January 2011
A think tank has today warned that more than 30,000 bogus students are taking jobs in the UK every year costing the country up to £500 million.
According to Migrationwatch, tens of thousands of foreign migrants are granted student visas every year but either never attend their course or stay in the country illegally after their UK Visa has expired.
The report said that illegal foreign migrants fill jobs that could be filled by British workers leaving the country to have to pay out employment benefits and miss out on tax contributions.
