The consultation sets out the government’s proposals for breaking the link between temporary and permanent migration.

Under the proposals, migrants coming to the UK to work on temporary visas will no longer be able to apply for settlement.

The key proposals include:

• re-branding Tier 2 (the skilled worker route) as temporary, ending the assumption that settlement will be available for those who enter on this route;
• allowing certain categories of Tier 2 migrant, such as those earning over £150,000 or occupations of a specific economic or social value to the UK, to retain an automatic route to settlement;
• creating a new category into which, after 3 years in the UK, the most exceptional Tier 2 migrants may switch and go on to apply for settlement;
• allowing Tier 2 migrants who do not switch into a settlement route to stay for a maximum of 5 years, with the expectation that they and any dependants will leave at the end of that time;
• introducing an English language requirement for adult dependants of Tier 2 migrants applying to switch into a route to settlement;
• restricting the maximum period of leave for Tier 5 temporary workers to 12 months; and
• closing or reforming routes for overseas domestic workers.

To date just 10,000 people have responded which, considering that hundreds of thousands will be affected by the ‘proposed’ changes, is pathetic.

If you would like to take part in the consultation, and have your views considered see the Consultations section of the UKBA website.

No point in moaning about it after the event. Now is the time to take part.

To participate in the public consultation on family migration, which will close on 6 October, visits Consultations.

In July Ministers announced plans plan to shut down what many see as an immigration loophole which grants illegal immigrants a permanent stay in the UK after 14 years whether they entered the UK legally or not.

Under a controversial concession, those who elude the authorities for 14 years can apply for indefinite leave to stay in the UK.

See also:

14 Year Long Stay Immigration Concession to be closed

UK Government launches far reaching consultation on family migration

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

The OISC has a duty to ensure that people providing immigration advice or immigration services are competent to do so. Its guidance on competence sets out the standards that advisers should meet.

Following the introduction of the points-based system and other important developments in immigration, the OISC is considering whether the guidance needs to be fundamentally changed. This consultation is an opportunity for advisers and other stakeholders to be involved in the OISC’s decision-making process, so that the future regulation of immigration advisers remains efficient and relevant to the changes happening in the wider immigration sector.

The consultation is open for 12 weeks, until 29 January 2010.

For further information on the consultation and details on how to respond, please see the OISC website.

How to choose an immigration adviser 

A simple way to verify an adviser’s status is to check that the adviser and firm are legally registered (as they must be) to give immigration advice on the OISC or the Law Society website. This does not of course verify that the person you are talking to is the adviser listed, but it is a good starting point. 

The OISC publish a useful guide: ‘How to choose an immigration adviser’ on it website. 

Before you put your trust in any professional you must do your own ‘common sense’ checks. For instance, does the person have an office you can visit or are they asking you to meet at a McDonalds or in a pub? I have met more than one candidate who handed over £2000 in cash to a person calling themselves a Solicitor in the East Ham branch of McDonalds. Both cash and ‘Solicitor’ were never to be seen again. 

Warning bells should also be sounding loud and clear in your head if the adviser is insisting you pay in cash or to a personal bank account. 

Be cautious of sending money to a person you have never met or cannot verify. There are of course many legitimate advisers which operate a telephone or internet based service, but do your own checks. 

Anyone can be impressed by a fancy website, but there’s nothing like checking out someone in person, face to face, at their premises.

Advisers should be giving you their business cards and terms of business outlining their fee structure. They should also be knowledgeable, professional and know what they are talking about. If in any doubt, walk away.

Finally, if the advice and solution being offered sounds ‘too good to be true’, it probably is. 

Just as most financial frauds are perpetuated by investor’s greed to obtain unrealistic returns, immigration victims pay money to illegal advisers because they promise something honest advisers have told them cannot be done. 

If you would like to share your ‘immigration advice’ experience with our readers, write your comments below.

Related articles: 

Home Office announce tough new regulations for immigration advisers

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

Immigration has kept the capital growing despite Brits, many born and bred in the bustling capital, moving out of the city and into the suburbs in their droves.

Figures released earlier this year show London grew by 1.8 million in the 10 years to 2007, taking into account migrants coming from abroad against those leaving the country.

But the metropolis lost the largest number of people through internal migration of any area in the UK.

A mass exodus saw two million (26% of the city’s 2007 population) leave the capital for other parts of Britain – with only 1.6 million moved to London from the regions. A net loss of 344,558 people.

However, London had by far the biggest level of net international migration of any city – almost 1.8 million more people moving there from abroad than leaving the capital to live outside the UK.

Over the decade, deaths in London and internal migration to other areas of the UK meant population actually rose by only 370,000. The South-East was the most popular region for people to move to from elsewhere in the UK, leading to a net increase of 550,889.

For more information on England’s capital and one of the great cities on the planet see London Line - http://www.londononline.co.uk/factfile/population/ and Visit London – http://www.visitlondon.com/  

London and the South East of England will continue to attract more migrants because it remains the most prosperous part of the UK and one of the wealthiest regions in the world.

Migrants and students have a better chance of finding work around London, which is teaming with hotels, shops, bars and restaurants, and more tourist attractions than almost anywhere on earth.

This week I asked a number of students at Majestic College taking NVQ courses, such as Health and Social Care and Customer Service, how long it took them to find a job – which they need to cover the practical ‘on the job’ learning as part of their course. Almost all the student visa holders, living in the South East, had found jobs within a month of landing in the UK.

One young Filipina Customer Service student said she had applied for ten jobs before securing a part time position at St Mary’s hospital in Paddington as a Food Service Hostess. I asked how she landed this job and she said:

“I just walked in with my CV and asked if they had any vacancies.”

London is also a magnet for an estimated half a million overstayers and illegal immigrants, which is why Mayor Boris Johnson favours an amnesty for illegal immigrants against his own party line. See London Mayor Boris Johnson favours amnesty for illegal immigrants

The UK has a population of over 60 million, with 7.5 million people living in London alone. London receives around 30 million tourists a year, with over 90 million passing through UK ports. Heathrow is the world’s busiest international airport. 

The Borders Citizenship and Immigration Bill, expected to become law later this year, will make it harder to settle in the UK, affecting Work Permit holders, for instance, Senior Carers and Nurses, and other hoping to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or British Citizenship. 

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

See also: Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill will make it harder to settle in the UK

In a week when London’s temperature soared to 32 degrees, Home Secretary Alan Johnson ordered the UK Border Agency to review its rollout of compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals, with a view to accelerating the process. But at the same he appears to be making a ‘U turn’ on mandatory ID cards for British Citizens.

The agency has already issued 50,000 ID cards for foreign nationals legally living and working in the United Kingdom, and expects that all within three years foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will need to have an ID card if they are coming to the UK for longer than six months or extending their stay. Full Story.

Italy adopts new law criminalising illegal immigration

Italy takes a hard line on immigration in a move that harps back to its fascist era under Mussolini. Last week Italy’s Parliament approved a law criminalising illegal immigration and allowing citizens’ patrols to help the police keep order

Deportation reprieve for skippers and Filipino Fishermen

Deportation reprieve for Filipino Fishermen, but the loophole which allows non EU workers to be employed “off-shore” can lead to exploitation. We have met a number of Filipino workers employed by UK companies on vessels off-shore without a Work Permit. Several were forced to jump ship because of extremely low pay and poor working conditions.

London’s first Swine Flu death but no need to panic

The BBC reports that a 19-year-old man has died after contracting swine flu in London, the fourth fatal case in the UK. However, to put this into perspective, the UK has a population of over 60 million, with 7.5 million people living in London alone.

Scotland wants own immigration system

The new Australian-style “points system”, which has been recently brought in by Home Office, requires new immigrants to amass enough points, based on factors such as a employment, skills shortages and community links to gain entry to the United Kingdom. Last week the Government published the latest approved Shortage Occupations List for Tier 2 of the points based system, which includes Care Assistants.

Visa requirement for South Africans starts today

The announcement is clearly designed to reassure the public that the Labour Government is taking steps to secure and strengthen Britain’s borders.

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

Work Permit holding Senior Carer collects her passport from her immigration adviser, Bison UK, today which now includes an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) sticker. 

Violeta came to the UK in 2003 on a tourist or visitor’s visa and after discovering there was an opportunity to obtain a Work Permit, decided to stay. 

With the help of Bison UK, she was able to switch her visit visa to a Work Permit and visa whilst in the UK, an option no longer available. 

Bison UK later helped her to extend her Work Permit and bring her daughter to the UK on a Dependant Visa. 

Five years on, Violeta and her 18 year old Daughter, Stephanie, both passed the Life in the UK test and successfully applied for Indefinite Leave to Remain. 

Her adviser, Evelie Padadac (pictured right) of Bison UK was delighted that ILR was granted for both Mother and Daughter, who was at a “critical age”. 

She plans to apply for British Citizenship next year, which she hopes will still be available despite the Citizenship Bill currently going through Parliament. We wish them both good luck! 

The Borders Citizenship and Immigration Bill, expected to become law later this year, will have far reaching effects on Filipino and other Work Permit holders, for instance, Senior Carers and Nurses, hoping to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or British Citizenship. 

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

See also:

Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill will make it harder to settle in the UK

UK Government to cut migrant benefits

The agency has already issued 50,000 ID cards for foreign nationals legally living and working in the United Kingdom, and expects that all within three years foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will need to have an ID card if they are coming to the UK for longer than six months or extending their stay.

The UK Border Agency website said that the Government plans to speed up the rollout of identity cards for British Citizens. But other reports suggest otherwise, with David Davis refuting the claim in a BBC report, and The Independent describes the move, in terms of compulsary cards for British Citizens, as the “Last rites for ID cards“.

An independent Identity Commissioner will be appointed in the near future to oversee the National Identity Service, but compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals will continue to be overseen by the Information Commissioner and the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency.

Speaking on BBC’s Question Time this evening, Leader of the House Harriot Harmon refused to confirm that the Government would force British people to carry ID Cards.

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

The offender was sentenced to 24 weeks’ imprisonment, but because he has already served time on remand will be immediately deported.

Gil Elecana Fresco, a ship’s cook from Manila, was sentenced for being knowingly concerned in the importation of five pornographic DVDs.

The 45-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence at Southampton Crown Court on 30 June 2009,  after the case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office.

Fresco was intercepted by UK Border Agency detection officers from HM Cutter ‘Searcher’ in the Solent on 1 April 2009. Officers discovered the obscene material during a search of Fresco’s cabin on the oil tanker MV ‘Donizetti’. The vessel had sailed from Rotterdam, Holland. Officers from HM Revenue & Customs then took over the investigation.

Tim Fleming, senior criminal investigation officer at HM Revenue & Customs, said:

‘Our message is clear. We will not tolerate criminals who attempt to import this distasteful and offensive material into the UK. Customs investigators will continue to work closely with UK Border Agency officers to protect society from this appalling trade.

‘We would urge anyone with information about this type of crime to call the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.’

The UK Border Agency are sending out a clear message to anyone thinking about bringing in illegal material.

See also:

Do not bring your fake Louis Vuitton handbag to London

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

Visitors will be fingerprinted and checked against watch-lists before being issued with entry clearance to travel.

The Government say the new rules were introduced to counter passport and identity fraud.

The move follows the first global review of who needs a visa to come to the UK for a short-term visit.

Visa regimes for visitors have now been imposed on five new countries – Bolivia, Venezuela, South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.

The Government has carried out a “global assessment” of all non-European countries to “determine the level of risk their citizens potentially pose to the United Kingdom in terms of illegal immigration, crime and security”.

People from over 100 countries now require a visa to come to the UK, and the UK Border Agency has already collected more than four million fingerprints from people applying for visas worldwide.

Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

‘Already our shake-up of border security is delivering results, with fingerprint visas helping us catch thousands of people trying to hide their true identity or a criminal past.

‘Today sees visa checks come into effect in the remaining countries that failed to pass our strict visa waiver test.

‘I am determined that the UK Border Agency should continue to strengthen the border and 2009 is the year of delivery. As well as applying greater scrutiny to visitors, we are being more selective about who can work in the UK and coming down hard on rule breakers.’

In February, Home Secretary Alan Johnson pledged to make a number of immigration changes including a commitment to increase detention space by opening a 426-bed immigration removal centre Brook House.

This facility near Gatwick Airport enables the Government to continue to “remove record numbers of foreign lawbreakers from the United Kingdom – with the Government vowing to send home a further 5,800 by the end of this year”. 

The Government claims the points based system has ensured migration matches the country’s needs, with employers having to advertise all skilled ‘tier 2′ jobs to resident workers through JobCentre Plus before they can bring migrant workers in from outside Europe. 

The criteria for highly skilled migrants under Tier 1 has also been tightened by raising the qualifications and salary level required for highly skilled workers to a Masters degree and a minimum salary of £20,000.

The announcement is clearly designed to reassure the public that the Labour Government is taking steps to secure and strengthen Britain’s borders. 

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

Most migrants coming to the UK from tropical countries, like the Philippines and India, expect the weather to be freezing cold all year round, packing their huge suitcases with coats, jumpers and even blankets.

To be fair, for the most part they are right to anticipate chilly winds and rain. Just a few weeks ago in the middle of June students arriving at London’s Majestic College were remarking how cold it felt when natives were sweltering, said Centre Manager Cynthia Barker.

Britain copes well with winter weather, but is not equipped for scorching summers.

Air conditioning is not available in every building and and is still a rarity in most peoples homes. The massive London underground network is almost unbearable on a day like today.

But the bottom line is you cannot survive without central heating for nine months of the year, whereas you can suffer a few weeks of British summer.

My advice to migrant workers or students arriving from anywhere south of Spain is to expect to feel the cold here from September to April. Although hardy Brits will happily wear a tee-shirt in November, you will probably need thermal underwear and a woolly sweater when you are still in the house!

For full weather reports check the BBC website – http://www.bbc.co.uk/ 

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

A Whitehall whistleblower has lifted the lid on chaos in the immigration system, disclosing that more than one in three successful visa applications by Pakistanis “lacked credibility”. 

A secret internal report, leaked to The Sunday Times by an official in the UK Border Agency, discloses how travel permits were granted without even the most basic of checks. 

A Borders Agency source claimed that the report – commissioned more than two years ago – was “effectively shelved” and that the concerns raised by Chris Taylor, an official sent to Pakistan to investigate, were ignored by senior managers. 

The report highlighted bogus bank accounts, letters of introduction from non-existent British companies and “tourists” who left their wives and children at home. 

Up to 10,000 young Pakistanis are granted student visas each year and tens of thousands more come to Britain as tourists or business travellers. The security services believe a small minority hope to carry out terrorist attacks. 

Taylor warned: “More checks and interviews could have been undertaken.” Hinting at possible corruption, he also identified some officials “who have issued more than their fair share” of suspect visas. 

The Home Office insisted the immigration system had improved significantly since the damning 2006 report. 

However, Chris Grayling, the shadow home secretary, described the report as “profoundly disturbing”. 

“It reveals the chaos in our immigration system,” he said. “Given the much publicised terrorism issue in relation to Pakistan, it raises the question: has the government left a gaping loophole in our security?”

Source: The Times 

Immigration Matters Comment

Entry Clearance Officers at busy British Embassy visa sections in countries like Pakistan, India and Nigeria handle thousands of visa applications a week, a high proportion of which are refused. Whilst it is not inconceivable that a certain number of cases slip through the net, Immigration Matters receives a large volumes of emails from Pakistani visa applicants who have been refused and wish to appeal.

Embassies are subject to regular visits, lasting up to three months, by independent monitors.

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