Immigration newsletter 09 Jan 2014

If you have found professional level work with a high hourly rate we can help you find a Tier 2 sponsor and transfer to the Tier 2 (General) skilled worker visa stream. The requirements are easier if you are switching from a Tier 1 PSW or Tier 4 Student visa (at degree level) to a Tier 2 Visa.

If you have a contract or employment and would like help finding a sponsor call the London office on 0344 991 9222 or email us at uk@workpermit.com

UK government announces 'strict' benefits test for EU migrants

The UK's Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, has announced a new benefits test which is designed to discourage jobless migrants from within the EU from coming to the UK to claim benefits.

The new test will require EU immigrants to provide details of their English ability and explain what steps they have taken to find work.

He said that the new test would be legal under EU law and would prevent EU migrants, particularly from Bulgaria and Romania, from coming to the UK to claim benefits.

UK's deputy PM attacks proposed EU immigration clampdown

The UK's deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has criticised plans prepared by the UK's Home Office to limit the number of immigrants coming to the UK from within the EU. He said that the proposals, which were contained in a document leaked to UK paper The Sunday Times and published on 15 December 2013, were 'illegal and unworkable'.

Congress may pass US immigration reform in 2014

US sources report that the lower house of the US Congress, The House of Representatives, may vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2014. The vice president, Joe Biden said early in December that 'it's going to happen'.

There are several more reasons for optimism. An unexpected bipartisan agreement on the US federal budget means that the House will have more time available in 2014. Many Washington commentators had expected much of 2014 to be taken up with argument between Democrats and Republicans about federal government spending. But on December 18th, Congress approved government funding until 2015 which will free up time for other matters.

New Zealand immigration establishes Entrepreneur Work Visa

The New Zealand immigration minister Michael Woodhouse has announced that his department is to scrap the Long-Term Business Visa and introduce a new visa, the Entrepreneur Work Visa, to replace it. The new visa will assess applicants using a points-based test and require them to invest NZ$100,000.

Mr Woodhouse says that he hopes that the new scheme will 'encourage business-savvy migrants to invest, settle and create jobs across the country'. He said that he was scrapping the Long-Term Business Visa because it had 'attracted a large number of low-quality applications'.

UK's plan to cut immigration could damage economy says think tank

A report by a UK think tank suggests that if the UK's Coalition government is successful in reducing immigration to below 100,000 a year this could lead to reduced growth in the economy of 11% by 2060. This would, the report says, result in lower incomes and higher taxes for UK residents.

The research has been carried out by the Institute of Economic and Social Research, which calls itself 'Britain's longest established independent research institute' (it was founded in 1938).