Australia to reduce immigration numbers

Chris Evans the Australian immigration minister said that due to the current economic situation there will be a reduction in the level of immigration to Australia. Chris Evans also mentioned that six of Australia's trading partners are now in recession. For the last ten years Australia has enjoyed mining boom which has kept unemployment at a thirty year low.

The Australia immigration target for this year is 190,300 immigrants. This is 20 per cent higher than the 2007-08 financial year. It is even higher than the previous record intake of 185,099 immigrants in 1969-70. Australia has accepted about seven million immigrants since the end of the Second World War.

Obama and increases in US legal immigration

The new Obama administration in the US proposed immigration policy which favours an increase in the number of legal immigrants may benefit Indians. Many of the legal immigrants in the US are Indians.
"Fix the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy and increase the number of legal immigrants to keep families together and meet the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill," according to the White House document that details immigration policy for the new administration.
"Our broken immigration system can only be fixed by putting politics aside and offering a complete solution that secures our border, enforces our laws, and reaffirms our heritage as a nation of immigrants," says Obama.
The agenda document also makes it clear that tougher action will be taken against employers who hire undocumented immigrants.

Record level of UK work permits issued

More than 151,000 overseas nationals from outside the EU were granted permission to work: almost four times the level when Labor took power in 1997.
It was announced to MPs that 151,635 work visa applications were granted between December 2007 and November last year.
The greatest numbers of visas were issued to enable to following nationalities to work in the UK
Indians: 49,950
Americans: 28,835
Chinese Nationals: 8,090

New report says that Brits save money by moving to Australia and New Zealand

Foreign currency broker Foreign Currency Direct has found that the cost of living in Australia and New Zealand is up to a third lower than in the UK. This is one of the main reasons why Brits are moving to Australia.
Another attraction for Brits is the weather in Australia. There is an excellent choice of outdoor activities such as the beach and picnics outdoors.
Foreign Currency Direct's latest research shows that British people living "Down Under" are enjoying a far lower cost of living than those who have settled in other top 10 expat hot spots, such as France and Spain. The survey covered a range of essential and non-essential purchases.
The cost of living in New Zealand is about a third cheaper than in the UK and Australia was not far behind, with a cost of living that is 22 per cent lower than in the UK.
Overall, a bag of groceries, including eggs, bread, milk and potatoes costs are as follows:
34 per cent less in New Zealand
23 per cent less in Australia
Cost of a Ford Focus:
£9,338 in Australia
£9,401 in New Zealand
£12,866 in the UK
Peter S. Ellis, Chief Executive of Foreign Currency Direct, said, "Relative to the Euro, exchange rates between the Pound and the New Zealand and Australian Dollar have remained surprisingly stable over the last six months."
"When considering a move abroad, Britons should not only consider the quality of life and cost of property overseas, they should also be aware of significant variations in the cost of living."
"If your main source of income is in Sterling, the cost of items overseas can vary significantly with exchange rates," said Mr Ellis.
The cost of living in Europe has gone up a lot in the last twelve months. With the pound going down in relation to the Euro it is, for example, ten percent more expensive living in France compared to six months ago.

Important changes to the UK Knowledge of Life in the UK Test

It is a requirement for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) in certain categories that the applicant demonstrates that the Knowledge of Life in the UK (KOL) requirement is met. If all the requirements are met apart from KOL it is currently the case that applicants are automatically considered for grant of limited leave in the same category. The difference in the fee between the settlement application and the cost of an extension of stay is refunded.
From 31 March 2009 this arrangement will be coming to an end. Settlement applications submitted on or after this date in categories requiring KOL that do not meet this condition will be refused. Applicants will not have their fee refunded.
You will still be able to extend your stay if you do not meet the KOL requirement. However, from 31 March 2009 you will need to make sure that you apply specifically for limited leave on the relevant form, rather than submitting a settlement application

New UK Immigration Rules Announced

The Home Secretary David Blunkett has announced stricter rules to stop temporary migrants in the UK switching into permanent employment to try to stop potential abuse of the system. These new rules are part of the UK government's reform of immigration in an attempt to tackle abuses of managed migration programmes.
The main changes include restricting the circumstances under which non-EU/EEA nationals in the UK on temporary visas can switch into a category leading to settlement, like the work permit scheme, HSMP and the Innovator categories.
The exact changes are listed below according to category and will come into effect on 1 October 2004. Current practices will continue to apply until that date.
The Work Permit Scheme
Under current Immigration Rules, non-EU/EEA nationals can apply to switch into work permit employment without leaving the UK provided they satisfy the work permit criteria and have existing permission to stay in the UK as:
A student who has successfully graduated; or
A postgraduate doctor or dentist or trainee general practitioner; or
A student nurse; or
A working holidaymaker who has been in the UK at least twelve months; or
A Sectors-Based Scheme (SBS) work permit holder.People in the UK under the SBS programme will be prevented from switching into work permit employment.
Switching into a work permit from the other categories above will still be allowed.
Furthermore, less discretion will be granted to caseworkers to allow switching outside the Immigration Rules. Basically those overseas nationals currently in the UK under any other category will not be granted leave to remain.
Caseworkers will be able to continue to use some discretion and switch applicants outside the rules only in exceptional circumstances.
However, these exceptional circumstances are being tightly defined as circumstances relating to the individual which would make it unduly harsh for the individual to return to their country of residence. Reasons of urgent employment will not be enough to switch outside of the rules, nor would the lack of a visa issuing post in the applicant's home country to make gaining entry clearance difficult be considered an exceptional circumstance.
One example of exceptional circumstances might include a case where the individual is unable to travel due to health reasons.
The Highly SKilled Migrant Programme and Innovator visas
Currently, all non-EU/EEA nationals who are legally present in the UK, with the exception of visitors, can switch into both the Highly Skilled Migrant and Innovator categories.
From 1 October 2004 the immigration rules will be changed and only overseas nationals in the following categories will be permitted to switch into HSMP or Innovator status:
Work permit holders; or
graduated students; or
working holidaymakers; or
postgraduate doctors or dentists or trainee general practitioners.
Switching outside of the Immigration rules will again only be allowed on the same restricted basis as outlined above for work permits.

Requirements on Students

Among the new requirements being laid on international students by the UK government is one that they must have enough money to support themselves while they are in the country. For a course lasting more than 12 months, a student will require to have £9,600. This is in addition to their course fees for the first year of the course. For each dependent a student brings, a further £535 will be required. Students must also submit to having their fingerprints taken.Read more: "New 2008 UK Student Immigration Rules: British Government Introduces New Rules for International Students" -

Requirements on Universities

British universities are currently seeking registration which requires them to show they have been examined by an official body for the quality of their teaching or that they hold valid accreditation from a body approved by the UK Border Agency.
The Border Agency will also have to approve the qualification awarded on any university or college course enrolling international students. In addition, universities will be liable to have their HR systems examined by the Border Agency to see whether there have been previous lapses in compliance over immigration law. Failure to "pass" this examination could lead to a university losing its licence to act as a "sponsor".
Sponsorship means that a university must take responsibility for its international students whilst they are in the UK and this means they must:
Maintain up to date records of the students’ contact details
Keep copies of international students’ passports and of their entitlement to study in the UK
Keep the Border Agency informed about any significant changes in a student’s circumstances, including changes to the course
Allow a student a maximum of 10 days before telling the Border Agency about a student who fails to enrol on a course they have been admitted to
Tell the Border Agency whenever a student misses 10 "expected contacts", events such as tutorials or coursework submission
Tell the Agency if students withdraw from their courses or if they decide to defer their programmes of study. If they do either of these, they no longer have permission to stay in the UK and must leave.Read more: "New 2008 UK Student Immigration Rules: British Government Introduces New Rules for International Students" -

UK immigration rules on marriage

As a result, and particularly in light of recent changes to immigration laws, the issue has got to be handled right. I will address this issue in response to a related inquiry from Zoe, a nurse in the NHS with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Zoe wants to arrange for her Zimbabwean domestic worker to come to the UK. Zoe also has a Zimbabwean fiancé who is currently in the UK on a visitor’s visa. She is planning to marry him shortly.
I will address the domestic servant issue first. The Immigration Rules 395 now make provision for Domestic Workers in Private Households. A domestic worker is regarded as a person providing a personal service linked to the running of the employer's household. Examples include chauffeurs, gardeners, cooks and nannies. In the past, Domestic Workers were provided for only in relation to Diplomatic Households. There is now formal recognition in the Rules for domestic Workers in private households.
According to the Rules, a Domestic Worker must be aged between 18 and 65. For entry clearance purposes, they must have been employed as a domestic worker for one year or more immediately prior to the application for entry clearance, and living under the same roof as their employer. Alternatively, they should show that they have been working in a household that the employer uses for themselves on a regular basis, and there must be evidence that there is a connection between employer and employee. The rules also permit the Domestic Worker to travel in the company of their employer, or in the company of the employers' minor child.
Once admitted to the UK in this capacity, there is a prohibition on taking employment other than as a domestic worker in a private household. There is the usual prohibition on reliance on public funds for both maintenance and accommodation requirements. However, Domestic Workers can in fact change employers, provided they entered originally with entry clearance in this capacity. As with all other workers in approved employment with work permits, Domestic Workers too may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 4 continuous years in the UK in this capacity.
It is important for Zoe to get it right, especially in light of proposed changes to the law. Whilst the employment of unauthorised workers has always been illegal, the Government has now upped the ante by proposing a spot fine of £2000 for knowingly using illegal workers under the new Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill which has received its second reading in the House of Commons. It is important to note that although the government is on record as saying that this law will apply primarily to large businesses, it will also apply to the emplyment of domestic workers.

APPLICATION FOR A GRANT OF LEAVE AND BIOMETRIC IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT UNDER TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT - MAIN APPLICANT

Britain on Tuesday introduced a new visa regime for Indian and other students of non-European Union countries to prevent fraud and to provide for more stringent immigration checks.
Home secretary Jacqui Smith said the new arrangements as part of Tier 4 of the points based system will make the visa process simpler, more objective and more transparent for applicants and prevent abuse of the immigration system.