UK University applications drop 9% as higher fees and student visa crackdown takes effect
UK Universities are facing a double whammy of increased fees for resident students and relentless crackdown on Tier 4 student visas for non-EU students.
Immigration News weekly round up 30 October 2011
Immigration News weekly round up 30 October 2011 – http://www.immigrationmatters.co.uk/category/news
UK Apprenticeship training schemes take off
As funding for ‘train to gain’ NVQ’s dried up in the last 18 months, apprenticeship take-up’s have been slow. However, as employers start to see the benefits of taking on an apprentice at subsidised pay rates from as little as £2.60 per hour the scheme has started to take off. Funded health and social care apprenticeships in the London M25 area are available through Majestic College, which has extensive links with care sector employers.
Thousands of foreign criminals escape deportation from UK on Human Rights grounds says report – has the UK lost the plot?
Immigration Matters reports that over 5000 criminals avoid deportation mainly on Article 8 Family life appeals, but has the UK ‘lost the plot’ or are judges merely upholding the law?
Banned preacher Raed Salah to be deported for ‘fostering hatred’
Radical preacher Raed Salah could be deported within days after an immigration court ruled he had no right to be in Britain.
UK population forecasters predict ’70 million by 2027′ much of it due to immigration
The care industry already desperately short of qualified care workers and with government curbs on Tier 2 working visas and Tier 4 student visas managers are increasing turning to EU migrants, especially from keen new EU workers from Bulgaria and Romania. Although Bulgarian and Romanian citizens do not enjoy full free movement rights to work in the UK they can obtain Yellow Card permits to work full time as part of a vocational study programme such as NVQ or QCF courses in Health and Social Care.
Points Based System appeals ‘new evidence’ Upper Tribunal ruling
The Upper Tribunal has reported a decision on the effect of the new section 85A of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002: Alam (s 85A – commencement – Article 8 Bangladesh [2011] UKUT 00424 (IAC). The official headnote reads as follows
Tier 4 blacklisted financial institutions published by UK Border Agency as the heat is turned up on fraudulent student visa applications
This week the UKBA has announced the creation of a new initial list of international banks and financial institutions which will be used when considering points under a Tier 4 student visa application. The blacklist will be used when verifying maintenance funds under Tier 4 of the points-based system. A student visa applicant will receive no points for maintenance if they submit documents showing that the funds are held in a financial institution on the list. Thousands of international students have arrived in the UK with little or no money, despite presenting ‘proof’ of funds to entry clearance officers at their local British Embassy. Many have failed to pay fees on arrival or keep up with monthly payment plans. Some colleges are having to resort to legal action through the county courts to recover debts owed by non-paying students. Tier 4 General application forms now ask a lot more questions about criminal and civil offences, good character, benefit claims…
Convicted drug dealer avoids deportation twice
Foreign drug dealer who avoided deportation because of his “right to family life” went on to reoffend – and to win a second legal battle to stay in Britain.
UK rioters came from 44 countries and 1 in 7 jailed after summer of violence was a foreign national
Foreign looters and rioters from 44 countries have been locked up over the riots which scarred the UK in August, the Mail reports.
