Migration settlement rights to be cut says Home Office
By Dominic Casciani BBC News home affairs correspondent
9 June 2011
Proposals to cut the number of migrants allowed to settle permanently in the UK have been published by the Home Office.
In future, only a “tightly controlled minority” from outside the European Union will be allowed to stay for more than five years.
Ministers say they are also considering stopping wealthy business people staying on after five years.
The move is part of the government’s pledge to cut net migration to tens of thousands by the end of the Parliament.
Ministers have already announced an immigration cap affecting skilled workers from outside the European Union and plans to restrict students.
The government also says dependants of visa applicants may have to pass an English test.
In a written parliamentary statement, Immigration Minister Damian Green said: “We intend to break the automatic link between coming to the UK to work and settling here permanently.
“In 1997, there were fewer than 10,000 employment-related grants of settlement; by 2010, that number had risen to over 84,000.
“We need to be more selective about who we allow to stay.”
The key proposals in the 12-week consultation include only allowing temporary residence for skilled workers, ending the assumption that anyone who comes to the UK can ask to stay after five years.
However, ministers say they could make exceptions for workers earning more than £150,000 or if they were in eocnomically important jobs.
Another proposal is to ban non-EU domestic workers – people who work in private homes in jobs including cooks and nannies.
The government is also considering limiting the rights of wealthy entrepreneurs or highly-qualified business people to settle.
‘Disruption’ warning
Adam Marshall of the British Chambers of Commerce warned the policy could backfire.
“Britain’s migration system must protect our economy as well as our borders,” said Dr Marshall.
“Turfing out valuable migrant workers who are turned down for settlement would be incredibly disruptive to companies of all sizes and to the UK’s economic recovery.
But Sir Andrew Green of pressure group Migrationwatch UK said: “We think this is exactly the right approach. We have to strike a balance between the needs of industry and the need to get the numbers down.
“Clearly employers need skilled labour from overseas but in principle our view is that should be temporary, while British workers are trained for those jobs.”
But Scott Blinder of Oxford University’s Migration Observatory expert group told BBC Radio 5Live: “We won’t really see much of an impact [in this policy] on the government’s ambitions to cut net migration by the end of the Parliament.
“There are broader forces that create demand among employers for migrant labour.
“[The proposed changes] may end up squeezing one end of the balloon and the other pops up – it’s not a given that departing [non-EU skilled workers] will be replaced by British workers.”
Shadow Home Office Minister Shabana Mahmood said: “We support reform in this area, which is why the Labour Government introduced tough changes to the settlement regime through our policy of Earned Citizenship. Unfortunately the Government abandoned this work. .
“However, changes to the settlement regime are only effective if they are backed up by strong and consistent enforcement of the rules. The Government has imposed a 20% cut on the UKBA budget, which will mean the loss of over 5000 jobs. It is inevitable that enforcement will suffer as a result.”
If you have plans of migrating to Canada under the Canada skilled worker immigration category you only have about one month left before the new occupation list takes effect. If you have at least one year experience in one of the 24 occupations that are still on the list you should apply as soon as possible. Please note that there is no guarantee that your occupation will still be an eligible occupation for the Canada skilled worker category when the new list is announced.
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers (Cap reached)
0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management (Cap reached)
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
2151 Architects
3111 Specialist Physicians
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3113 Dentists (Cap reached)
3131 Pharmacists (Cap reached)
3142 Physiotherapists
3152 Registered Nurses (Cap reached)
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social Workers
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers & Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
For a free pre-assessment, you may call our office or email info@iconsultancyservicesinc.com.
UK Border Agency: Student Tier Changes in effect
Post from the UK Border Agency Home Office, April 21, 2011
“Changes have come into effect today affecting Tier 4 – the student tier – of the points-based system. The changes to the Immigration Rules were announced by the Home Secretary in a statement to Parliament on 22 March. They follow a major public consultation on reforming Tier 4.
The aim of the revised Rules is to deliver a strong migration system which tackles immigration abuse, while allowing genuine students to study at genuine colleges.”
Details of the changes were outlined in a news story on 22 March. Complete details are found here
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If you are interested in ICSI’s UK Pathway Migration Program, call our office or email info@iconsultancyservicesinc.com for more details.
I Consultancy Services Inc is not a recruitment agency.
Canada should increase immigration
In a recent study conducted by Canadian professor Tony Fang, he recommended that Canada should increase its immigration levels to bolster investment in housing and boost the nation’s gross domestic product. Fang, is a professor at the University of York in Vancouver. He said that adding 100,000 more immigrants a year to Canada’s population would increase the GDP by 2.3 percent. Moreover, the increase in population would create demands for goods and services, particularly housing. Fang also said that increased immigration would add $14 billion in tax revenue for the government.
Canada already has the highest immigration rate per capita out of all major countries. The country already has a number of skilled immigration programs to help deal with skills shortages in the labour force.
Fang says that Canada needs an additional one million immigrants; This would be an extra 100,000 immigrants a year during the period 2012 to 2021. This would also help the Canadian economy which is yet to recover fully from the Global Financial Crisis of 2008.
“To study the impacts of large-scale immigration on the Canadian economy, the researchers took into account many factors including: immigrants’ participation in the labour force; associated spending on government services and infrastructure; funds brought by immigrants; and labour market differences between migrants (in order to capture the effect of large-scale immigration on Canadian-born workers),” a press release on the study said.
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On March 22, 2011, the UK Border Agency’s Home Secretary, Theresa May, has published its ‘Statement of Intent and Transitional Measures’ for the student visa changes.
This announcement outlines new guidance, effective 21 April 2011, and dates of implementation of other measures, including the new rules on student working hours. The UK Government hopes to ‘ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to sponsors’ recruitment plans and student decision making’.
The first round of implementation, including interim measures, was started by laying changes to the Immigration Rules before Parliament on 31 March, which will come into effect on 21 April 2011.
There will be further changes to the Immigration Rules taking effect in summer 2011, in April 2012 and by the end of 2012. The agency point out that ‘measures outlined in this Statement should not be seen as a definitive account of the requirements that will apply in future. The definitive version will be set out in the Immigration Rules and published formal Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors and applicants. The Statement does, however, represent the Government’s current intentions’.
OVERVIEW OF THE CHANGES
The Government will ‘phase in changes to the rules in order to give providers and students time to plan accordingly’.
Changes include a ban on all work for students applying for visas to study at private colleges from this ’summer 2011′, a shake up of accreditation bodies and the right to refuse entry to students who fail to demonstrate a competent level of English upon arrival at UK ports.
During a ‘transitional period’ beginning 21 April 2011, those sponsors who do not meet the new requirements as regards educational accreditation and Highly Trusted Sponsor status will be subject to a limit on their allocation of Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies until such time as they meet those new requirements.
In summary the measures and timetable are as follows:
Changes from 21 April 2011
1. New sponsors not already on the Tier 4 register will have to meet the new educational accreditation criteria in order to be issued a Tier 4 licence.
2. Existing sponsors will be subject to an interim limit on the number of students they can sponsor unless they:
- hold Highly Trusted Sponsor status; and
- meet the new accreditation criteria.
3. Existing sponsors that do not already meet the new accreditation criteria will be required to apply to the relevant inspection body by a date to be announced, in order to be able to continue to sponsor new students, subject to the interim limit, during the transitional period.
4. B-rated sponsors will not be able to assign CAS to new students (only to those seeking to complete a course).
5. A sponsor who is not subject to the interim limit may sponsor, using his own CAS allocation, students studying at a sponsor who is subject to the interim limit, but must take full responsibility for them (e.g. higher education institutions1 could sponsor students at Pathway providers).
6. English Language
The English language requirements for Tier 4 (General) students will be tightened as follows:
- A B1 Secure English Language Test (SELT) requirement for all courses at NQF 3-5 /QCF 3-5 / SCQF 6-8 (ending the current SELT exemptions on pre-sessionals /pathway /foundation degree courses).
- A B2 SELT requirement for courses at NQF 6 /QCF 6 / SQCF 9 and above, with an exception for higher education institutions who can make their own assessment.
A student may be refused a visa or entry to the UK if he cannot speak English without assistance.
The Government will clarify that a CAS may only be issued in respect of a single course, except where the student is attending a pre-sessional course of not more than three months’ duration and has an unconditional offer of a place at a higher education institution or at an independent school starting not more than one month after the end of the pre-sessional course.
The UKBA official document is available for download here
For more information on UK Tier 4 visa or to get migration program advice, email icsi@iconsultancyservicesinc.com or contact any ICSI office near you.
Canada Cutting Off Federal Visas
Canada is cutting off its working visa on skilled workers and as expected employment and industry groups are not taking this well, in fact they are reacting negatively to this.
The Canadian government is planning to substantially cut the number of visas issued for federal skilled workers. Figures shows that the government is planning to cut federal skilled visas up to 20% and the economic class visas for up to 7%!
A Wrong Move
Many view this plan as something short of a wrong move by the government. The notion of reducing the number of skilled workers in Canada this year is simply a wrong direction. There is a great demand for workers in Canada today and many feels that this should be the time where the government should ensure that they are meeting the worker need. And since last year’s number of immigrants coming in Canada is its highest and successful, many thinks that the government should continue this since there is a great demand to be met.
2010 Immigration
Figures show that this is indeed a fact, last 2010 Canada welcomed 280,000 permanent residents. The focus of Canada’s immigration System is to welcome more people to pay tax and to the health care system of the country. Though there are some good reasons why the government is doing this cut but if the motivation of the government of doing this is the fact that the economy is rising thus Canada doesn’t need any more workers, then this move is a great mistake. And Canada’s aging workforce, aging population, low fertility rate shows that this problem will only get worse in the future.
The Motive Behind The Move
There are many speculations as to why the government is making this move and mostly it is assumed that political one rather than a policy decision. It could be political pressure that comes from other parts of Canada where there is a high unemployment rate. But others would argue that this employment recession is not the sole reason for this cut since things are improving rapidly. The government is already starting reemploying Canadians and Albertans who lost their jobs during the recession. Whatever the real reason behind this government move and whether it may be a good move or one that will be a disaster, only time will tell, let us all hope that all will be for the best.
[from Canada Updates-February 17, 2011]
Interim New Zealand Visa now in effect will aid migrants
The new interim visa policy is now in effect in New Zealand, allowing migrants waiting for their visas to be renewed to continue working and stay in the country.
An interim New Zealand Visa is now available for those waiting to have their visa application processed.
New Zealand Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman said previously there had been issues with people having their immigration status lapse while waiting for a New Zealand Visa to be processed.
“The new interim visas mean that if they have an application in with Immigration New Zealand, they are still legally allowed to remain in the country on the terms of their original visa while that application is being processed.
“Of course this provides certainty for the individual involved, but it also works for their employer, as an applicant is allowed to work legally while the paperwork is completed.”
Dr Coleman said the interim visa would also benefit fee-paying foreign students by allowing them to continue studying while applying for visas to further their studies.
The validity of police and medical certificates was also being extended from two years to three years.
Dr Coleman said these changes would smooth the enrolment process for education providers and help boost the $2 billion a year export education market.
[from the NZ Visa Bureau-February 8, 2011]
THIS POST WAS WRITTEN BY CHARLES KELLY ON FEBRUARY 2, 2011
POSTED UNDER: NEWS
The UK Immigration Minister, Damian Green, has reiterated the Government’s plans to review the Tier 4 student visa system in a speech to the think tank Reform.
Speaking at a conference in London, Mr Green focused particularly on the privately-funded further education sector (private colleges), which he said is subject to ‘less regulation and more open to abuse’.
The national consultation on Tier 4 closed on the 31 January and Mr Green outlined how the agency will ‘use this to further strengthen the student visa system and clamp down on abuses of the student route to the UK’.
Mr Green said:
‘I believe attracting talented students from abroad is vital to the UK but we must be more selective about who can come here and how long they can stay’.
The 8 week public consultation received over 30,000 responses, and sought views on a range of measures to reduce the overall number of students who can come into the UK. Proposals in the consultation included:
- reducing the number of people coming to the UK to study at below degree level;
- introducing a tougher English language requirement;
- ensuring students wishing to extend their studies show evidence of academic progression;
- limiting students’ entitlements to work and their ability to bring in dependants; and
- improving the accreditation process for education providers, alongside more rigorous inspections.
The UK Border Agency said the results of the consultation will be announced in the coming weeks, although it doesn’t take much ‘reading between the lines’ to see that Mr Green has clearly decided what to do already.
In their blog yesterday, A Study in Stupidity, the JCWI, which as been relatively on this subject, said that “education and training exports represent the second biggest contributor to the UK’s net balance of payments. They are, according to the Financial Times, worth £40 billion”.
In the Philippines, I Consultancy Services Inc. provides Tier 4 visa applicants with the necessary consultation and assistance, educating students about the Tier 4 process and how UK migration can help them achieve their career goals and fulfill their migration plans.
To know more about UK and other migration programs available, please contact your nearest ICSI branch or email icsi@iconsultancyservicesinc.com.
ICSI is moving to its new (and bigger!) office!
I Consultancy Services Inc ( ICSI ) corporate office will temporarily be closed due to moving and construction of our new office.
Normal operations shall resume on Feb. 7-Monday in our new office located at:
9th Flr. Rufino Plaza Building
Ayala Avenue, Makati City.
For inquiries call: 02-4008860/02-2183569/02-4006088/09163148269
ICSI Migration Pathway Seminar [February 2011]
Find out the facts. Get your migration questions answered.
Join us for weekday afternoons of fact finding and information-gathering designed to answer all your questions about migration to the UK, Canada and New Zealand.
We understand that the migration process can be confusing. If you’re serious about migrating then our one and a half hour, comprehensive expert-led seminars are not to be missed.
These seminars are led by our immigration advisers and experienced migration facilitators who will ensure all of your questions are answered.
You will discover:
• What’s it like to live as a migrant in another country and will I fit in?
• What can I expect from the health, education and financial systems?
• What are the roadblocks I may face with my visa and how will I overcome them?
• What job opportunities are there for me?
• How will I land a job?
• What steps should I take to make my migration as smooth as possible? And most importantly
• Where do I start?
Designed to be interactive and eye-opening, the seminar will enable you to take the first step on your journey to your new life.
Spaces are limited as this is a free event. Book now to reserve your slot.
Makati:
Monday-Friday 1:30pm-3:00pm
I Consultancy Services, Inc.
9th Flr. Rufino Plaza Building
Ayala Avenue, Legaspi Village
Makati City, Philippines
