UK immigration in control

A roadshow campaign by UK immigration officials around England has seen children fingerprinted, pensioners handcuffed and families locked into immigration service cell vans as part of a PR drive to dispel myths that surround immigration issues.

The series of events that took place at county fairs across southern England and was organised by the UK Border Agency.

Feedback from the initiative said that 239 visitors had improved their opinion of the work of the immigration service, while 13 said it was the same.

But migrant support groups were dubious as to the value of such a campaign. A spokesman for Refugee Action, quoted on the Guardian website, said: “We appreciate UK immigration officers do a hard job in difficult circumstances.

“But we remain to be convinced the way to dispel myths about immigration is to dress members of the immigration service up like extras from The Sweeney whilst running around fingerprinting children, handcuffing pensioners and locking families in arrest vans.”

The week-long PR push came in the same week that Baroness Scotland was fined by immigration officials over her involvement in employing a Tongan housekeeper who did not have a valid UK visa.

Habib Rahman speaks out on UK immigration

An immigration group has heavily criticised UK Border Agency powers following a report of a raid on the home of the former housekeeper of the attorney general, Baroness Scotland.

A report on the BBC News website said the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants accused UK officials of having “some police powers” that were “too much”.

The British police have given some police powers to border officials and they have misused their authority in a number of cases. The move followed changes to the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 which provided extended powers to immigration officers.

The JCWI’s chief executive Habib Rahman said he was not in support of such raids being carried out by UK Border Agency officials.

Are immigration raids a step too far?

Should there be more intelligent ways of dealing with immigration issues?

Join the debate and tell Global Visas your views.

UK visa rule changes this month

The latest Statement of Changes in UK immigration rules was put before the government this week and these will be in effect from October 1 2009.

As of October, anyone wishing to apply for a UK visa could be affected by the changes. The changes include the following:

For anyone applying for a UK student Tier 4 visa of the points-based system, the launch of the electronic Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) will now be valid.

The UK Border Agency say: “This will strengthen the sponsorship arrangements for Tier 4 and provide educational institutions with a fast and straightforward electronic system to sponsor students.” As this transition takes places, the current visa letters will continue as an alternative to CAS. This is only a short-term fix.

A further change affects people applying for the Sole Representatives category. This will now be replaced by a new Representatives of Overseas Business category. The new category introduces a requirement to speak English, which will ensure that business representatives are able to make an effective contribution while they are here. There will also be minor technical changes made to various categories of the UK visa points-based system.

A full explanation of all the changes will be available from September 30 and Global Visas can of course provide expert guidance and advice on any aspect of the changes.

Phil Woolas wants your views on UK visa and immigration services

Those open-minded folk at the UK Border Agency have launched a public consultation on the fees it charges for its UK visa and immigration services.

They want to get people’s views on the fees they should charge for earned citizenship, which will be introduced in 2011. They also want to find out the public response on other new chargeable services that could be introduced in future to respond to customer demand and improve customer choice – for example, optional premium visa or immigration services at a higher fee.

As always, British Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas had something to say on the subject:

‘I believe that it is fair that those who benefit from using our immigration system should help fund it, and we will continue to use charges to recover part of our costs.

‘This consultation is part of an ongoing process to ensure we can run a modern and efficient system that welcomes legitimate migrants and balances the interests of both the users of the system and the UK taxpayer.

‘Already migrants contribute over £650 million towards our costs. This goes to fund the 25,000 staff who work in local communities, at the border and in 135 countries around the world.’

The Border Agency consultation is open for 12 weeks, until 1 December 2009. To take part, visit here.

UK immigration and the threat of terrorism

UK immigration has been in the press this week for all the wrong reasons after it was accused of inadequate back-up checks of visa applicants.

The furore centres around the revelation British officials are checking fewer than one in every 2,000 visa applicants from Pakistan. Pakistan is deemed a ‘high risk’ threat of terrorist activity and this oversight raises “renewed fears that terrorists or illegal immigrants could slip through the net” warn the Daily Telegraph.

Hyper-sensitive immigration champions the Daily Mail call it a “visa sham” as they detail that shortage of frontline immigration officers contributes to the small number of applicants quizzed. Though The Sun spells it out in its own inimitable style with the news that: “Britain’s shoddy visa system can easily be exploited by Pakistan-based terrorists.”

Are under-staffed UK immigration officials posing a security risk for British citizens or is this another case of the media stirring up hype? Your views on the subject please.

UK immigration high flyers

Who says an influx of immigrants is bad for a country’s economy?

This is certainly not the case in the UK.  The migration advisory committee says almost double the number of “highly skilled” workers have applied for a Tier 1 UK visa. This category of applicant is open to entrepreneurs and investors who have the skills, the education and the money in the bank to qualify.

An estimated 55,000 such people are expected to arrive in the UK in 2009, compared to the 28,000 who came in 2007.

So even in the depths of a recession, Britain is booming when it comes to receiving the cream of the migrant workforce. Why not consider a move to the UK yourself?

The population increase has been partially attributed to a baby boom driven by immigration. Migrants settling in the UK from certain countries, such as India and Pakistan, have statistically higher birth rates than UK-born residents.

Baby booms are boosting populations in the UK and Africa

This is the first time in over a decade that population increase has been due to natural change, or the difference between net births and deaths. The number of births has also outstripped the number of new immigrants, which fell to 118,000 last year, a drop of 44%.

Despite the decline in net immigration, the UK population increased by 408,000 last year, the largest annual increase since 1972.

The release of the report coincides with the news that Africa’s population has reached 1 billion. The increase is due to the continent’s massive birth rate – the highest in the world.

Globally the average woman has 2.6 children, but in sub-Saharan Africa the number rises to 5.3. Only 28 percent of married African women use contraception compared to 62 percent of women worldwide.

Most of the world’s population increase is in the poorest countries. However, the rising UK population is a concern because of the country’s small size: there is a more finite amount of space due to its geographical restriction as an island.

But all is not lost. Clearing 2009 is in full swing and participating students have the opportunity to explore new university options. The UK has a plethora of great towns for students, some incredibly popular as student destinations and others just as worthy – or even more so – but lesser known.

Edinburgh is a perennially popular study destination

We’ve selected the top five UK university towns for their attractive offerings and unique student cultures. The cities are geographically dispersed around the UK to supply food for thought about possible options beyond the obvious London, Oxford, and Cambridge choices.

From Scotland and Wales to the south of England, in no particular order of importance, here are our top five.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland’s gem of a capital offers a vibrant atmosphere for students from around the world. Castles looming on hilltops, cobblestone lanes and majestic gothic architecture make this city a pure aesthetic pleasure. Edinburgh was named the UK’s most desirable place to live in a recent survey.

A walkable centre, al fresco pub socialising, diverse ethnic and British food, and buoyant, friendly locals contribute to the popularity of the University of Edinburgh as a UK study destination.

London, England

Britain’s capital city is a pulsing metropolis with something on offer for every personality, with all-night clubs, sports stadiums, shopping for fashionistas on any budget, concert halls, foodie-fuelled markets, exhibitions, riverside running paths, massive green spaces and pubs of every flavour.

Business and finance students flock to the city for its prominence in the global financial industry, and a large proportion of graduates from London universities stay on for post-study employment. London’s top unis include the London School of Economics and Science, University College London, and Imperial College London.

Aberswyth, Wales

This sleepy but scholarly Victorian seaside town in Wales ranks consistently as a student favourite. The Times Online Good University Guide 2010 shows an 81% student satisfaction ranking for Aberystwyth, University of Wales, falling barely behind Oxford University’s 85%.

With a landscape of castles and crumbling stone fortresses shrouded in sea fog populating the green hills, it’s little wonder student satisfaction is so high: students understand they’re signing up for seascapes and bottle-nosed dolphin sightings over pumping nightclubs.

Brighton, England

Barely an hour from London by train, Brighton has a nightlife to rival much bigger cities. Boasting one of the UK’s most vibrant alternative and gay communities, this city on the sea is home to everything from fish n’ chips on the pier to concert halls and unique cuisine for every budget.

Compact and walkable, Brighton University is a worthy study destination for those who crave the variety in entertainment, food and shopping found in the city without the overcrowding and painful prices.

Bristol, England

The enticing Southwest university town of Bristol manages to embody both English quaintness and urban excitement. Historical architecture melds with a peaceful waterfront punctuated by a stone suspension bridge and masses of green space.

Although smallish and intimate, Bristol University draws students of a more urban-sophisticate nature, making provisions for the nightclub crowd, bookworms and pub prowlers alike.

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Prospective students who have not been accepted into their preferred courses or universities should currently be applying for Clearing 2009. The final weeks of August present an opportunity to consider previously unexplored universities and courses.

International students who have been accepted into UK universities for Autumn 2009 should be in the final stages of securing UK visas, which can take up to several months to clear.

London is set for a cash giveaway this month

For anyone making the move to work or visit the UK, there is often the issue of personal safety. It’s not that Britain has a particularly high crime rate, but any major city carries the threat of petty crime from such unsavoury characters as pickpockets or thieves.

London is about to launch a great new scheme where people will actually have money put INTO their pockets and not stolen from their person.

Anything from 5GBP to 20GBP will be secretly slipped into unguarded pockets or open handbags in and around key tourist destinations or places of high footfall in the UK Capital.

The scheme is the brainchild of broadband and telecoms provider TalkTalk. They are calling it ‘Put-Pocketing’ in their company blog and, controversially, they are set to employ former pick-pockets to deposit the cash among unsuspecting members of the public.

It will launch in London at the end of August before going to cities across the UK – keep your eyes open for it.

With free cash being given out so flagrantly, it’s just another great reason to get moving with your visa application and make the move to the UK.

Get a UK visa and join the job hunt

A report on FT.com today has accused the UK visa rules of inhibiting companies from hiring the best talent from overseas.

The current points-based UK immigration system is creating “unexpected hitches” for employers and this in turn is having adverse effects on the London’s standing as a global business centre.

The government’s focus on “British Jobs for British Workers” has led to stricter UK visa rules and more delays in visa application approvals for some businesses.

How have the new laws affected your business and recruitment drive for talented overseas staff?

Are you a recruiter or in HR facing a daily battle with UK immigration bureaucracy?

Or, as an employee from overseas, is securing the vital UK work visa now such an arduous task that you’re thinking of staying at home or migrating elsewhere?

Post your comments and views below.