1946

Winston Churchill calls for a “kind of United States of Europe” in a speech at Zurich University.

1949

France, UK and the Benelux countries decide to set in place a Council of Europe.

1950

Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister, proposes that France, Germany and any other European country wishing to join pool coal and steel resources.

1951

Treaty of Paris signed by the Six (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands), establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

1957

Treaties of Rome establish the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).

1958

First session of the European Parliamentary Assembly held in Strasbourg, France. Robert Schuman is elected President of the Assembly.

1959

July, seven countries of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) – Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK – decide to establish a European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

1961

UK applies to join the Community.

1962

The Parliamentary Assembly changes its name to the European Parliament.

1963

General de Gaulle declares that France doubts the political will of the UK to join the Community.

1965

The Treaty merging the executives of the three Communities (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) is signed in Brussels; enters into force on July 1, 1967.

1967

UK re-applies to join the Community.

1972

Referendum in Norway on joining; majority votes against.

1973

January: Denmark, Ireland and the UK join the European Communities.

1974

April: foreign secretary James Callaghan makes statement to the Council on the new Labour government’s policy on the Community. Calls for major changes in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), “fairer methods of financing the Community budget” and solutions to monetary problems.

December: the Community’s heads of state or government decide to hold meetings three times a year as the European Council, agree direct elections to the European Parliament, resolve to set up the European Regional Development Fund and establish economic and monetary union.

1975

June: British referendum shows 67.2 per cent in favour of UK remaining a member of the Community.

1978

European Council establishes the European Monetary System based on a European currency unit (the ECU) and the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). The Ecu has some characteristics of a real currency and is used in travellers’ cheques and bank deposits. ERM gives national currencies a central exchange rate against the Ecu. All the community’s members apart from the UK join the ERM.

1979

First direct elections to the European Parliament.

1981

January: Greece becomes 10th member of the European Community.

1984

February: draft Treaty on the establishment of the European Union passed by the European Parliament.

June: European Council in Fontainebleau agrees on the amount of rebate to be granted to the UK.

1985

European Council in Luxembourg agrees to amend the Treaty of Rome and to revitalise integration by drawing up a Single European Act.

1986

1 January: Spain and Portugal join the Community.

February: Single European Act signed, aiming to create a Single Market by 1992, and reforming the legislative process to speed this up.

May: the European flag, adopted by Community institutions, flown for the first time in front of the Berlaymont building, HQ of the Commission in Brussels.

1987

Turkey formally applies to join.

1990

European Council held in Rome launches two Intergovernmental Conferences, one on Economic and Monetary Union, the other on Political Union.

1992

February: Maastricht Treaty on the European Union is signed, leading to creation of the euro, and the “pillar” structure of the European Union: the European Community (EC) pillar, the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) pillar, and the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) pillar.

June: in a referendum, Denmark votes against ratification of Maastricht Treaty.

1993

January: Single European Market enters into force.

May: in a second referendum, Danes vote in favour of Maastricht.

1995

January: Austria, Finland and Sweden join the Union, bringing membership to 15.

March: Schengen Agreement comes into force between Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, lifting border control.The UK and Ireland stay out of the agreement due to fears of terrorism and illegal immigration.

1997

Amsterdam Treaty signed, emphasising citizenship and the rights of individuals, more powers for the European Parliament, the beginnings of a common foreign and security policy (CFSP).

1998

Establishment of the European Central Bank.

1999

Entire Commission led by Jacques Santer resigns following report by the Committee of Independent Experts on allegations of fraud, mismanagement and nepotism.

2000

September: Danes vote against joining the single currency.

December: formal proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

2001

February: Treaty of Nice signed, reforming the institutional structure of the European Union to allow for eastward expansion.

June: Irish vote against the Treaty of Nice in a referendum.

2002

January 1: euro coins and notes enter circulation in the 12 participating member states: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

October: in a second referendum, the Irish people vote in favour of Nice.

2004

May: European Union’s biggest enlargement ever as 10 new countries join – Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia.

October: the Heads of State and Government and EU foreign ministers sign the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

2005

May: French voters reject ratification of the European Constitutional Treaty.

June: Dutch voters reject ratification of the Treaty.

2007

January: Bulgaria and Romania join the EU, bringing membership to 27.

2008

June: Ireland’s voters rejected Lisbon Treaty.

2009

June: European Parliament elections, the biggest transnational elections in history, with 736 MEPs elected to represent 500 million Europeans

October 2: Irish vote again on Lisbon again

Source: Daily Telegraph   

The eastward enlargement of the EU has had the biggest impact on UK immigration since the 1950’s when commonwealth citizens started migrating from the West Indies and India to fill vacant jobs. 

Over one million Eastern Europeans have migrated to the UK since 2004, however, many have since returned home. 

Immigration figures released by the Home Office last month show that last year the total number of ‘A8′ citizens coming to Britain from the former Eastern Bloc states dropped by more than a quarter from 109,000 to 79,000.

But the numbers heading back to their homelands more than doubled, from 25,000 to 66,000.

The trend, which follows a combination of a tightening of low skilled jobs, a falling pound and booming economies back home, helped drive down net immigration to 118,000, a drop of 44 per cent and the lowest since the EU expansion five years ago.

Related articles:

As East European workers leave UK in droves what effect will the exodus have on the Care Sector?

Eastern European workers continue to leave UK

Immigration and asylum statistics released by Home Office 

Immigration in the slump: Newcomers still needed says Guardian

MAC report on points-based system

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

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

Immigration figures released by the Home Office this week show that last year the total number of ‘A8′ citizens coming to Britain from the former Eastern Bloc states dropped by more than a quarter from 109,000 to 79,000.

But the numbers heading back to their homelands more than doubled, from 25,000 to 66,000.

The trend, which follows a combination of a tightening of low skilled jobs, a falling pound and booming economies back home, helped drive down net immigration to 118,000, a drop of 44 per cent and the lowest since the EU expansion five years ago.

Karen Dunnell, the Government’s chief statistician, said the figures were likely to be due to the economic downturn.

She said: ‘You have to say that probably unemployment and the economic situation, given that quite a lot from the A8 countries are coming to work, is probably having an impact.’

An estimated one million people have flocked to the UK since Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the EU in 2004.

The Government faced severe criticism at the time for opting to give all new EU citizens free access to UK labour markets, while other major countries such as Germany, France, Italy and Spain imposed strict curbs. 

Migrant workers from Eastern Europe have always been more transient than their Asian or African counterparts. 

For this reason the Government should continue to keep the door open to non EU skilled migrant workers.

Whilst the catering and building industries have attracted large numbers of Polish and other Eastern European workers, the care sector still struggles to attract and retain EU and resident workers. 

In order to recruit staff from outside the UK employers must register as Sponsors under Tier 2 of the Points based system.

Under Tier 2, employer sponsors effectively have the power to issue a Sponsorship Certificate (which replaced the old Work Permits last November), to an overseas migrant worker before the information is verified by a UK Border Agency case worker. 

But a Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer does not guarantee you a working visa, and getting through the process is not as simple as it first appears.

The high £7.80 minimum salary level imposed by the UK Border Agency is another bar to employing non EU workers.

However, the Government did follow the independent Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendation that the qualification threshold for overseas Social Care Workers be changed to NQF Level 2, the relevant experience reduced to just two years and the minimum salary cut from £8.80 to £7.80. 

Despite the cut, the revised minimum salary level still remains far too high for many employers. 

Evelie Padadac of Immigration Adviser’s Bison UK said:

“I have already been advising clients about this shortage occupation list for Care Assistants, but the difficulty is that most employers are not willing or able to pay £7.80 per hour”. 

The introduction of the points-based system has already seen a reduction in the number of skilled workers from outside Europe coming to Britain from 69,000 through the old work permit route in 2008 to an estimated 50,000 this year.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which reports to the Government on employment trends, recently published a report on the points system.

It is widely expected that the recommended changes put forward by MAC will slash the annual flow of 50,000 skilled non-EU migrants into Britain.

The committee’s Chairman, Professor David Metcalf, said the points-based immigration system should act as an “automatic stabiliser and not be constantly adjusted in response to the economic cycle”.

He added that the changes they were proposing would be put forward regardless of whether there was rising unemployment. “They are not a knee-jerk reaction to the recession,” he said.

Whilst immigration is still a political ‘hot potato’, the Government must not forget that independent care homes still depend heavily on Filipino, Indian and African workers, many on student visas, to look after their vulnerable residents.

Related articles:

Eastern European workers continue to leave UK

Immigration and asylum statistics released by Home Office 

Immigration in the slump: Newcomers still needed says Guardian

MAC report on points-based system

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

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

Asylum and Immigration figures released by the Home Office this week show that last year the total number of ‘A8′ citizens coming to Britain from the former Eastern Bloc states dropped by more than a quarter from 109,000 to 79,000.

At the same time the number returning to their homelands more than doubled, from 25,000 to 66,000.

The trend, which follows a combination of a tightening of low skilled jobs, a falling pound and booming economies back home, helped drive down net immigration to 118,000, a drop of 44 per cent and the lowest since the EU headed east.

Karen Dunnell, the Government’s chief statistician, said the figures were likely to be due to the economic downturn.

She said: ‘You have to say that probably unemployment and the economic situation, given that quite a lot from the A8 countries are coming to work, is probably having an impact.’

An estimated one million people have flocked to the UK since Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the EU in 2004.

The Government faced severe criticism at the time for opting to give all new EU citizens free access to UK labour markets, while other major countries such as Germany, France, Italy and Spain imposed strict curbs. 

Migrant workers from Eastern Europe have always been more transient than their Asian or African counterparts. 

For this reason the Government should continue keep the door open to non EU skilled migrant workers to keep the UK economy moving.

Whilst the catering and building industries have attracted large numbers of Polish and other Eastern European workers, the care sector still struggles to attract and retain EU and resident staff. 

Care homes still depend heavily on Filipino, Indian and African workers, many on student visas, to look after the sick and elderly.

Related article: Immigration and asylum statistics released by Home Office 

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

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

Figures show that work applications from the eight EU accession countries have continued to fall in 2009.

In the second quarter of this year there were 26,150 applications from workers in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia and the Czech Republic – down from 46,070 in the same period in 2008.

The number of Bulgarian and Romanians applying for accession worker cards also continues to fall. There were 580 applications in the second quarter of 2009, a fall of 43 per cent, compared to the same quarter in 2008.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) published figures earlier today that show net-migration fell to 118,000 in 2008, from 209,000 in 2007, the lowest since the eight accession countries joined the EU in 2004.

In the first half of 2009, 30,435 people illegally in the United Kingdom were removed or voluntarily departed from the country, including 2,550 foreign prisoners. The latest figures also confirm that a total 67,980 people were removed or voluntarily departed in 2008.

Individuals seeking asylum in the United Kingdom has remained broadly at the same level over the past four years. It is less than a third of the level when it peaked in 2002. Applications for asylum in the second quarter of 2009 were 6,045 compared with 5,830 in quarter two 2008. The Home Office is now “concluding” 60 per cent of new asylum cases within six months.

Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

‘The fall in net-migration is further proof that migrants come to the UK for short periods of time, work, contribute to the economy and then return home. Our new flexible points based system gives us greater control on those coming to work or study from outside Europe, ensuring that only those that Britain need can come.

‘Britain’s borders are stronger than ever before. Our border controls in northern France are stopping record numbers of migrants reaching our shores – 28,000 in 2008.

‘We are rolling out ID cards to foreign nationals, we have introduced civil penalties for those employing illegal workers and from the end of next year our electronic border system will monitor 95 per cent of journeys in and out of the UK.

‘The British people can be confident that immigration is under control.’

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

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

It is estimated that around six million Brits are living abroad for more than one year at any given time and one place they are making their mark is the Philippines. 

In an article which appeared in the ‘Inquirer’, Belinda Olivares-Cunanan and Cecile Alvarez invited outgoing British Ambassador Peter Beckingham and his wife Jill to their dzRH radio program to talk about the UK’s presence in the Philippines. 

Peter Beckinham informed the hosts the UK was the third largest investor after the US and Japan from 2000 to 2008 period, but last year it became the biggest direct foreign investor due mainly to big investments in the energy sector and human resources. 

HSBC alone employs over 6,000 Filipinos in Manila in back-office work and HSBC’s CEO has said they are going to hire more. 

The pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline employs over 1,000 people in the Philippines while Unilever manufactures products for the region with over 3,000 local people. 

In addition, new British companies have moved into Taguig City, including an IT company called Logica, which plans to hire 2,000 people, Strategic Back-Office Solutions, which renders support service for many multinationals, and the manufacturer of Johnny Walker. 

Among the other UK companies operating in Manila are MySis, an IT company, and another firm where an all-Filipino staff does architectural and engineering work for construction companies in Dubai. 

Symbolic of UK confidence in the Philippines is that the visa-issuing operations of its new, ultra-modern embassy building in Taguig acts as a regional hub processing visas from other SE Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea. The job is handled by 50 Filipino personnel under supervision of the British consul.

The lesson in the growing UK presence here, said Beckingham, is that “sometimes the Philippines underestimates its own capabilities.”

Citing the Filipino’s advantages such as their knowledge of English, their warm and caring qualities that the people of the UK appreciate in the quarter of a million Pinoys working in Britain, and their adaptability to various situations, the ambassador stressed that what the Philippines needs to do is “to bang the drums abroad” about the great opportunities for investment here.

In this regard, he said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is doing “great work.” It also delivers a strong message to our young people aspiring to ride on the crest of global technology.

The ambassador’s lady said that when they leave, “we take away heavy hearts and also a suitcase of happy memories,” including her involvement in two charity organizations.

One is the Philippine Christian Foundation, founded by Janet Walker, which runs an elementary school for some 400 children in Tondo, Manila.

The school adds a grade each year, so that next year it will offer first-year high school. Its target enrollment is 1,000 children. Its setting is most unique: from an old dilapidated warehouse, the school has moved to a “recycled” site which is most fitting, as Jill observed, for families that live on recycling. A total of 72 abandoned container vans were piled up into four-story buildings, which at the moment look a lot like sardine cans piled on top of the other.

But when construction is finished, one will not recognize the container vans. The school will be formally inaugurated next January, and Jill, who has pledged to continue raising funds for the school, will return for it.

Jill was also deeply involved in CRIBS, a foundation that takes care of abandoned and sexually abused children.

She used to travel from North Forbes to Marikina every week to teach the older children English. She said her close ties with them are among the things that make saying goodbye difficult.

Another thing she will sorely miss is the Embassy residence’s sprawling garden where giant Doña Aurora and Doña Luz plants are in bloom all year round. 

During their four year posting, the Beckinghams went all over the country, taking in the unspoiled beauty of El Nido, Palawan, and roughing it up with the whale sharks in Donsol, Sorsogon. 

Peter, in a farewell piece in the Inquirer, quoted James Hamilton-Paterson who wrote that the Philippines is “encased in such beauty, such affection and zest as to stop the heart.” 

Former Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo was right when he said that Beckingham was “Her Majesty’s true and loyal servant, but he was also a good friend to our people and country.” 

Source: The Philippine Enquirer

The British Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines helps promote British business interests in the country, as well as providing a valuable social and business network for the British residents. 

Earlier this month I was lucky enough to attend the ‘Farewell to Peter and Jill’ party, held at the Makati Penninsula Hotel, organised by the chamber. 

Thanks to Chairman Leslie Stokes and his able team the event was a fantastic success.

The affection and respect for Peter and Jill was obvious to all, and they will be missed.

For more information on the British Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, visit their website at: http://www.bccphil.com

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

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

Filipina NVQ Student obtains a 3 years visa after being refused by the British Embassy in Manila.

Her visa was refused last November after she has submitted the VAF herself.  

The case was overturned this month, following an appeal, prior to a full hearing scheduled for 11 August 2009 at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) in London. 

She was helped by Immigration Advisers, Bison UK, which has successfully handled hundreds of entry clearance appeals. 

The student has now reported to Majestic College, and will shortly start her NVQ Health and Social Care Course. 

Visa appeals have been abolished for student visa refusals applying under Tier 4 in line with new ‘points based’ rules.

Students refused entry clearance under Tier 4 of the points based system, which took effect on 31 March 2009, will now have their cases reviewed by an ECM (Entry Clearance Manager) under the new ‘Administrative Review’ system.

Refusals under paragraph 57 of the previous immigration rules will still be allowed a full appeal. Therefore, if your student visa application (VAF) was submitted before 31 March 2009 (which are still being processed at larger Embassies), you should still have the right of appeal.

Fortunately, this student has the opportunity to appeal and the benefit of an OISC regsitered Immigration Adviser, Bison UK, handing her case at the AIT.

Overseas students are worth £8 billion to the UK economy, according to the Home Office. 

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

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

www.majesticcollege.org

www.recruitnurse.com

www.visaappeals.com

As a result of damage to the Asia-Pacific Cable Network in the South China Sea and the subsequent loss of IT/Internet Systems, the British Embassy regrets to announce that there are likely to be delays in processing applications for UK visa and British passports.

 As soon as we have precise information, this will be posted on our website www.ukinthephilippines.fco.gov.uk and will appear in the local press.

CONSULAR SECTION
 BRITISH EMBASSY MANILA

As yet another Filipino NVQ Student wins a Visa appeal, in the UK at the AIT (Asylum and Immigration Tribunal), after being refused by the British Embassy in Manila, we are receiving an alarming number of reports of pedantic refusals under Tier 4, for which there is no appeal.

Visa appeals have been abolished for student visa refusals applying under Tier 4 in line with new ‘points based’ rules.

Students refused entry clearance under Tier 4 of the points based system, which took effect on 31 March 2009, will now have their cases reviewed by an ECM (Entry Clearance Manager) under the new ‘Administrative Review’ system.

ECM’s reviewing cases under the old appeal system almost always upheld their officers refusal and appellants ad to go all the way to a full hearing for justice to be served up by an Immigration Judge.

Entry Clearance Officers (ECO) now have a far more narrow scope under which they can refuse a Tier 4 application, as student visa refusals must be based on factual information, such as a forged document or incorrect visa letter. For instance, if the applicant submitted a false bank statement or the college produce a letter for the wrong course.

The UK Border Agency assured educational providers at several meetings in London that the new system will be more straightforward and that the ‘culture’ in Embassies would change.

But it appears that some ECO’s are still upholding the tradition and culture of looking for any excuse to deny a student visa application.

Tier 4 only started just over three months ago, yet student applicants are already reporting that they have been refused for reasons such as the college not stating the word ‘General’, as in ‘General Student Visa’, on the visa letter.

Others complain that they are denied over a missing phrase in the letter, which leads the ECO to conclude “on the balance of probabilities…etc, etc, etc”.

In other words it’s ‘business as usual’ down at your local visa post.

Refusals under paragraph 57 of the previous immigration rules will still be allowed a full appeal. Therefore, if your student visa application (VAF) was submitted before 31 March 2009 (which are still being processed at larger Embassies), you should still have the right of appeal. Fortunately, this student has the opportunity to appeal and the benefit of an OISC regsitered Immigration Adviser, Bison UK, handing his case at the AIT. He has now reported to Majestic College, where he will start his NVQ Health and Social Care Course.

If you have any ’Tier 4′ horror stories, share them with Immigration Matters in the comments section below, which will be reported to the UK Border Agency. 

Overseas students are worth £8 billion to the UK economy, according to the Home Office. It is vital that these issues are dealt with quickly by the Government, otherwise educational providers and the economy ar large will lose out.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

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

“Are you pregnant?”, the Immigration Officer enquired when she landed at London’s Heathrow Airport.

NVQ student, Diane, eventually makes it to London after her entry clearance or visa was refused and later overturned by the British Embassy in Manila, following an appeal by Bison UK.

But on arrival Diane was forced to jump through some further hoops by UK Border Immigration Officers at Heathrow. She was questionned about her intentions to study and then she was sent to the medical section.

Fortunately, she was able to prove she had been examined in the Philippines and did not have to undergo an examination.

She was also asked by officers if she was pregnant – she is not!

The Filipina is taking NVQ Courses at Majestic College in the UK.

She received a warm welcome from the team and fellow students at the NVQ training Centre in Borehamwood, where she met fellow Pinoys. The college helped her with formalities such as opening bank accounts and applying for travel discounts.

She is on a student visa to study NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) in Health and Social Care – www.majesticcollege.org.

Immigration Adviser Bison UK has arranged her visa, appeal and paid work placement in a UK care home.

Visa appeals have been abolished for student visa refusals applying under Tier 4 in line with new ‘points based’ rules. Students refused entry clearance under Tier 4 of the points based system, which took effect on 31 March 2009, will now have their cases reviewed by an ECM (Entry Clearance Manager) under the new ‘Administrative Review’ system.

Refusals under paragraph 57 of the previous immigration rules will still be allowed a full appeal. Therefore, if your student visa application (VAF) was submitted before 31 March 2009, you should still have the right of appeal.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

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

Student visa holder reports to Majestic College just hours after landing at Heathrow in the UK.

She received a warm welcome from the team and fellow students at the NVQ training Centre in Borehamwood, where she met fellow Pinoys. The college helped her with formalities such as opening bank accounts and applying for travel discounts.

She is on a 3 year student visa to study NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) in Health and Social Care.

Bison UK has arranged a paid work placement in a UK care home.

www.majesticcollege.org

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

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