Immigration News Weekly Round up 05 February 2012
Immigration News Weekly Round up 05 February 2012
How will the new ‘minimum salary for residency’ proposals affect you?
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.
Human rights decisions led to ‘ridiculous and damaging’ situation, says UK Immigration Minister
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.
Settlement in UK to be linked to a minimum salary of £31,000 says Immigration Minister
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.
UKBA Postal biometric appointments and residence permit reporting change to online service
As announced last month the UK Border Agency has now closed their telephone booking line for postal applicants in the UK who want to make appointments to enrol their biometric information.
Romanian workers offered UK jobs while 2.7 million claim benefits
British employers are offering thousands of jobs to Romanian workers as UK unemployment soars to a record high, the Daily Star claims. A recruitment agency in Bucharest is advertising 2,434 vacancies for British jobs according to the report. The news that employers are recruiting in Romania will surprise many as, despite being members of the European Union, Romanians cannot work in the UK as employees without permission.
UKBA tighten English language test requirement on Tier 1 and 2 working visa applications in the UK
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has announced that from 6 April 2012 they will be removing the provision for applicants in the UK to apply for permission to stay here (leave to remain) before they have taken or received the results of an English language test. The revised policy applies to applicants applying under Tier 1 (General), Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 2 (Working Visa) of the points-based system.
Illegal immigrant criminal returns home with £1500 from the British taxpayer and sets up a business selling UK passports
In a bizarre story, according to several overseas press reports, an illegal immigrant who was caught arranging a sham marriage in Britain was able to leave jail early with £1,500 of taxpayers’ money, which he used to set up a business in Pakistan offering UK passports.
‘Pagan’ woman wins immigration appeal after denying polygamy
A pagan woman who lives with her lover and his wife, but denies it is a polygamous arrangement, has won a ‘right to family life’ immigration case
Changes to English language tests for applications under Tiers 1, 2 and 4 of the points-based system announced by UKBA today
The UK Border Agency has announced a number of amendments to the list of approved English language tests for applications made under Tier’s 1, 2 and 4 of the points-based system and for spouse or partner applications.
