UK Governments sanctions on visit visas family sponsors face jail for breaking rules

By Charles Kelly
28 June 2008
Tough sanctions are be imposed on those who fail to ensure family members visiting from abroad return home, the Government announced this week.
If you want your family to visit you from abroad, you will need to become ‘licensed’ under proposed changes to the visa system. Sponsors will have to ensure [...]

UK Government will preserve Domestic Worker rights for two years says Liam Byrne

By Cynthia Barker
28 June 2008
Thousands of Filipino and other overseas Domestic Visa holders will breathe a sight of relief after the UK Border Agency (UKBA) announced last week that it will retain the rights for at least two years.
Workers granted stay in the UK, as part of the Domestic Workers Concession, had feared their protection [...]

Illegal employers to be named and shamed

UK Border Agency (UKBA) will ‘name and shame’ bosses who employ illegal immigrants as part of of tough new measures announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced today.

New teams of locally based immigration officers will work alongside ‘Local Crime Partnerships’ with police, as part of a “major refocus” of the UKBA enforcement efforts.

Up [...]

UK Border Agency will implement new transitional arrangement

UK Border Agency will implement new
transitional arrangement for
Senior Carer Work Permits post Tier 2
By Charles Kelly

16 June 2008

The UK Border Agency will put in place further transitional arrangements to minimise the impact of the Points Based System (PBS) on existing Work Permits, according to Richard Jackson of the UK Border Agency’s Operational [...]

Sharon Cunetas Caregiver Premiers in London

Sharon Cuneta’s
‘Caregiver’
premier’s in London

By Charles Kelly

7 June 2008

“Caregiver”, the movie, was premiered in London on 7 June at the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square, before going on general release all over the Philippines.

Healthcare Bi-Weekly Managing Editor, Navtam Gosai, Immigration Matters columnist Charles Kelly and Bison UK’s Cynthia Barker attended [...]

Government Responds to House of Lords Report on Migration

The UK Government has today published a positive response to the House of Lords Committee’s report on the economic impacts of migration.

The economic case for migration was “reinforced” as the Government has agreed with the Committee’s recommendations, including the argument that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per head should be the key test against which [...]

Real Filipina Caregiver who made it in London

I was among the audience last night at the UK premier of Sharon Cuneta’s latest film “Caregiver” in London’s Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square.

Sharon Cuneta appeared on stage to talk about her role as a caregiver in London. She chatted and joked with the packed audience, many of whom had queued for [...]

New Shortage Occupations List published by UK Border Agency

The UK Border Agency has announced a number of changes to the national shortage occupational list for work permits.

New occupations have been added to the national shortage occupation list for work permits two titles amended. From 18 July 2008 certain occupations will be removed from the list.

The UK Border Agency has added [...]

Three steps to a student visa

According to UK Government figures, overseas students are worth £4.7 billion to the UK economy.

Around 300,000 overseas students are currently studying the many thousands of courses on offer in the UK. The Tony Blair ‘Prime Minister’s Initiative’ and British Council wants to encourage more prospective students to choose Britain to further their education as [...]

British Embassy Manila Announcement on Student Visas

With Effect 14 May 2008, Student applicants no longer need to submit a Student Questionnaire as part of the requirements in applying for a student visa.
With effect 30 April 2008, payment of visa fees can now be made through Standard Chartered Bank, RCBC/RCBC Savings, PhilTrust Bank and PBCom ATMs and through Bancnet online. Please refer [...]