Skilled migrants from outside the EU will be barred from a further 70,000 jobs, including vets and orchestral musicians, under the latest revision of shortage list, published on Monday.

The Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) recommendations, which are likely to be endorsed by the Home Secretary Theresa May, are for the list be slashed to cover 190,000 employees (not migrants) or well under 1 per cent of the UK workforce.  

The list previous covered over 1 million jobs in 2008, when the points based system was introduced by the previous government, before the MAC recommended changes.

The occupations, which are also subject to an annual limit of 20,700, are the only positions open to migrants from outside the European Economic Area under the shortage occupation route of Tier 2 of the of Points Based System.

The latest MAC recommended list provides a more detailed breakdown of the sectors of the labour market affected by shortage. This has enabled the MAC to identify individual job titles rather than broader occupations.

Professor David Metcalf CBE, Chairman, MAC, said:

‘Although the proportion of the labour market covered by our new recommended list is lower than before, our recommendation will have only a limited impact on migration volumes because overall migration through Tier 2 is limited. However, the list is more selective than before: it is targeted specifically on those job titles where there is currently a clear evidence of shortage.

‘We think it is vital that the government, employers and the training sector take concerted action to raise the skill levels of the UK workforce, especially in long-standing shortage occupation areas. This will reduce the UK’s reliance on migrant workers in the long term and provide real benefits for the economy as a whole.’

A total of 29 job titles are recommended for removal from the list. They include: secondary school biology teachers; consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology; paediatric surgery; nuclear medicine and paediatric dentistry; veterinary surgeons; and tutti orchestral musicians.

The 33 jobs are to be added to the list including: consultants in emergency medicine; actuaries; specific roles within the visual effects and 2D/3D computer animation for film; television and the video games sectors; high integrity pipe welders; environmental scientists; and operations managers in the decommissioning areas of the nuclear industry and geochemists.

The news will come as a blow to the thousands of non-EU migrants and students hoping to obtain Tier 2 working visas in the UK, but there are still opportunities in almost 200,000 jobs. 

A report earlier this month revealed that nine out of ten people who joined the workforce last year were foreign nationals.

In the health care sector employers are increasingly turning to EU workers from A8 countries and A2 Bulgaria and Romania to fill hundreds of vacancies.

Despite high UK unemployment healthcare support workers or care assistants are still desperately needed by care home employers who cannot fill vacancies locally.

The changes do not affect EU workers, but restrictions remain on Bulgarian and Romanian citizens.

Despite the fact that they are EU members, when it comes to employment Bulgarian and Romanian citizens do not have the same rights as other Europeans, for instance from Poland, Slovakia or other A8 Accession countries. 

Those who exercise their Treaty Rights (under Article 39) and apply for an accession card as self employed persons or as students taking vocational or sandwich courses (e.g. NVQ/QCF in Health and Social Care), are allowed to work full time, as stated on their Yellow Cards, but they have to apply for this and jump through several hoops.

Romanian Student receives Yellow Card at Majestic College

See also: 

Do we actually need foreign nurses, especially those with poor English who are a risk? Lord Winston asks  

Comprehensive Sickness Insurance now required for Bulgarian and Romanian study work yellow cards 

UK firms plan to recruit more EU migrants to fill job vacancies Health care workers needed in UK now 

Crimes by EU citizens treble figures reveal 

BR1 Form for ‘Yellow Card’ Registration revisedImmigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals  

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 

STILL CONFUSED BY YELLOW CARD RULES? 

Free presentations are being run at Bison UK Immigration Advisers for Employers, Romanians and Bulgarians – Monday to Friday, from 11am-12noon and 3-4pm. No need to book, just turn up.Venue: 16 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1DL. Nearest Train Station: Elstree and Borehamwood Station; Buses from Edgware underground station: 107 and 292.

A fresh wave of law centre closures and redundancies is feared as the government introduces plans for an additional 10% cut in legal aid fees.

The proposal is being laid before parliament by the Ministry of Justice to cut costs in what it alleges is the “most expensive legal aid system in the world”.

The move comes as another legal advice charity, Law for All, based in Ealing, west London, went into liquidation, blaming the anticipated reduction in fees.

The MoJ’s latest 10% cut comes on top of the 12.5% imposed by Labour in the final days of the last government. The ministry is expecting political opposition once parliament resumes – a debate in the Commons and possibly a judicial review challenge in the courts.

Law for All employed 70 lawyers and other staff. It provided advice and legal support to around 15,000 clients a year in several west London boroughs as well as parts of East Anglia and Staffordshire.

In a farewell statement, the charity said: “Changes to the administration of publicly funded legal work have resulted in an unsustainable administrative burden … not to mention reduced payments in real terms.

“These factors – combined with current plans by the government to cut legal aid payments by a further 10% this autumn and to almost completely end legal aid in October 2012 – have led the trustees, reluctantly, to conclude that there is no hope of a viable, long-term future for Law For All.”

The closure of Law for All follows the collapse of two other legal advice charities – the Immigration Advisory Service and Refugee Migrant Justice – in the past year. Both blamed cuts in legal aid for their difficulties.

As well as reducing legal aid fees, the government’s Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill proposes to save a further £350m by withdrawing legal aid from across a wide range of cases involving welfare, medical negligence, housing and family issues. It is expected to meet stiff resistance in the Lords this autumn.

The government’s intention to impose the additional 10% cut had been signalled previously. It will come into force in October for criminal and civil cases and next February for family cases unless it is voted down by MPs.

The government’s response to legal aid reform proposals last summer acknowledged that “solicitors in particular argued that the proposed cuts in their [civil and family] fees would make legal aid work unviable, and would deter experienced practitioners from undertaking this work”.

Steve Hynes, director of the Legal Action Group, said: “We fear we are going to get more insolvencies after Law for All because [the costs] of doing legal aid won’t stack up.

“The government promised a fund of £20m to help law centres because a third or a half of them could close. We haven’t heard where this money is going to be spent.

“A lot of these lawyers are on salaries of £28,000 to £30,000 a year. That’s less than a primary school teacher with three years’ experience. They are not well paid.” Source: The Guardian.

See also:

Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) in Administration

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

Can family dependants of Tier 4 Students work while studying in the UK?

Home Office can revoke British Citizenship as well as deny it for civil offences

14 Year Long Stay Immigration Concession to be closed

UK University places filling up faster than last year

Comprehensive Sickness Insurance now required for Bulgarian and Romanian study work yellow cards

If you need any immigration advice or are worried about the new immigration rules or need 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

‘We are currently experiencing technical problems with our online system for booking UK appointments. You may be unable to book an appointment at our public enquiry offices or biometric enrolment centres in the UK.

‘We are working to rectify this problem as quickly as possible, and will update this news story when it has been resolved.

‘We apologise for any inconvenience. There is no need to contact us about this.’ Ends.

See article:

UK Border Agency launch new website

The newly revised UK Border Agency website has a better look and feel and navigation seems faster, but previously published links to specific pages of the site may no longer exist.

For instance, the link for European Workers is now:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/applying/

The link for ‘Bulgarian and Romanian nationals‘ is:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/

The UK Border Agency and Home Office website contains a vast amount of information which can be difficult to wade your way through the guidance and Immigration Rules.

The navigation section for European workers from Bulgaria and Romania also appears to have been simplified although finding specific information is still a challenge.

Confusion remains over the need for Bulgarians and Romanians applying for BR1 Yellow Cards as students to take out Comprehensive Sickness Insurance cover. 

The BR1 Form in Section 9 states:

‘If sections 4 (Students) and 5 (Self-sufficient) have been completed: evidence of ‘Comprehensive Sickness Insurance’ cover in the UK and funds to show you are economically self-sufficient, e.g. a bank statement.’

In other words, the paragraph means you need comprehensive sickness insurance only if you are applying under both ‘student’ and ‘self sufficient’ sections.

Nevertheless, student applicants are being asked to take out private medical insurance policies and are being refused if they fail to supply the correct cover.

What is the correct insurance cover?

One insurance company manager told Immigration Matters that he has been trying to get clarification on the exact requirements from the UK Border Agency for several weeks.

Active Quote offers an easy to use online quotation and application system, but also has telephone support from advisers who are on hand to answer questions.

To obtain a quotation for Comprehensive Sickness Insurance visit the Active Quote website.  

See article:

UK Border Agency launch new website

The newly revised UK Border Agency website has a better look and feel and navigation seems faster, but previously published links to specific pages of the site may no longer exist.

For instance, the link for European Workers is now:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/applying/

The link for ‘Bulgarian and Romanian nationals‘ is:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/

The UK Border Agency and Home Office website contains a vast amount of information which can be difficult to wade your way through the guidance and Immigration Rules.

The navigation section for European workers from Bulgaria and Romania also appears to have been simplified although finding specific information is still a challenge.

Confusion remains over the need for Bulgarians and Romanians applying for BR1 Yellow Cards as students to take out Comprehensive Sickness Insurance cover. 

The BR1 Form in Section 9 states:

‘If sections 4 (Students) and 5 (Self-sufficient) have been completed: evidence of ‘Comprehensive Sickness Insurance’ cover in the UK and funds to show you are economically self-sufficient, e.g. a bank statement.’

In other words, the paragraph means you need comprehensive sickness insurance only if you are applying under both ‘student’ and ‘self sufficient’ sections.

Nevertheless, student applicants are being asked to take out private medical insurance policies and are being refused if they fail to supply the correct cover.

What is the correct insurance cover?

One insurance company manager told Immigration Matters that he has been trying to get clarification on the exact requirements from the UK Border Agency for several weeks.

Active Quote offers an easy to use online quotation and application system, but also has telephone support from advisers who are on hand to answer questions.

To obtain a quotation for Comprehensive Sickness Insurance visit the Active Quote website. 

If you need any immigration advice or are worried about the new immigration rules or need 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

STILL CONFUSED BY YELLOW CARD RULES?  

Free presentations are being run at Bison UK Immigration Advisers for Employers, Romanians and Bulgarians – Monday to Friday, from 11am-12noon and 3-4pm. No need to book, just turn up. Venue: Bison Management UK, 16 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1DL. Nearest Train Station: Elstree and Borehamwood Station; Buses from Edgware underground station: 107 and 292.

The Birmingham Crown Court heard that Shacky Herbert Mukwakwami, 49, of West Bromwich provided immigration advice and related services without authorisation from the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).

Mukwakwami, who traded as Bridge-Gap Human Resources, continued to trade illegally, taking advantage of vulnerable people even after proceedings against him were started in November 2010.

When handing down the sentence, Recorder Abigail Nixon told Mukwakwami: “You’re a thoroughly dishonest con man trying to extort money from vulnerable people.”

The Immigration Services Commissioner, Suzanne McCarthy, added: “The victims in this case were in a desperate situation and Mukwakwami exploited them for his own financial gain.

“Illegally providing immigration advice is a serious matter and ruins lives.”

The prison sentence was suspended for two years but Mukwakwami must do 150 hours of community service and pay £8,575 in compensation and costs. Source: New Zimbabwe.

Earlier this year another crooked immigration advisor from West Drayton, who created bogus documents for foreign nationals wanting visas, was been jailed for six years.

Through his Uxbridge-based practice Immigration Experts UK Ltd, Harpreet Dhall, 34, drew up false employment histories for clients who were applying for visa extensions, to make it look like they were in highly-skilled or well-paid jobs.

There are also a large number of internet based scams offering jobs and UK work permits/Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS), which should be avoided. 

UK based Immigration Advisers are regulated by the OISC and can be found on their website: http://oisc.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Applicants are advised to treat these so called offers with extreme caution and, where appropriate to go through the proper channels or use approved agencies to gain employment abroad.

The golden rule is: NEVER send money to unknown persons for work permit processing or other fees.

International students hoping to get a work permit are also easy prey for unregistered bogus immigration advisers.

Students whose visas are about to expire are duped into paying thousands of pounds to crooks, usually from their own country, who promise them work permits, but fail to deliver.

Some were advised to submit FLR forms for a Tier 2 visa to the UK Border Agency, without even obtaining a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from an employer, just before the visa expiry date knowing that it will be refused.

Clients are then forced to lodge an appeal against removal directions, which is not only expensive but extremely risky and dubious.

See also:

Immigration advisor jailed for 6 years in fake visa scam

Visa scam warning

Wanted by UK Government – 1000 exceptionally talented migrants

Illegal worker arrested in UKBA raid, but employers still confused by rules for Bulgarian and Romanian workers

UK Government launches far reaching consultation on family migration

Romanians top migration list

Sham wedding trio charged

How to avoid the pitfalls when employing migrant workers

Non-EU students fear “Britain is closed for business”, but is this true?

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

CONFUSED BY YELLOW CARD RULES?

Free presentations are being run at Bison UK Immigration Advisers for Employers, Romanians and Bulgarians – Monday to Friday, from 11am-12noon and 3-4pm. No need to book, just turn up.

Venue: Bison Management UK, 16 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1DL. Nearest Train Station: Elstree and Borehamwood Station; Buses from Edgware underground station: 107 and 292

Police stopped a wedding ceremony at Belfast City Hall on Wednesday.

Shuli Lin, a 46-year-old Chinese national, was charged with seeking to obtain leave to remain in the UK by deception.

Robert John Nicholl, 54, from Castlerock, County Londonderry, and Ye Wang, the 19-year-old daughter of Ms Lin were charged with assisting unlawful immigration.

The trio appeared before Laganside Magistrates on Thursday.

Ms Lin was remanded in custody. Mr Nicholl and Ms Wang received bail.

A Chinese man who was acting as a witness to the ceremony has also been referred for prosecution.

The wedding was stopped following an investigation into the organisation of sham marriages by the UK Border Agency.

Earl Aiken, senior criminal investigator for the UK Border Agency, said they were determined to identify marriages that may not be genuine.

“Where we suspect that may be the case we will investigate,” he said.

“We have specialist teams of immigration officers and police working together to investigate cases just like this and ensuring people are not able to benefit from breaking the UK’s immigration laws.” Source: BBC

A sham marriage typically occurs when a non-European national marries someone from the UK or another country in the European Economic Area, as a means of trying to gain long-term residency and the right to work and claim benefits in this country.

See also:

Bride and groom charged following sham marriage raid in Northern Ireland

‘Sham marriage’ couple in court

UK Government launches far reaching consultation on family migration

Woman launches Judicial Review in bid to bring her Indian husband to UK

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals 

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

Pre Tier 4 students in the UK under the Immigration Rules that were in place before 31 March 2009 

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force 

How to avoid the pitfalls when employing migrant workers

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 new category is for 1000 people who are internationally recognised as world-leading or potential world-leading talent in the fields of science and the arts.

Applications under Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) must be made from abroad.

You cannot apply if you are already in the UK.

To find out whether and how you can apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) visa, see the Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) section of the UK Border Agency website.

The UK government will encourage exceptionally talented leaders in the fields of science, humanities, engineering and the arts to come to the UK, it announced this week.

The new Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) category opened on 9 August 2011. This new category will facilitate not only those who have already been recognised but also those with the potential to be recognised as leaders in their respective fields.

A limit of 1,000 places in the first year of operation will apply. But there will be 500 places available between the 9 August and 30 November and a further 500 places available from the 1 December to 31 March 2012. The number of places will be reviewed at the end of March 2012.

Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) will be overseen by world-renowned ‘competent bodies’, which will advise the UK Border Agency on these ‘exceptionally talented’ migrants to ensure that they are the brightest and best in their field:

• the Royal Society, a fellowship of the world’s most eminent scientists, will be able to nominate up to 300 places;
• Arts Council England, the national development agency for the arts, will also be able to nominate up to 300 places;
• the Royal Academy of Engineering, Britain’s national academy for engineering, will have up to 200 places to nominate; and
• the British Academy, the national academy for the humanities and social sciences will be able to nominate up to 200 places.

See also:

Healthcare workers needed now

Wanted by UK Government – 1000 exceptionally talented migrants

Illegal worker arrested in UKBA raid, but employers still confused by rules for Bulgarian and Romanian workers

Romanians top migration list

How to avoid the pitfalls when employing migrant workers

Non-EU students fear “Britain is closed for business”, but is this true?

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

CONFUSED BY YELLOW CARD RULES?

Free presentations are being run at Bison UK Immigration Advisers for Employers, Romanians and Bulgarians – Monday to Friday, from 11am-12noon and 3-4pm. No need to book, just turn up.

Venue: Bison Management UK, 16 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1DL. Nearest Train Station: Elstree and Borehamwood Station; Buses from Edgware underground station: 107 and 292.

Administrators were called in after Choices Care suffered continuing cash flow difficulties.

The Livingston-based group employs 1,400 staff and provides supported living, home care and residential services.

Administrators at Zolfo Cooper said services were continuing uninterrupted.

The supported living division has already been sold to Mears Care Scotland Limited, with about 500 staff transferring to their new employer with immediate effect.

Zolfo Cooper said the registered services and home care divisions would continue to trade as normal with a view to selling them as going concerns.

The administrators said they had already received inquiries “from a number of interested parties”.

All staff employed in the divisions would continue to be employed as normal.

Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health Jackie Baillie MSP said:

“This must be an extremely worrying time for those cared for by Choices Care, their families and staff.

“The SNP government must intervene to ensure arrangements are urgently put in place to ensure the continuity of care of all those currently cared for by Choice Care.

“This demonstrates that it is not just elderly care that is in crisis, but care services more widely.

“There is a fundamental issue that underlines why Choices Care has gone into administration. The SNP government and local authorities need to realise that if you want good quality services then they need to be properly funded.” Source: BBC.

This is the second major care group to go bust in a less than a month.

In July Southern Cross went under shut down after landlords owning all 752 of its care homes pulled the rug.

Help for Work Permit holders in fear of losing their status

The UK Border Agency is setting up new arrangements for skilled workers who came here under work routes, such as Work Permits, or schemes that have now closed, in order to extend their stay in the UK to a total of 5 years.

Cynthia Barker of Bison UK Immigration Advisers said:

‘This sad another blow for thousands of staff, particularly those on work permits, who will now have to find another Tier 2 Sponsoring employer, and Romanian and Bulgarian Yellow Card holders who now face a break in employment which could delay obtaining a blue card residence permit.

‘Southern Cross Work Permit holders from the Philippines have already been through the 2007 rule change ‘minimum salary’ turmoil, which saw many have to leave the UK or switch to student visas and caused many to suffer a break in their employment, which has made it more difficult to obtain indefinite leave to remain (ILR).’ 

If you are affected by the Care Choices or Southern Cross closures and need immigration advice or help finding a new employer, contact Bison UK on 0208 905 1822 or visit their offices. 

Despite high UK unemployment healthcare support workers or care assistants are still desperately needed by employers who cannot fill vacancies locally.With millions of British people unemployed and the country’s economy in the doldrums, in theory the care industry should have no problems in finding care or support workers for the 20,000 plus homes.  Full story…

See also:

Healthcare workers needed now

Southern Cross care home group to shut down

UK Border Agency announce rules to extend of stay for skilled workers in ‘closed’ work schemes

New ‘Yellow Card’ form causing confusion for Romanians and Bulgarians

BR1 Form for ‘Yellow Card’ Registration revised

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force

If you are affected by the closure of any nursing home and need any immigration advice, or are worried about the new immigration rules, or need 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

Two chefs and a waitress were found to be working illegally at Wah Hing, on East Street, during the raid on Tuesday. A fourth man was also arrested when he was seen trying to flush one of the suspect’s wallet and mobile phone down the toilet. All were hauled off to Newquay police station.

Earlier the same day a 31-year-old chef working at Phuket Thai restaurant in Cheltenham Place was arrested for breaching the conditions of his visitor’s visa. The officers acted after collecting intelligence from local sources, according to the UK Border Agency.

Kenny Chapman, who heads the UK Border Agency’s local immigration team for the South West, said: “This series of successful operations shows that we are committed to tracking down immigration offenders wherever they are.

“Our officers are carrying out regular raids targeting immigration offenders and more are planned. We will not tolerate illegal working which undercuts wages and exploits vulnerable workers. All restaurants now face fines of up to £10,000 for each illegal worker.”

When the Cornish Guardian contacted Wah Hing restaurant on Monday, acting manager Elli Fu said it was sometimes difficult to keep a close check on staff, especially when they were on short-term contracts.

She said: “We don’t know all the people who work here very well. Some are only here for one or two weeks. Everything is legal now. Everything is fine.”

A report from the agency reveals that the three people arrested at Wah Hing on Tuesday were: a 25-year-old waitress, who was discovered to be a failed asylum seeker; a 24-year-old male chef, who was staying in the country illegally after his visa expired; and a 17-year-old male chef from China.

The man and woman have been transferred to immigration detention and are awaiting deportation, along with the chef from the Phuket Thai restaurant.

The Chinese teenager has been released pending an outstanding immigration application while the 26-year-old man who tried to dispose of the wallet and phone has accepted a police caution for obstructing an immigration officer.

To avoid a fine, an employer must provide evidence that the correct right-to-work checks were made before the offenders were taken on.

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on thousands of companies which fail to carry out legally-required checks on their staff.

Anyone who has information on suspected immigration offenders can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Source: Cornish Gaurdian. 

Despite high UK unemployment healthcare support workers or care assistants are still desperately needed by employers who cannot fill vacancies locally. With millions of British people unemployed and the country’s economy in the doldrums, in theory the care industry should have no problems in finding care or support workers for the 20,000 plus homes. Full story… 

See article:

UK Border Agency launch new website

The newly revised UK Border Agency website has a better look and feel and navigation seems faster, but previously published links to specific pages of the site may no longer exist.

For instance, the link for European Workers is now:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/applying/

The link for ‘Bulgarian and Romanian nationals‘ is:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/

The UK Border Agency and Home Office website contains a vast amount of information which can be difficult to wade your way through the guidance and Immigration Rules.

The navigation section for European workers from Bulgaria and Romania also appears to have been simplified although finding specific information is still a challenge.

Confusion remains over the need for Bulgarians and Romanians applying for BR1 Yellow Cards as students to take out Comprehensive Sickness Insurance cover. 

The BR1 Form in Section 9 states:

‘If sections 4 (Students) and 5 (Self-sufficient) have been completed: evidence of ‘Comprehensive Sickness Insurance’ cover in the UK and funds to show you are economically self-sufficient, e.g. a bank statement.’

In other words, the paragraph means you need comprehensive sickness insurance only if you are applying under both ‘student’ and ‘self sufficient’ sections.

Nevertheless, student applicants are being asked to take out private medical insurance policies and are being refused if they fail to supply the correct cover.

What is the correct insurance cover?

One insurance company manager told Immigration Matters that he has been trying to get clarification on the exact requirements from the UK Border Agency for several weeks.

Active Quote offers an easy to use online quotation and application system, but also has telephone support from advisers who are on hand to answer questions.

To obtain a quotation for Comprehensive Sickness Insurance visit the Active Quote website.  

See article:

UK Border Agency launch new website

The newly revised UK Border Agency website has a better look and feel and navigation seems faster, but previously published links to specific pages of the site may no longer exist.

For instance, the link for European Workers is now:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/applying/

The link for ‘Bulgarian and Romanian nationals‘ is:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/

The UK Border Agency and Home Office website contains a vast amount of information which can be difficult to wade your way through the guidance and Immigration Rules.

The navigation section for European workers from Bulgaria and Romania also appears to have been simplified although finding specific information is still a challenge.

Confusion remains over the need for Bulgarians and Romanians applying for BR1 Yellow Cards as students to take out Comprehensive Sickness Insurance cover. 

The BR1 Form in Section 9 states:

‘If sections 4 (Students) and 5 (Self-sufficient) have been completed: evidence of ‘Comprehensive Sickness Insurance’ cover in the UK and funds to show you are economically self-sufficient, e.g. a bank statement.’

In other words, the paragraph means you need comprehensive sickness insurance only if you are applying under both ‘student’ and ‘self sufficient’ sections.

Nevertheless, student applicants are being asked to take out private medical insurance policies and are being refused if they fail to supply the correct cover.

What is the correct insurance cover?

One insurance company manager told Immigration Matters that he has been trying to get clarification on the exact requirements from the UK Border Agency for several weeks.

Active Quote offers an easy to use online quotation and application system, but also has telephone support from advisers who are on hand to answer questions.

To obtain a quotation for Comprehensive Sickness Insurance visit the Active Quote website. 

See also:

Illegal worker arrested in UKBA raid, but employers still confused by rules for Bulgarian and Romanian workers

Healthcare workers needed now

Indian Restaurant owner jailed for employing illegal immigrants

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals 

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

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

STILL CONFUSED BY BR1 YELLOW CARD RULES?

Free presentations are being run at Bison UK Immigration Advisers for Employers, Romanians and Bulgarians – Monday to Friday, from 11am-12noon and 3-4pm. No need to book, just turn up.

Venue: 16 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1DL. Nearest Train Station: Elstree and Borehamwood Station; Buses from Edgware underground station: 107 and 292.

Following an investigation into the organisation of sham marriages, officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the UK Border Agency stopped a wedding on Monday 1 August at Armagh Register Office, between a Latvian woman and a Pakistani man.

The couple were taken to Banbridge police station where they were charged with attempting to evade UK immigration laws.

Muhammad Naeem Aslam, a 22-year-old Pakistan national, appeared before Armagh Magistrates Court on Tuesday 2 August charged with seeking to obtain leave to remain in the UK by deception.

The bride, 21-year-old Latvian national Jolantea Juska, and her sister, 26-year-old Jana Juska, who acted as witness to the marriage, also appeared at Armagh Magistrates today and were both charged with assisting unlawful immigration.

They were all remanded in custody to re-appear at a later date.

In a separate operation, also on Monday 1 August, a marriage that was due to take place at Belfast City Hall was stopped and after questioning The groom, a 21-year-old Pakistani national, was arrested by officers for overstaying the conditions of his visa.

A sham marriage typically occurs when a non-European national marries someone from the UK or another country in the European Economic Area, as a means of trying to gain long-term residency and the right to work and claim benefits in this country.

UK Border Agency senior criminal investigator Earl Aiken said:

‘The UK Border Agency is determined to identify marriages that may not be genuine, and where we suspect that may be the case we will investigate.

‘We have specialist teams of immigration officers and police working together to investigate cases just like this and ensuring people are not able to benefit from breaking the UK’s immigration laws.’ Source: UK Border Agency.

See also: 

‘Sham marriage’ couple in court

UK Government launches far reaching consultation on family migration

Woman launches Judicial Review in bid to bring her Indian husband to UK

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals 

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

Pre Tier 4 students in the UK under the Immigration Rules that were in place before 31 March 2009 

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force 

New ‘Yellow Card’ form causing confusion for Romanians and Bulgarians

Immigration News weekly round up 10 July 2011

BR1 Form for ‘Yellow Card’ Registration revised

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

Home Office ministers need to order an official assessment of the likely scale of legal migration to Britain should Turkey join the European Union, a Commons committee has urged.

Turkey has a special arrangement called the Ankara Agreement under which Turkish nationals can regularise their status after arriving in the UK.

Ministers do not want to repeat the experience of 2004 when Poland and other east European states joined and an annual net migration prediction of 13,000 turned out to be over one million and still rising. Source: The Guardian.

Not all new members of the EU have been offered full working rights by the established European nations.

Germany, France and Italy did not initially offer the A8 citizens free movement of labour, which is why so many flocked to Britain, Ireland and Sweden, the three countries which did open its doors and gave access to their labour markets.

When the so called A2 countries, Bulgaria and Romania, joined the EU restrictions on working were imposed by the UK.

A fact often overlooked by employers and employment agencies is that, despite the fact that they are EU members, when it comes to employment of-eu-nationals-explained.html” Bulgarian and Romanian citizens do not have the same ‘free movement’ rights as other Europeans, for instance from Poland, Slovakia or other A8 Accession countries.

Bulgarians and Romanians tend to work on a ‘self employed’ basis, with or without a yellow card/BR1 Registration document.

Employers cannot ‘employ’ a chef, waiter or care worker on a self employed basis (whether or not they are Romanian/British or European) when that person is clearly a full time employee.

However, large employers and even NHS Trusts get around this law by using agencies which in turn ‘employ’ the workers on a self employed contract.

If a Bulgarian or Romanian citizen wants to be legally employed there are two options: 

• Obtain a Yellow Card or BR1 registration card by studying
• Get the employer to apply for a work permit

The work permit route is not so easy since it involves ‘work’ for an employer to apply for the permit! Employers do not like the hassle of filling in forms and most of the jobs would not qualify as they tend to be low skilled.

The study route provides a quick and easy road to a Yellow and Blue residence card, but it will involve paying fees and studying.

Students taking vocational (NVQ/QCF) courses, which offer both classroom and work based training, are allowed to work full time subject to conditions.

See article:

UK Border Agency launch new website

The newly revised UK Border Agency website has a better look and feel and navigation seems faster, but previously published links to specific pages of the site may no longer exist.

For instance, the link for European Workers is now:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/applying/

The link for ‘Bulgarian and Romanian nationals‘ is:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/

The UK Border Agency and Home Office website contains a vast amount of information which can be difficult to wade your way through the guidance and Immigration Rules.

The navigation section for European workers from Bulgaria and Romania also appears to have been simplified although finding specific information is still a challenge.

Confusion remains over the need for Bulgarians and Romanians applying for BR1 Yellow Cards as students to take out Comprehensive Sickness Insurance cover. 

The BR1 Form in Section 9 states:

‘If sections 4 (Students) and 5 (Self-sufficient) have been completed: evidence of ‘Comprehensive Sickness Insurance’ cover in the UK and funds to show you are economically self-sufficient, e.g. a bank statement.’

In other words, the paragraph means you need comprehensive sickness insurance only if you are applying under both ‘student’ and ‘self sufficient’ sections.

Nevertheless, student applicants are being asked to take out private medical insurance policies and are being refused if they fail to supply the correct cover.

What is the correct insurance cover?

One insurance company manager told Immigration Matters that he has been trying to get clarification on the exact requirements from the UK Border Agency for several weeks.

Active Quote offers an easy to use online quotation and application system, but also has telephone support from advisers who are on hand to answer questions.

To obtain a quotation for Comprehensive Sickness Insurance visit the Active Quote website.  

See article:

UK Border Agency launch new website

The newly revised UK Border Agency website has a better look and feel and navigation seems faster, but previously published links to specific pages of the site may no longer exist.

For instance, the link for European Workers is now:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/applying/

The link for ‘Bulgarian and Romanian nationals‘ is:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/

The UK Border Agency and Home Office website contains a vast amount of information which can be difficult to wade your way through the guidance and Immigration Rules.

The navigation section for European workers from Bulgaria and Romania also appears to have been simplified although finding specific information is still a challenge.

Confusion remains over the need for Bulgarians and Romanians applying for BR1 Yellow Cards as students to take out Comprehensive Sickness Insurance cover. 

The BR1 Form in Section 9 states:

‘If sections 4 (Students) and 5 (Self-sufficient) have been completed: evidence of ‘Comprehensive Sickness Insurance’ cover in the UK and funds to show you are economically self-sufficient, e.g. a bank statement.’

In other words, the paragraph means you need comprehensive sickness insurance only if you are applying under both ‘student’ and ‘self sufficient’ sections.

Nevertheless, student applicants are being asked to take out private medical insurance policies and are being refused if they fail to supply the correct cover.

What is the correct insurance cover?

One insurance company manager told Immigration Matters that he has been trying to get clarification on the exact requirements from the UK Border Agency for several weeks.

Active Quote offers an easy to use online quotation and application system, but also has telephone support from advisers who are on hand to answer questions.

To obtain a quotation for Comprehensive Sickness Insurance visit the Active Quote website. 

See also:

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals 

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

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

STILL CONFUSED BY YELLOW CARD RULES?

Free presentations are being run at Bison UK Immigration Advisers for Employers, Romanians and Bulgarians – Monday to Friday, from 11am-12noon and 3-4pm. No need to book, just turn up.

Venue: 16 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1DL. Nearest Train Station: Elstree and Borehamwood Station; Buses from Edgware underground station: 107 and 292.

For information on vocational courses visit http://www.majesticcollege.org/