UK Immigration News

The UK government is recruiting staff from embassies abroad and civil servants to replace immigration officials at ports and airports who will join a nationwide public sector strike this week, UK immigration officials announced. The strike could cause long queues at passport and UK visa controls.

UK immigration Minister Damien Green announced on Wednesday that UK immigration will keep work restrictions on Romanians and Bulgarians wishing to work in Britain until the end of 2013. According to the statement, the restrictions will keep more jobs available for unemployed domestic workers.

British Ambassador to Kuwait Frank Baker announced on Sunday the launch of the 2011 British Council UK Education Exhibition, which aims to help Kuwaiti students learn more about the UK education system's range of courses available and student visa requirements.

There have been new developments in the UK Border Agency scandal. New documents further confirm the extent to which checks on UK visitors were relaxed; this includes allowing passengers of private jets to bypass UK visa and immigration security checks.

Graduates looking to apply for the UK Tier 1 Post Study Work visa will want to apply as soon as they are able to; this visa category will be abolished in April 2012.In March 2011, UK immigration announced they will close the Tier 1 Post-study work visa, which allows students 2 years to work in the UK after their course ends. In most cases only graduates who have an offer of a skilled job from a sponsoring employer under Tier 2 of the points-based system will be able to stay and work in the UK.

The UK government's advisors on UK immigration policy the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended an increase in minimum salary requirements to bring a spouse to the UK. If approved, the changes could cut the number of family visa applications by up to two-thirds.