Once full, the former prison will accommodate 392 men in order to facilitate their removal from the UK. They will include illegal over-stayers and failed asylum seekers as well as foreign national prisoners.

Immigration removal centres (IRCs) give the UK Border Agency the ability to detain people while their removal from the UK is being organised. They also ensure that foreign national prisoners due for deportation are not allowed back into the community before they are removed. Last year more than 16,500 people were removed from the UK directly from removal centres.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said:

“A tough system of enforcement and removal is one of the cornerstones of our reformed immigration system. This new facility is a welcome addition to the UK Border Agency’s estate and will help us remove more individuals who have no right to be here.

“Let the message be clear, the UK is no longer an easy touch for illegal immigrants. We are reforming the system to make it more effective to ensure those with no right to be here are removed.”

The first detainees were accepted into the IRC last month and the centre will be fully operational by September this year.

The opening of this new centre now means that the UK Border Agency can hold up to 3,400 people in detention at any one time. This will allow more foreign nationals with no right to be here to be removed from the UK in the coming years.

The unveiling of additional detention space comes as the UK Border Agency is intensifying enforcement activity across the country to crackdown on the people organising and driving immigration crime like illegal working, sham marriages and bogus colleges.

The government has already launched two nationwide enforcement campaigns and the UK Border Agency’s enforcement activity has resulted in 1,400 arrests, 330 prosecutions and 260 removals. Source: UK Border Agency.

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

The Local Government Association (LGA) said about 5,500 road closure requests had now been received, compared to 4,000 three weeks ago, the BBC reports this week.

Hertfordshire tops the list with 298 requests, with Surrey second at 205.

London’s boroughs have dealt with more than 800 road closure requests, while Cardiff has approved 53 and Bristol 54. Newcastle has had 32 applications, but in nearby Sunderland there have been only four.

The LGA said councils also knew of thousands of parties, such as those in cul-de-sacs, which did not need permission.

Last week Prime Minister David Cameron urged people to “go ahead” and organise street parties to celebrate the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29 April.

Hotels in London have been ‘fully booked’ for months as millions of tourists head for the capital. The Royal wedding will be a tremendous boost for the UK’s economy attracting tourists and visitors from all over the world.

An estimated 100 million people are expected to watch the event on television around the globe making.

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

The International Organisation of Migration, which has been organising the evacuation ships, took another 1,000 foreign workers and wounded Libyans out of Misrata yesterday. But, amid reports that EU military forces were ready to be deployed to secure aid supplies into the country, the IOM estimates that thousands more are still stuck in the port area, among them women and children, many living in the open without access to food, water or medicine.

“We wanted to be able to take more people but it was not possible,” said Jeremy Haslam, who led the IOM mission, which has been going on for days but is still far from clearing the city of civilians. “Although the exchange of fire subsided while we were boarding … we had a very limited time to get the migrants and Libyans on board the ship and leave.”

Andrew Mitchell, the International Development Secretary, said yesterday that the UK would play a leading role in getting those left behind out of Misrata, which has become the scene of the most relentless Gaddafi assault in the country. Pro-Gaddafi forces have made serious incursions into the city in recent days, although the rebels were reported to have regained a small chunk of the centre yesterday.

“[The refugees] find themselves at terrible risk from incoming fire, with no way to get out,” Mr Mitchell said on a visit to New York to discuss the aid mission at the United Nations. “These evacuations will take them to safety and help reduce the demand in Misrata for the very limited supplies of food, water and medical supplies available.”

Migrant workers are reported to be converging on Misrata from nearby cities in the hope of escaping from the relentless bombardment. But in Benghazi yesterday Baroness Amos, the British head of the UN’s humanitarian operation, admitted that, while Muammar Gaddafi’s government had promised access for an aid mission during earlier talks in Tripoli, there had been no guarantee that attacks would cease in order to allow the delivery of supplies. Source: The Independent.

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

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.

In some cases, he arranged for regular payments to be made into their bank accounts, to make it look like they had regular salaries. It is thought that he charged around £5,000 for his services and had assisted around 70 clients.

It is estimated that Dhall, an Indian national living in Wordsworth Way, made around £400,000 through his criminal enterprise. His illegal dealings caught up with him following an investigation by the UK Border Agency’s West London Immigration Crime Team.

He had admitted to a charge of assisting unlawful immigration, and was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court last Tuesday (29).

Police will now look to seize the money made through the unlawful operation, and he will be deported to India on his release.

Four of Dhall’s clients were also locked up after pleading guilty to obtaining leave to remain in the UK by deception. Amongst them was 27 year-old Gurjeet Singh, of Monmouth Road, Hayes, who was given a six month jail term. Two men from Southall and one man from Isleworth were given between seven and 10 months.

Detective Inspector Robert Coxhead said after the hearing: “Dhall was involved in a very sophisticated criminal enterprise. His practice was involved in systematic fraud, fabricating whole histories for his clients to help them stay in the country.

“As this case shows, illegal immigration can be big business. I hope this sends out a message that we are committed to tackling the criminal groups behind it, putting the ringleaders before the courts, and, ultimately, behind bars.” Source: Uxbridge Gazzette.

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

The NHS and Health bodies will have to take the details of patients from outside Europe and pass them to immigration services to ensure they pay their bills.

Bahrain says foreign workers are safe

ABS CBN in Manila, Philippines reports that the government of Bahrain has vowed to protect all its foreign workers, including Filipinos, following increased political conflict in the Middle Eastern nation

Cross party MPs warn student visa proposals could ‘cripple’ sector, BBC reports

A cross-party group of MPs has heavily criticised the government’s proposals to reduce the number of international students entering the UK. The Home Affairs select committee strongly recommended the government abandon plans to raise the level of English required to gain a visa.

UKBA criticised over foreign workers in UK illegally

A critical report published this week reveals that at least 181,000 foreign workers and other migrants could be in the country illegally because of failings in the supposedly tough points-based system, the Telegraph reports.

UK Government announces new measures to attract entrepreneurs and investors

Foreign entrepreneurs and investors are being given an extra incentive to come to the UK under new visa rules announced by the UK Border Agency today, which will reward those who contribute to economic growth.

Tesco supermarket chain recruits store managers from Slovakia after British workers shun jobs

In a week when the Home Office has slashed the number of jobs on the shortage occupations list to reduce overseas workers, the Daily Mail reveals that Tesco is recruiting staff for its UK stores from Slovakia after bosses claimed no suitable British candidates were available.

8 occupations removed from UK shortage occupation list

The UK government announced this week that it will remove 8 occupations from the points-based system’s shortage occupation list.

Overseas Senior Carers and thousands of residents of Southern Cross Healthcare homes face uncertain future

The many hundreds Senior Care Workers, from countries such as The Philippines and India, employed by Southern Cross on Work Permits will now face new worries about their fate and status in the UK.

Worker Registration Scheme to close

In practice there is little to stop a Polish or Latvian citizen from taking a job without registering and many employers are unaware of the WRS and do not even know the difference between A8 and Bulgarian and Romanian EU members who do not enjoy the same rights.

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

In a report by the Globe and Mail, Robin Bajer said his client – who can’t be identified because of a publication ban – is still considering his options after the Immigration and Refugee Board ruled earlier this week that he was inadmissible to migrate to Canada.

“The client does have some options, so we’re going to be investigating those and likely pursuing some of them,” Mr. Bajer said in an interview.

One of those options is to apply to the Federal Court for a judicial review. The migrant can also apply for a pre-removal risk assessment and stay in Canada if he proves he’d face cruel and unusual punishment upon his return to Sri Lanka.

Mr. Bajer wouldn’t say exactly which avenue he’ll pursue, or when applications might be filed.

He said his client left the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – a terrorist organization banned in Canada – more than a decade ago and hasn’t had any contact with the group since. “There’s an issue whether he’s anything of a security threat to Canada at this point.”

The migrant – one of 492 MV Sun Sea passengers who arrived in B.C. last August – told the Canada Border Services Agency he was a Tiger for more than five years. The Tigers lost the decades-long Sri Lankan civil war in 2009.

The man said he was once shot in the leg during a battle with the Sri Lankan navy. He said his division’s mission that day was to destroy the navy vessel so it couldn’t deliver weapons to a government-controlled area. The ship sustained damage and was unable to complete its arms run.

The man told Canadian border officials he never wanted to join the Tigers and was tricked into doing so by his friends when he was a teenager.

CBSA argued the man should be deported under a section of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that deems refugee claimants inadmissible if they engaged in subversion or terrorism against a democratic government. The hearing adjudicator agreed and said it was “significant” that the man did not try to leave the LTTE for several years.

None of the other MV Sun Sea passengers have been declared inadmissible, but more than 30 admissibility cases must still be heard. Only one other case has been held – that migrant was ordered released.

None of the 76 passengers onboard the Ocean Lady – which arrived in British Columbia in October, 2009 – were deemed inadmissible. All filed refugee claims, as did those on the MV Sun Sea. Source: Globe and Mail, Canada.

See also:

Canada – new ads warn of crooked immigration consultants

Japan opens door to Indian language teachers

MIGRATE TO CANADA

For more information on how you can LEGALLY migrate to Canada check out ‘My Immigration Consultant’ , an easy and cost efficient program designed to guide you *step By Step* towards successfully migrating to Canada.

For more information see link.

The ads, running in English, French, Urdu, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, and Punjabi, warn that consultants cannot guarantee that immigration applications will be approved, cannot make an application fool-proof or ensure your spouse will get into or be able to migrate to Canada.

The ads urge people to ensure their immigration consultant is honest and refers viewers to a government website.

“The ads portray all immigration consultants as fraudsters or charlatans without drawing the distinction between unlicensed ghost agents and Certified Canadian Immigration Consultants,” said Imran Qayyum of the Canadian Migration Institute.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney defended the ads as showing what prospective immigrants should avoid.

“The problem with the consultant in our ads is that he is promising things he can’t deliver like guaranteed jobs and visas. People should take care to select a consult that is licensed and has a good reputation,” Kenney said.

“We recognize that there are bona fide consultants, but there are others that exploit the dream of living here.”

The ads will run on television in Canada and have been posted on YouTube and the website of the immigration department. Kenney also said that signs have been posted in Canada’s immigration offices overseas stating that there is no need to use a consultant.

Immigration fraud from crooked consultants is a major problem for Canada’s immigration system. Recent busts have uncovered offices selling fake wedding photos, fake diplomas and “guarantees” of admission into Canada. Source: Toronto Sun

As in the UK, legally certified immigration consultants must be qualified to operate in Canada and their activities are strictly regulated.

If you need UK immigration advice, make sure you use an OISC registered immigration adviser or a specialist immigration lawyer. OISC qualified immigration advisers must be competent before they can practice and remain competent by undertaking annual CPD and training.

Some advisers, such Bison UK, offer a free initial consultation where you can sit down and discuss your problem with a qualified adviser.

See also:

U.S. conman duped British families’ out of £3m in American immigration scam

MIGRATE TO CANADA

For more information on how you can LEGALLY migrate to Canada check out ‘My Immigration Consultant’ , an easy and cost efficient program designed to guide you *step By Step* towards successfully migrating to Canada.

For more information see link.

With Latvia suffering one of the worst economic crises in Europe, many praise the new way of attracting foreign investment.

Property buyers can get European Union residency rights thrown in as an added ‘bonus’, rather like a free washing machine with a Wimpy starter home.

Critics say European residency rules could be abused by criminals, but the real point is whilst the UK and other countries spend millions trying to restrict non-EU immigration and secure their borders, Latvia, a member of the European Union, is effectively flogging EU passports through Estate Agents!

Yes, you can now legally buy EU residency from Latvian Estate Agents! 

One building owner, Kristaps Kristopans, told the BBC reporter that ”almost all of the buyers of these flats are Russian – attracted, in part, by Latvia’s offer of EU residency rights for property buyers”.

The report continues:

“Half of the buyers in this development have applied for residency. And since the law was introduced in July, it has already given the property market a boost.

“In essence the whole initiative restarted the real estate market in Latvia,” Mr Kristopans explained as he showed off the property.

“One year ago it was completely dead. No transactions. Nothing. And now a lot has changed. Sales are picking up nicely.”

The law means that non-EU citizens who buy a property worth at least 70,000 euros ($93,000; £60,000), or invest in a business, can get EU residency rights – allowing them to move freely within the 25 countries that make up the EU’s Schengen area. 

During the 20th century, Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union. So many Latvians object to their government providing incentives for Russians to buy Latvian assets.

And some, such as Roberts Zile – a Latvian member of the European Parliament – believe that an influx of Russian investment will increase Moscow’s influence in the region as well as pushing up property prices beyond the reach of locals – welcome to the club!

Mr Zile also argues that the law could be abused by criminals, who could win the right to move freely within the European Union.

“We are selling residency rights in the whole Schengen area, not just in Latvia,” he said.

“They are more interested in other countries. They will not reside here. It could be more of a worry for other EU countries, not for Latvia.”

See Damien McGuinness report:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12106988

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:

Latvian sham bride found in bed with real boyfriend

Weekly UK Immigration News Round up 23 January 2011

How to Obtain a Student Visa to Study in the UK

New Countries Eligible to Participate in H-2A and H-2B Programs announced by USCIS

20 suspected illegal immigrants held in raid on London NHS hospitals

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Tier 2 Working Visas, Visa, ILR, Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

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

Cable said, although the British government had tightened visa rules for immigration, it was more applicable to unskilled migrants while “the issue which is now being discussed and consulted upon is students … we welcome them”.

Overseas students and skilled workers make contributions to British universities and economy, he added.

Recently, Britain had tightened its immigration policy to ensure that the total number of people settling in the UK is significantly reduced and only those who will benefit the country are allowed to stay.

Commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma said Indian professionals have made enormous contribution in British economy and “we have discussed the issue. Indian viewpoint and concerns have been fully registered and I appreciate and acknowledge that Cable and his government have taken a positive view”. Source: Indian Express.

Immigration Matters Comment

Whilst this article and Vince Cable’s apparent assurance may bring welcome relief to migrants, his own coalition government’s policies, like their plans to abolish the Tier 1 Post Study Work Visa, do not mirror his views and appear to conflict with his earlier statements.

In a statement to the FT last year, the Liberal Democrat MP said that the immigration rules and immigration cap are causing “a lot of damage to business industry’.

Recent changes, such as the immigration cap (ruled illegal by a High Court Judge), have nothing to do with unskilled migration, which was already closed under Tier 3 of the points based system.

Employers are still being restricted from recruiting skilled migrants from outside the UK under the interim cap, even when the job is listed on the official shortage occupations list, such as Senior Care Workers.

Student visas are subject to a public consultation, but the government has already laid out its stall on cutting overseas student as part of plans to slash migration.

The British government has clearly stated that it ‘intends to reduce annual net migration to the UK to sustainable levels, in the tens of thousands a year’, and that it ‘expects the student route to make its contribution towards reducing net migration’.

Ministers believe that ‘students now represent the largest proportion of net migration from outside Europe’, although some experts argue that students are not migrants at all.  Nevertheless, the government wants to introduce measures to restrict the number of students entering the country and ensuring that the number of international students coming to the UK is ‘broadly in balance with the number leaving’.

The government’s policy aim is to ensure that ‘only genuine students who are committed to their academic study come to the UK’, and with a ‘presumption that upon completion they will leave promptly’.

With less two weeks left to take part in the Student Immigration System public consultation, which will help shape the future of international student visa rules in the UK, higher education providers are lobbying the government to drop plans to end the popular Tier 1 post study work visa. Indian students and migrants are probably the largest group using the Tier 1 route.

See also:

Vince Cable says immigration cap is damaging British industry  

London Mayor’s new attack on UK Immigration Cap

Interim Immigration Cap unlawful High Court Judges Rule

UK Border Agency to continue crackdown on illegal working

Tier 1 Post Study Work Visa to be abolished 

Government MAC adviser says dependant visas must be cut as part of immigration cap

UK Border Agency announce new fee increase for immigration and nationality applications

Minister to announce crackdown on student visa numbers today

How to Obtain a Student Visa to Study in the UK

You can respond online to the consultation at: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/student-consult-online which will take around 30 minutes to read and complete.

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

Search warrants were executed on Wednesday 22 December under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, with the aim of targeting and disrupting those engaged in ‘people trafficking’ for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Officers found 3 adult women workers – 1 Chinese, 1 English and 1 Russian – at alleged brothels in Ashford Road and Royal Parade. The women were not arrested and are being treated as witnesses. A private address was also searched.

Inspector Adam Hays said:

‘I am pleased with the results of today’s joint operation between Sussex Police and the UK Border Agency. The execution of these warrants is part of our continued determination to bring to justice those involved in people trafficking.

‘The operation was low-key and intended to disrupt premises that we believe or suspect are being used to sexually exploit men and women under the cover of a legitimate premises.

‘Those being exploited are often brought to the UK from poorer countries and, as a consequence, they are either unaware that they are being exploited or they may not outwardly object to being so exploited. In some cases they are juveniles with little concept of how they are being treated. Sussex Police will not prosecute these individuals; they are victims of crime and are treated as such.

‘The purpose of the operation is to target, disrupt and prosecute their handlers and those involved in orchestrating and perpetuating what is an international criminal enterprise.’

Daniel Searle, Head of the UK Border Agency’s Sussex local immigration team, said:

‘Human trafficking is a shocking and brutal form of organised crime where victims may be coerced, deceived or forced into the control of others who cruelly and inhumanely seek to profit from their suffering.

‘Through working with the police and other law enforcement agencies, the UK Border Agency is determined to make Britain a more hostile place for people traffickers and those who profit from organised immigration crime.’

A 32-year-old man, a 49-year old man and a 43-year-old woman, all from Eastbourne, were held in custody for questioning.

See also:

UK Border Agency to continue crackdown on illegal working

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Tier 2 Working Visas, Visa, ILR, Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

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

UK Border Agency taking tough line on illegal working but employers are still confused