Mr Green also announced that he wanted to break the link between temporary and permanent migration and look at the way courts interpret the human right to family life, which he said has led to a “ridiculous and damaging situation” and risks a “dangerous” stand off between parliament and judges.

The government is also proposing to set a minimum income level for any sponsor seeking to bring in a foreign spouse – and said the recommended level was between £18,600 and £25,700.

The news will be of grave concern to the thousands of skilled workers on Work Permits and Tier 2 Working Visas who are earning less than £31,000.

Whilst the UK has never guaranteed working migrants permanent residency under the terms of their work permits, most were expecting to one day qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after working in Britain for 5 years.

The Minister has not announced any transitional arrangements for those already here. But if the new rules are applied to all existing migrants, the minimum threshold would not be reached by most nurses, senior carers, chefs, care managers and many other occupations where the basic pay rate is less than £31,000.

Some of the questions being asked are:

• Will the new earnings test apply to all existing work permit holders or new entrants after a certain point?
• Does my dependant husband’s income count towards the minimum salary requirement?
• How long do I have to be earning £31,000 for or is it my current salary level that counts?
• If I cannot qualify for ILR will I be able to extend my work permit after 5 years?
• If I have children born in the UK do I have a right to stay under Article 8?

The answer to most of these questions are only known to ministers and Home Office officials at this stage because full details of the reforms have not yet been revealed.

The government is committed to reducing net migration to the ‘tens of thousands’ by 2015 and major reforms to the immigration points based system will be needed to reach these targets.

The changes do not affect EU migrants from Eastern European countries such as Poland and Slovakia, or Bulgarians and Romanians exercising Treaty Rights to obtain Yellow Cards.

See also:

Settlement in UK to be linked to a minimum salary of £31,000 says Immigration Minister

Human rights decisions led to ‘ridiculous and damaging’ situation, says UK Immigration Minister

Romanian workers offered UK jobs while 2.7 million claim benefits

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Mr Green said the situation is “not healthy for anyone” and calls the whole concept of human rights in to question.

The Government is currently examining how parliament can provide clearer guidance on how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights show be interpreted with a view to restricting its use.

It follows concerns that foreign criminals and other illegal immigrants are able to use the right too easily to fight deportation.

In 2010, more than 400 criminals were allowed to stay in the UK after winning appeals, mainly on human rights grounds such as the right to family life.

Last month, it emerged Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is drawing up plans to stop illegal immigrants using time spent in Britain unlawfully to bolster their claims to stay.

She aims to stop those facing deportation demanding a right to family life because of the length of time they have been in the country, when most of it was spent here illegally.

In a speech to the think tank Policy Exchange in London, Mr Green said most people would not agree that rights had been breached in many recent high profile cases.

“That leads to the ridiculous and damaging situation where the whole concept of Human Rights is called into question,” he said.

“This is not healthy for anyone. It is also dangerous for there to be a long-term stand-off between Parliament and the judges, which is why we want to give better Parliamentary guidance on what should be considered in these kind of cases in future.”

In a wide ranging speech on immigration, Mr Green also revealed some high earning migrants may be allowed to take up jobs in the UK without them first being advertising to others.

Under the resident labour market test, employers looking to recruit from outside the EU must first advertise for a month in jobcentres.

But Mr Green is keen to make it easier for the most talented migrants to come and has asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to look at the issue.

He is also considering allowing talented “entrepreneurial” international students the ability to stay on and continue to develop their ideas after their studies.

It is part of the Government’s bid to redefine the foundation of immigration policies to ensure the brightest and best can still come.

He said immigrants must “add to the quality of life in Britain” if they wish to live here and not just “benefit by Britain”.

The Government has pledged to cut net migration from the current 242,000 to the “tens of thousands” last seen in the 1990s, with crackdowns on forced and sham marriages, bogus students and an annual cap on immigrants coming from outside the EU.

The MAC, the Government’s immigration advisers, found there were up to 23 fewer jobs for British workers for every additional 100 working migrants coming from outside the EU. Source: The Telegraph.

The UK is set introduce a minimum earnings figure of £31,000 in order to qualify for permanent settlement or Indefinite Leave to Remain, the Immigration Minister announced yesterday.

Mr Green also told the BBC that he was proposing to set a minimum income level for any sponsor seeking to bring in a foreign spouse – and said the recommended level from MAC (Migration Advisory Committee) was between £18,600 and £25,700.

See also:

Settlement in UK to be linked to a minimum salary of £31,000 says Immigration Minister

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

• Further changes to family migration
• Reforms to settlement and greater selectivity
• Breaking the link between temporary and permanent migration
• Completing changes to eliminate abuse of the student visa route
• review of the annual limit on skilled economic Tier 2 migrants
• Contribution-based system rather than points-based

As expected, the UK Border Agency has confirmed earlier rumours published by Immigration Matters on reforming the route to settlement with the creation of a ‘sustainable selective immigration system that encourages the brightest and best to come to the UK’.

At a speech at the Policy Exchange, the Immigration Minister Damian Green expressed a desire to ‘raise the tone of the immigration debate’ and start building a national consensus on how immigration can be made to work for Britain.

He will be pressing on with sweeping reforms that impose restrictions on those migrants the country does not need, while developing a greater selectivity to attract those migrants the country wants.

Damian Green said:

‘We need to know not just that the right number of people are coming here, but that the right people are coming here. People that will benefit Britain – not just those who will benefit by Britain.

‘We have laid the foundations for a sustainable system where we get numbers down and keep them down. Now we shall make it work for Britain.’

The government has committed to reduce net migration numbers from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands. In the latest published quarterly figures, compared to a year previously, there are early signs of a positive impact on numbers following restrictions imposed by this government on non-EEA workers and students.

The government will soon be announcing further changes to family migration and reforms to settlement, breaking the link between temporary and permanent migration or UK naturalisation and citizenship. It will also be completing its changes to eliminate abuse of the student visa route and is currently reviewing the annual limit on skilled economic migrants.

In his speech the Minister expressed his intention that the long-term transformation of British immigration policy will introduce greater selectivity.

He added that the ‘points based system’ of the past should ultimately be replaced by a ‘contribution-based system’ where migrants are checked to ensure they will add to quality of life in the UK.

This is already starting with the development of more selective routes for entrepreneurs, investors and those with exceptional talent alongside existing routes for entertainers, trainees and researchers.

The Minister confirmed the introduction of a new route for international graduate entrepreneurs – international students who have engaged in innovative entrepreneurial activity during their studies and want to stay on afterwards to develop their business ideas.

The government will also improve the system for some short-term business visitors and entertainers to ensure world-class performers are encouraged to come to the UK. Source: UK Border Agency.

In an earlier interview with BBC Radio Kent Mr Green said he wanted ‘to be much more intelligently selective about who we let come here”.

He added:

‘Anyone individual seeking permanent settlement should be able to command a salary of between £31,000 and £49,000.’

Mr Green also told the BBC that he was proposing to set a minimum income level for any sponsor seeking to bring in a foreign spouse – and said the recommended level from MAC (Migration Advisory Committee) was between £18,600 and £25,700.

The news will come as a bitter blow to the thousands of skilled workers on Work Permits and Tier 2 Working Visas who were expecting to one day qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), although the Minister has not announced any transitional arrangements for those already here.

If applied to existing migrants, the minimum threshold would affect nurses, senior carers, chefs, care managers and many other occupations where the basic pay rate is less than £31,000.

See also:

How will the new ‘minimum salary for residency’ proposals affect you?

Britain will limit settlement to ‘brightest and best’ migrants under new plans

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

They also reveal a sharper drop among more affluent candidates than among those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The decision to let UK universities raise undergraduate fees to a maximum of £9,000 a year for resident students provoked widespread public anger and battered the credibility of the Liberal Democrats.

However, figures from the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (Ucas) published on Monday show that the number of 18-year-old UK applicants – the largest single group of candidates – has decreased by 3.6%, representing a drop of just under 8,500 people. The number of 18-year-olds in the population has declined by 11,000 this year, to 772,000, according to the Office for National Statistics, a fall of 1.4%.

But total applicant numbers, including overseas and mature candidates, are 7.4% lower than at the same point in 2011, Ucas says. The number of applicants from the UK has decreased by 8.7%.

There has been a sharper drop among male applicants. The proportion of men is down 8.5% on last year, while female applicants are down 6.7%.

A 13.7% increase in overseas candidates from non-EU countries was also found, however this could change in the coming year due to changes to Tier 4 student visa rules and the abolition of PSW this April.

Mary Curnock Cook, the chief executive of Ucas, said: “Our analysis shows that decreases in demand are slightly larger in more advantaged groups than in the disadvantaged groups. Widely expressed concerns about recent changes in HE [higher education] funding arrangements having a disproportionate effect on more disadvantaged groups are not borne out by these data.”

The application rate from the most disadvantaged fifth of the population is down 0.2% in England, Ucas said. Among the wealthiest quintile, it is down 2.5%. This analysis is based on a ranking of neighbourhoods according to the participation of young people in higher education.

Demand will continue to outstrip the supply of university places this year. There are already 50,000 more applications this year than there were acceptances at universities in 2011. Competition will be more intense as the number of government-funded places at English universities will drop by 10,000.

David Willetts, universities minister, said: “The proportion of English school leavers applying to university today is greater than ever before, barring last year. It is encouraging that applications from people from some of the most disadvantaged backgrounds remain strong, with only a 0.2% decrease.

“Even with a small reduction in applications, this will still be a competitive year like any other as people continue to understand that university remains a good long-term investment in your future.”

Wendy Piatt, the director general of the Russell Group, which represents some of the most competitive universities, including Oxbridge, said: “Demand for higher education is not only strong – it’s actually rising over the long term. This year 540,073 prospective students have applied, which is 16% more than the 464,167 who applied just three years ago in 2009.

“More than half a million potential students have rightly recognised the benefits of going to university. Prospective students know a good degree remains a smart investment.

“It’s not surprising the number of applications is lower than last year, but there are a number of reasons for that. Demographic changes mean there are fewer 18-year-olds in 2012 than in 2011 and we also know there was a peak in applications last year as fewer people chose to take gap years.”

There are big falls in the number of mature students applying this year: nearly 2,400 fewer 30- to 39-year-olds, and more than 1,000 fewer students over the age of 40. Going back to study full-time is an expensive choice as the government does not provide fee or maintenance loans for second degrees. The proportion of the population that has never been to university is naturally dwindling.

The number of 19-year-olds applying is down 12.6%, from 137,531 to 120,151. Source: The Guardian.

The effects of fee hikes, albeit deferred, for UK students and the abolition of the Post Study Work Visa (PSW) will mean that lower ranked UK Universities will start to feel the cold wind of change.

Government owned colleges and universities have received a massive boost following the demise of the private sector. After 4 July Tier 4 Immigration Rule changes last year overseas students can only work and sponsor their dependants if they study at government owned institutions.

With student agents in Asia reporting that students are now more attracted to study in Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the US, UK Universities may have to do more to attract overseas non-EU students to fill places – or start closing campuses and making redundancies.

See also:

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force

Student visa crackdown damaging our reputation abroad, Universities UK warns

MORE CHALLENGES FOR TIER 4 STUDENTS AS ‘3-YEAR RULE’ APPLIED

HIGHLY TRUSTED PRIVATE COLLEGE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS

Important UK Border Agency update for Tier 4 sponsors – educational oversight and other changes

New Tier 4 sponsor guidance published for Highly Trusted Sponsorship – will your private college qualify?

Post Study Work Visa to be abolished April 2012 as part of student visa clampdown

Free service launched to help overseas students study at UK Universities

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Looking for a Tier 4 college or University or need advice?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.

The agency said:

‘You must now book these appointments online, except in very limited circumstances. You can find out how to register online and book an appointment on the Booking an appointment (postal applications) page.

‘We have also introduced an email service to replace our biometric residence permit helplines (0300 123 2412 and 0300 123 4699).’ 

Applicants should now email:

BRPDelivery@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk if there is an issue with the delivery of your biometric residence permit;

BRPError@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk if there is an error on your biometric residence permit;

BRPLost@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk to report the loss or theft of a biometric residence permit; and

employerBRPverification@ukba.gsi.gov.uk if you are an employer or sponsor and you want to confirm that a biometric residence permit is valid.

If you do not have email access, you can send your enquiries by Freepost to:

Freepost RRYX-GLYU-GXHZ
Returns Unit
PO Box 163
Bristol
BS20 1AB

Source: UK Border Agency

See also:

Changes to English language tests for applications under Tiers 1, 2 and 4 of the points-based system announced by UKBA today

New fees for immigration and asylum appeals

7 tips for completing a Yellow Card BR1 application to work and study in the UK

With Yellow Card student applications for Bulgarians and Romanians taking 3 to 6 months to process, getting it right first time is vital. Bulgarians and Romanians exercising treaty rights as students under Yellow Card registration certificates are reporting that their applications are taking between three and six months to be processed and approved by the UK Border Agency Full story…

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

A recruitment agency in Bucharest is advertising 2,434 vacancies for British jobs according to the report.

The Romanian agency ‘tjobs.ro’ revealed that many of the UK-based posts were for medical staff, tourism workers and skilled staff.

And 25% of the unfilled roles on offer were for labourers and unskilled workers. The news comes as the number of jobless Brits hit a record 17-year high of 2.68million.

And yesterday Sir Andrew Green, chairman of campaign group Migration Watch UK, said: “One has to ask why employers feel the need to go abroad to recruit for these jobs.”

Unemployment in Britain currently stands at 8.4%, the worst figure since 1994.

The Daily Star revealed this month how 23 British jobs were lost for every 100 migrants let in.

A hard-hitting report by the Migration Advisory Committee showed 160,000 UK-born workers had missed out on employment since 1995 as a result of immigration.

The study looked at the problems immigration was causing for Britain’s stretched public services.

Researchers found average earnings have remained the same, but wages at the bottom have fallen. Source: Daily Star.

The question we should be asking is why British firms are advertising jobs in another EU country when so many unemployed workers are supposedly available to work on their doorstep?

The newspaper article does not point out that there are hundreds of thousands of job vacancies in the UK being advertised on a regular basis, and not all of these jobs vacancies are filled by local workers.

For instance, despite high UK unemployment healthcare support workers or care assistants are still desperately needed by employers who cannot fill vacancies locally.

Even though millions of British people are unemployed and the country’s economy in the doldrums, the care industry still has massive problems in finding care or support workers for the 20,000 plus homes. 

A recent search on one Government Job Centre Plus website, Job Seekers Direct Find a Job Now, revealed over 300 job vacancies within a 75 mile radius of central London region alone. 

Some employers are offering as much as £10.50 per hour, £4.57 above the national minimum wage, for a Health Care Assistant for a dementia care unit in London. 

The website quoted in the article offers jobs all over Europe. They appears to be mainly advertising vacancies for Au Pair, baby sitting and care jobs in the UK, all of which are hard to fill locally.

The news that employers are recruiting in Romania will surprise many as, despite being members of the European Union, Romanians cannot work in the UK as employees without permission.

Employers wishing to hire a Romanian, or fellow EU2 member citizens from Bulgaria, need to apply for a work permit and low skilled jobs do not normally qualify.

However, in the case of temporary low skilled workers, such as seasonal agricultural workers where there are always shortages, employers or agencies can apply to the UK Border Agency for a six month SAWS (Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme) permit.

SAWS allow farmers and growers in the UK to recruit low-skilled overseas workers to do short-term agricultural work only. The scheme works on a quota basis. Farmers and growers who participate in the scheme can employ a fixed number of overseas workers though the scheme each year. In 2010 and 2011 the quota is 21,250 places.

To be able to apply to come to the UK under the SAWS, you must be a national of Bulgaria or Romania. Workers get a work card which gives them permission to work in the UK under the scheme for a maximum of 6 months.

There is also a scheme for Au Pairs coming from Romania and Bulgaria, but this type of work is low paid and traditionally taken by students wishing to learn English.

Bulgarians and Romanians coming to the UK on Yellow Card registration permits can study and work full time on vocational courses such as NVQ or QCF courses in Health and Social Care or customer service by exercising their Treaty Rights under Article 39.  They can also apply for a self employed yellow card, but the application must be supported by a genuine case for setting up a business.

UK work restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals were recently extended until the end of 2013 by Immigration Minister Damian Green.

See also:

Employment restrictions for Bulgarians and Romanians extended until end of 2013

7 tips for completing a Yellow Card BR1 application to work and study in the UK

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

EU and non-EU workers take more UK jobs as number of Britons in work plunges

Health care workers needed in UK now

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk 

Majestic College offer special packages for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.

For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org

The Reverend Canon Dr John Magumba, 58, performed 31 bogus wedding ceremonies at two churches in Rochdale in the North west of England.

Magumba, originally from Uganda, pleaded guilty in December to conspiring to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law.

The shamed priest was jailed last week for two-and-a-half-years at Bolton Crown Court.

The father-of-six had also pleaded guilty to theft of more than £8,000 from his church councils by not declaring income from weddings and funerals.

The court heard that Magumba, originally from Uganda, “asked no questions” when marrying a stream of Nigerian men and eastern European women who went to his Rochdale parish.

He took on so many weddings involving foreign nationals that his diocese made him head of a party on how to spot sham marriages.

Fran Gough, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “He conducted these wedding ceremonies knowing full well that they were [shams], purely to assist non-EU citizens in their bid to gain UK residency.

“His dishonesty in effectively plundering church funds is also difficult to believe in someone whom others looked to for moral guidance.”

Magumba arrived in the UK in 2004 on an ecclesiastical visa, bringing his family with him from Uganda.

Investigators said that money was “always an issue” for him, that he had requested crisis loans from the Church and even asked parishioners for money to “clothe his children”.

He was arrested last March as part of an investigation by the UK Border Agency.

Sham marriages usually involve a non-European marrying an EU citizen to secure long-term residency, the right to work and the right to claim benefits in the UK. Source: BBC.

The conviction follows a series of successful crackdowns on marriage fraud by the UK Border Agency.

The agency has set up a special taskforce with the Church of England to detect sham marriages between European Union nationals and non-EU migrants trying to gain indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and UK naturalisation in the UK.

Each Diocese now has a ‘sham marriage officer’ who can pass on Vicars’ concerns over weddings to the immigration authorities.

See also:

Romanian man jailed for smuggling immigrants into UK

Church of England Vicar facing jail for 31 sham marriages for illegal brides and grooms

People smuggling gang ring leader jailed for 5 years

Sham marriage fixers jailed

EU and non-EU workers take more UK jobs as number of Britons in work plunges

Health care workers needed in UK now

HOW TO FIND APPLICATION FORMS FOR A ‘YELLOW’ OR ‘BLUE’ CARD REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE ON THE UK BORDER AGENCY WEBSITE

Free Movement of EU nationals explained

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

East London sham marriage couple jailed

Changes to English language tests for applications under Tiers 1, 2 and 4 of the points-based system announced by UKBA today

Judge attacks immigration ‘merry-go-round’ after Pakistani man made 16 applications to remain in UK at a cost of £250,000 to taxpayer

Immigrants on benefits – figures revealed

New fees for immigration and asylum appeals

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Majestic College offer special packages for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.

For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org

Damian Green is widely expected this week to outline the principles behind the Government’s new “selective” immigration policy that will give preferential treatment to investors, entrepreneurs and world-class artists, dancers, musicians and academics.

Under the planned reforms “fewer but better” immigrants will be allowed to settle in the UK, with those who lack the skills to “help drive economic growth” or contribute to UK culture facing greater scrutiny.

In an interview with The Sunday Times Mr Green said:

“What we need is a system that…goes out to seek those people who are either going to create jobs or wealth or add to the high-level artistic and cultural aspirations we have.

“Getting the number down is the absolute key but what I am aiming at is fewer and better.”

The Conservative MP said those wishing to live in Britain will have to show “genuine serious usefulness to British society” and prove they are not totally dependent on benefits.

He added:

“We want permanently to make Britain the most attractive country in the world for the brightest and the best. The era of mass immigration is over.”

According to Mr Green, the UK turned down 385,000 visas last year, detected 27,000 forged documents and is currently stopping 1,000 people getting on a UK-bound plane each month. Source: Press Association and The Sunday Times.

The coalition government shelved Labour’s ‘earned citizenship’ scheme when it came to power, but has always pledged to cut the numbers of migrants moving from temporary migrants to permanent settlement.

The details of the proposals are expected to be outlined this week by the Immigration Minister and will be published by Immigration Matters. However, the message seems clear that all but the highly skilled or investors will find it more difficult to obtain indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

The news will be a bitter blow to thousands of Tier 2 working migrants expecting to qualify for permanent residence after 5 years and eventually a British passport or UK naturalisation. However, the report did not confirm whether or not any Immigration Rule changes on settlement will be retrospective.

The moves will do nothing to stem the tide of migration from Eastern European countries such as Poland, although working restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanians will remain until the end of 2013.

Changes to English language tests for applications under Tiers 1, 2 and 4 of the points-based system announced by UKBA today 

UKBA tighten English language test requirement on Tier 1 and 2 working visa applications in the UK

Employment restrictions for Bulgarians and Romanians extended until end of 2013

7 tips for completing a Yellow Card BR1 application to work and study in the UK

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk 

Majestic College offer special packages for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.

For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has announced that from 6 April 2012 they will be removing the provision for applicants in the UK to apply for permission to stay here (leave to remain) before they have taken or received the results of an English language test. The revised policy applies to applicants applying under Tier 1 (General), Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 2 (Working Visa) of the points-based system.

Illegal immigrant criminal returns home with £1500 from the British taxpayer and sets up a business selling UK passports

In a bizarre story, according to several overseas press reports, an illegal immigrant who was caught arranging a sham marriage in Britain was able to leave jail early with £1,500 of taxpayers’ money, which he used to set up a business in Pakistan offering UK passports.

‘Pagan’ woman wins immigration appeal after denying polygamy

A pagan woman who lives with her lover and his wife, but denies it is a polygamous arrangement, has won a ‘right to family life’ immigration case

Human Rights distorted, British PM warns the Council of Europe, as many in the UK call for withdrawal from ECHR

British Prime Minister David Cameron has warned that the concept of human rights was being “distorted” – and even “discredited” – by controversial decisions in Europe.

Changes to English language tests for applications under Tiers 1, 2 and 4 of the points-based system announced by UKBA today

The UK Border Agency has announced a number of amendments to the list of approved English language tests for applications made under Tier’s 1, 2 and 4 of the points-based system and for spouse or partner applications.

Change to postal biometric appointment procedure and residence permit help

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has announced changes to their biometric appointment booking service removing telephone option and replacing it with an online system.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Looking for a Tier 4 college or University or need advice?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.

The revised policy applies to applicants applying under Tier 1 (General), Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 2 of the points-based system.

The UKBA said:

‘The concession was put in place when the English language requirement was introduced to allow migrants to make a visa application for leave to remain before they had taken an English language test or received the results at a time when availability of tests was not known.

‘Since the initial introduction of the English language requirement, English Language test availability has increased and test providers have increased availability in-line with demand. Migrants should now be able to take a test in good time before needing to make a leave to remain application.’

You will still to be able to take advantage of the concession for visa applications received up to and including 6 April 2012. Visa applications made after 6 April 2012 must be accompanied with evidence that applicants have passed an approved English language test.

For more information on the relevant requirements, please refer to the appropriate UKBA guidance notes:

Tier 1 (General) – Paragraph 139 onwards

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – Paragraph 141 onwards

Tier 2 – Paragraph 145 onwards

Earlier this week the UKBA announced a number of amendments to the list of approved English language tests for applications made under Tier’s 1, 2 and 4 of the points-based system and for spouse or partner applications. Changes have also been introduced to their biometric appointment booking service removing telephone option and replacing it with an online system.

See also:

Changes to English language tests for applications under Tiers 1, 2 and 4 of the points-based system announced by UKBA today

Change to postal biometric appointment procedure and residence permit help

Free service launched to help overseas students study at UK Universities

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Looking for a Tier 4 college or University or need advice?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.