Immigration news

Work Permits UK the Government Department that deals with UK work permits has since 1st November 2001 introduced multiple entry work permits . This will allow people who are based overseas to enter the UK for short periods of time to work. This type of work permit will be valid for a period of six months to two years. One difference from the usual type of work permit is that you will not be allowed to do supplementary work whilst on the multiple entry permit. The main benefit is that if you have an employee who comes to the UK regularly but only for short periods of time the same work permit will cover the employee for up to two years.

David Blunkett's speech to Labour Party Conference - 3rd October 2001 - contained the following points:

New radical improved policy on immigration and asylumDevelopment of work permit system which allows people to enter and work freelyDevelop 'fast track' entry routes for those with high skillsStudents to be able to stay while application is being made Updated seasonal worker programme

Detailed changes will be announced to the House Of Commons by the end of the month - an update will be provided on these pages

[Update 29th October 2001]

The German Green Card scheme launched on 1st August 2000 has after a slow start turned into a great success. The 10,000th Green Card was issued in October 2001 meaning that half of the total allocation of 20,000 Green Cards have now been issued.

The scheme has attracted IT professionals from all over the globe. The country attracting the largest number of Green Card applicants (21%) was India, with applicants from the former Soviet Union representing many of the rest.

If you are thinking of moving to New Zealand and just qualify under the points system, don’t delay!

The ‘pass mark’ for points based Immigration (the General Skills Category) has stood at 24 since August 2000. With effect from 1 January 2002, the pass mark will be raised to 25.

The good news is that complete applications submitted (to one of New Zealand’s overseas diplomatic offices) before the end of the year will be assessed against the current pass mark of 24 points.

Workpermit.com are pleased to announce that we are now registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner as immigration consultants in the 'for profit' sector. If you have any queries about what this entails, please look at www.oisc.gov.uk

Germany’s interior minister, Otto Schily, today announced an overhaul of the German immigration regulations.

Designed to relax the rules for immigration for skilled staff, especially those in the IT and telecomms industries, and tighten regulations for unskilled workers, it also proposes to introduce tougher measures for asylum seekers and those under deportation orders.