Archive for the ‘UK’ Category

Despite the contract being signed and personal terms worth thousands of pounds agreed it seems that even the millions of Rafael Benitez’s LFC cannot beat the UK immigration system.

Due to a decision from the Department for Work and Pensions, super signing, Argentine midfielder Sebastian Leto has been denied a work permit to play in England next season.

The player who was targeted to star alongside midfield supremo Steven Gerrard and aid Liverpool FC in their quest for European and domestic football glory joined the Reds from Lanus for a fee of around £2m in 2007.

The 21-year old talent was granted an Italian passport last summer but it was later revoked, resulting in him needing a work permit to play for the KOP this season in the premiership.

Speaking at a press conference Liverpool manager Benitez said “You have managers talking about how good he is, so I think the system needs to change…He has a long contract, and I think he can impress and next year will be a different situation.”

With the UK Premiership football tournament only days away from a fresh season, the issue surrounding foreign players and visa applications is one which has become more vividly discussed in the public domain.

Australia has been taken over by the US as the destination of choice for British and Irish travellers, reports the Telegraph.

According to a survey of 17, 500 respondents by guidebook publisher Lonely Planet, the US was rated tops, followed by Australia, New Zealand, Italy and Thailand.
The UK tourists interviewed in the survey also said that America is the country they would be most likely to visit.

Australia had previously been the most popular destination for four years in a row.
For the first time the UK has appeared in the top ten choices as more and more Brits opt for the cheaper local holiday options.

The fact that the US was selected comes as a surprise to many who often criticise them for their bureaucratic immigration system. However the weakening pound have made America attractive in terms of the favourable exchange rate compared to the strong euro. 

The UK has proposed a plan to introduce travel visas for citizens from 11 different countries worldwide when travelling to Britain. This however could, in turn, hurt UK tourists, believe www.globalvisas.com.

Due to rising illegal immigration figures and fears around border security, tourists and business people from countries like South Africa, Malaysia and Mauritius may have to abide by visa restrictions in the UK. And this could result in reciprocal visa restrictions.

With visa restrictions such as this in place, it would be surprising if these eleven countries don’t retaliate by imposing their own visa constraints on UK citizens. And why not, these laws are ultimately labelling citizens untrustworthy and a threat.

The British government can impose such restrictions but they cannot expect such measures not to affect them too. Besides, it is silly to impose such rules on countries where citizens make up a high proportion of visitors and therefore greatly contribute to the country’s economics via tourism and business.

Many different people will be affected by such changes in the UK and in the 11 designated countries. This visa scheme will affect the tourist itself by raising costs and adding inconvenience. Tour operators and agents would have to change their strategy and this will also add more paperwork to their current load.

Countries like South Africa are extremely popular tourist destinations, particularly for Brits who come for holiday or to visit family. This will be seriously impacted if citizens of the UK need a visa to visit.

Implementing visas for these countries, which are seen as risky, is ultimately a double edged sword. On the one hand visitors who contribute to the UK economy would be affected and turned off and the opportunities for British travellers would be hampered.

A final decision as to if necessary visas will be introduced in certain countries will take place early next year. (TB)

In further development to the previous post concerning the imminent 2008 Olympic Games and the issue of obtaining visas for both athletes and visitors it seems that the UK has stepped up with new visas to prevent such actions happening prior to 2012.

It seems that the UK, whom have won the honour of hosting the 2012 Olympic Games in London are taking learnings from the problems which China and Beijing in particular are experiencing.

In what appears to be an effort of preparation for the event the UK has announced potential plans to issue new short-term, low-cost visas for group travel and one-off special events.

According to a report in the Guardian Newspaper, the new system will include separate visas for sports people and entertainers and a clear and distinct visa category for business visitors.

Although not publicly deemed as being in aid of the Games, there is no doubt that such plans would ease any potential problems in getting visas for essential individuals.

The UK has officially said that they have been improving the short-term visa system to make the UK more attractive to business and tourism, while deterring those seeking to break the rule.

Under the new rules, sports people and support staff coming for specific events or joining UK amateur teams will be eligible to visit the UK for up to six months.

Speaking about the changes proposed by the UK Border and Immigration Agency, Minister for Sports Gerry Sutcliffe said “If we are going to make the UK the world’s best cultural and sporting nation by 2012, then we need to make sure that talented sportspeople and entertainers from all over the world come here to take part in the many sporting events, festivals, and shows we have on offer.” (CN)

Here! Here! To our Equality Minister Harriet Harman. Today the minister established the much needed Equality Bill to end discrimination in the work place. Personally I am over the moon about this, I think it’s the feminist in me coming out and I know the old boys club who set up these ridiculers rules to discriminate against age, race, sex or sexual preferences are all rolling about to try to revoke the new proposed bill. This bill will make it easier for women to demand equal pay and as it has been the trend in the past years, age discrimination will come to an end, eventually.

Thank goodness www.globalvisas.com is a company that prides itself in equality and diversity. The equal pay legislation was introduced 30 years ago however the gap is still mounting. Everywhere else in the world the anti-discrimination bills are in place but they are not “really” implemented. So what the minister is saying is that, all that has to stop and government and business need to work together to eliminate that gap and play fair and square on the playground. So how does this bill fit into immigration policies?

More diverse skilled migrants can come into the country knowing that they will be treated fairly and equally. As women, the uncomfortable feeling of negotiating what we are worth will take a plunge. More women will start tracking the world for better opportunities to the UK. Recent studies has shown that women in the IT industry for example which happens to be one of the fastest growing industries in the world (next to banking and business to name a few), women are being paid much less. Women may feel that getting a university degree is useless as they will continue to earn less than their male counterparts. This will all hopefully change.

Of course many of us know that the UK has always sold itself to the rest of the world as the mother of the global community and that it has opened its doors to multiculturalism and diversity. Even with recent UK border and immigration law changes the UK can still hold its head high as one of the best in the world.

Even in the US, Democrat presidential candidate Obama Barrack has been trying to lure female voters by promising better earnings and pay raises. While in Spain the Spanish cabinet boasts itself with nine women alongside eight men, including Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Could this be why many English natives prefer Spain as an alternative immigration destination? Whatever the reason, this law proposal is slowly restoring my hope in humanity. I think the world with the help of the UK is initiating a much needed movement 0f anti-discrimination on anything.

Now we only hope that they can walk the walk as much as they are talking it. (TM)

If you have a criminal conviction you will not be allowed a visa to enter the United Kingdom. This is a blanket rule that applies to everyone, even celebrities like Martha Stewart.

Stewart’s conviction of four years ago where she spent five months in jail, is the reason why she has been banned from entering the UK, says a report in the Telegraph.

This multi-millionaire lifestyle guru was planning on coming to Britain this week to address the Royal Academy in London and meet with various fashion labels and industries.

Although Martha’s representatives are hoping for a resolution it is clear that the Home Office has strict rules when it comes to this, no matter who it concerns.

Visit www.globalvisas.com to find more about UK immigration laws.(TB)

Today the European Parliament approved a contentious new rule to expel illegal immigrants from the bloc (Basic Level of Capability). The new rules come after anti-immigrant sentiments from wealthy blocs such as Italy, who are blaming foreigners for spiking violent crimes in the country. France is also one of the countries that pushed for this new law that has had human rights activists protesting against. The last few years has seen France grappling with tensions in its “immigrant-heavy suburbs”. The EU joins bloc member (UK) in the latest drastic immigration rules implementation.

With the US credit crash affecting economies, governments are struggling and the old trusted scapegoat of immigrants (legal or not) comes into place as introduced heavily by the UK and Europe. Goverment immigration authorities argue that the dramatic immigration changes across Europe and the UK are needed to preserve a countries economy and to let in those (immigrants) who will benefit the country, however at www.globalvisas.com we believe that goverments should be more cognizant when making immigration policies. Not only is the rest of the world being stopped from moving freely they have to deal with new discriminatory rules that are being implemented on a regular basis just to keep migrants out.
 
Many industrialised countries can not deny the contribution of immigrants labour to their countries prosperity. With global mobility ever increasing, whether it’s forced (refugees/illegal immigrants) or by choice (skilled labour immigration), migrants tend to move to cosmopolitan, developed countries. In return immigrants become the worlds scapegoats for when things go wrong and especially when economies and social structures take a plundge. Immigrants are only admitted to satisfy a labour shortage and later discarded e.g. UK discarding doctors based on the new tier system and immigration changes.

Border control is important for any country and yes countries do need to protect what’s theirs. However decisions on immigration control and law change so frequently that in some cases by taking thoughtless measures a government could be sending someone to their death bed. A country has every right to protect itself but discrimination and racism and inhumane laws are incomprehensible, especially when developed countries preach peace and togetherness to the rest of the world. The new EU law on illegal immigrants is a scramble to regain power and give a solution to countries where they have not sorted out their own internal problems because of bad policies. In the end a migrant is seen as nothing more than “human capital”, and more “capital” than “human” and if he is neither, measures are taken to deploy him. (TM).

The UK Home Office have announced changes to the national shortage occupation list. They have added two new occupations and deleted two existing occupations.

The additions are electricity generation engineers and high integrity pipe welders. If you have these skills, you will no longer have to have a labour market test for a work permit where the job is advertised by an employer in order to verify if there is no local who can fulfil the occupation instead of a foreigner.

Those with these skills need to apply via the tier 2 points-based system. However if you fall into one of these in demand occupations the system will be easier. 

Those skills that will be removed from July 18th this year are CAA licensed aircraft engineer, due to a lack of supporting market research and geriatric and rehabilitation medicine following a NHS review.

With a start up salary as low as £12 500 a year, many British soldiers are leaving the army after just four years. Could immigration curb the problem?

This issue was featured in a GmTV report this morning, where soldiers where found to be leaving jobs in the army for higher paid jobs in other industries. To deal with this the army has had to recruit soldiers from commonwealth countries.

It is highly contentious when those people who are hired to keep one’s country secure are paid such a small amount of money and the only solution would be to look abroad to fill shortages.

It is a pity that those people who risk their lives for their country are not treated with the respect they deserve in terms of salary.

It must be said though that those people who do come from overseas to wear the Queens Uniform do so with such pride and are as fine as any British soldier.  The UK must be extremely proud of her overseas soldier and UK born troops.

Global Visas as a multinational organisation who believes in international opportunity where ever that maybe.  We salute all the hard working men and women of the UK armed forces.   

A renowned London based university has taken a further step in the plan for improved relations amongst international students.

Yesterday UCL (University College London) announced plans to open an overseas campus in Australia. The announcement will see UCL become the first British university to open a subsequent campus in Australia, a move which is in tune with the UK’s planned initiatives for multi-national study.

It has been reported that UCL sealed a deal with the government of Australia to open a School of Energy and Resources in Adelaide. The school which is scheduled for opening next year is to specialise in global energy use and is expected to teach on average 60 masters students.

The news will be seen as a positive addition to the already well established university and will open up a wealth of opportunities for cross cultural study, particularly between Australian and UK students.

Should the school be viewed as a successful working campus, we may see an up rise in universities basing additional campuses throughout the world.

CN