UK Immigration News

On 23 January 2009 the UK Border Agency announced changes to the treatment of application for private servants in diplomatic households. This follows a commitment by Ministers that private servants will still be able to apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) under the new Tier 5 of the points system at the end of five years.

More than 151,000 overseas nationals from outside the EU were granted permission to work: almost four times the level when Labor took power in 1997.

It was announced to MPs that 151,635 work visa applications were granted between December 2007 and November last year.

India is becoming an increasingly important economic power in the World and is now ranked as number twelve in the World by Gross Domestic Product. There are excellent opportunities for trade between the UK and India in areas such as manufacturing and financial services.

The UK Border Agency has announced a call for tender for the European Integration Fund 2007-2008. Applications to the fund which has a value of approximately five million have to be submitted by 6 March 2009. The European Integration Fund is for legal migrants who have arrived in the last five years and who are not asylum seekers or refugees.

The UK Border Agency on 15 January 2009 published their first guide to visa processing standards and service standards.

Those applying for a visa will be able to find out information on likely processing times for their visa application. This information is updated every month based on the latest information on processing times for each visa application.

New UK immigration policy means that employers will first need to advertise jobs within the UK before advertising abroad. Employers will need to first advertise jobs for two weeks in the Government's Job Centre Plus network in the UK.