Following yesterday’s announcement by the UK Immigration Minister, Damian Green, that under new proposals migrants seeking permanent settlement, or Indefinite Leave to Remain, will be required to earn between £31,000 and £49,000 per annum, Immigration Matters has been inundated with questions from worried work permit holders such as Senior Care Workers, Nurses and Domestic Workers.
The UK Immigration Minister Damien Green has warned that the way courts interpret the human right to family life has led to a “ridiculous and damaging situation” and risks a “dangerous” stand off between parliament and judges.
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. 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.
As millions prepare for the greatest sporting spectacle on earth, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has announced that from 1 January 2012 they will start processing visitor visas for those coming from outside the UK to watch the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The UK Border Agency has announced that the ‘apply online’ service for applicants in the UK will be unavailable between 08:00 and 23:59 on Saturday 3 December 2011 for essential maintenance work.
Finally one of the main migrant groups are taking up the cases of thousands of Tier 4 students who have been left stranded like refugees in a war zone during the UK Border Agency’s relentless student visa crackdown on private colleges.
A UK Border Agency immigration officer has admitted to illegally issuing visas to non-qualifying immigrants allowing them to stay in the UK. Samuel Shoyeju, 53, of Namur Road, Canvey, Essex, worked as an entry clearance officer in Croydon for the UK Border Agency, part of the Home Office.
The UK Border Agency has announced that Tier 2 changes will come into effect from today.
In a blog for the Guardian this week, Nicola Dandridge of Universities UK warns that tough talk on immigration will frighten away the talent our colleges need. The government’s recent measures to clamp down on net migration, and limit the right of genuine students and staff to come into the country to study and work in universities, is playing badly internationally. UK universities are losing top students and staff to other countries whose governments are more welcoming. Students from the Indian subcontinent in particular are choosing to go to other competitor countries, with some UK universities reporting drops of 30% or more.
As the Home Office reveals 11,000 drop in the number of overseas students since tougher measures introduced, UK Universities warns that not only is the government’s action damaging Britain’s reputation, but was also responsible for 400 private colleges effectively opting out of the new Tier 4 sponsoring system.