UK Immigration News

UK immigration's shortage occupation list changes for the Tier 2 immigration route is now in effect. The changes affect those applying for Tier 2 visas, making it more difficult for some workers to seek employment in the UK. The recommended list was announced by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and accepted by the UK immigration department on 18 October and went into effect beginning 14 November.

South Africans will now be able to have their last-minute UK visitor visa applications expedited under a new priority visa service offered by the UK Border Agency.

India has the second highest number of emigrants in the world, with 2010 seeing 11.4 million Indians moving abroad. Indians leave typically to work in higher paid jobs abroad and to study abroad.India provides a number of services to Indians living abroad. According to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, international migration is important impacting on economic relations between the developed and developing countries. In 2006 the Emigration Policy Division of the Ministry was established to help the ever growing number of Indians living abroad.

The UK Border Agency is set to announce new policies to make it quicker for British employers to hire migrant workers under the Tier 2 and Tier 5 visa system by paying a substantial additional fee to the government.UK Immigration plans to introduce a new "fast track" migrant worker scheme which will expedite the process for companies who wish to recruit foreign nationals.

The UK government is facing strong criticism after it was revealed the UK Border Agency had been downgrading immigration and visa checks. Head of the Border Force, Brodie Clark, resigned over claims that staff were told to relax the checks made on non-EU nationals arriving in the UK.

The Philippine's Department of Foreign Affairs reminds Filipino caregivers working in the UK about the new immigration rules that specifies a minimum hourly wage for caregivers seeking permanent residence.According to the new policy, before settlement visas can be issued to foreign caregivers, they must be receiving an hourly wage of at least £7.02. Only those receiving this amount would be eligible to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain visas, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said.