Immigration newsletter 03 Mar 2010

If you currently have a Masters degree and meet the requirements for the UK Tier 1 visa it may be worth applying now.  UK Immigration will probably be making significant changes to the requirements for the UK Tier 1 visa very soon.

In early December 2009 the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended various changes to the Tier 1 visa scheme. MAC recommended that those with a Bachelors degree and not just those with a Masters Degree or equivalent should be able to come under the Tier 1 visa. This will benefit many people. However, MAC also said that there should be a substantial increase in the thresholds under which you can gain points for previous annual earnings.

The UK Home Office recently published quarterly immigration statistics on immigration and asylum for the period October to December 2009. According to UK Immigration the immigration statistics show the following:
 

• UK Immigration says that immigration statistics show that immigration by Eastern Europeans from the 'A8' accession countries of the European Union has fallen.
• There has also been a small reduction in overall immigration to the UK.

UK immigration will be sharing more data and intelligence with overseas Governments in source immigration Countries to prevent illegal immigration.  “The international action plan” by the Home Office and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office will according to the government lead to more effective action abroad against human traffickers, forgers and foreign criminals.

It is likely that in future visitors and immigrants in the UK will be refused permission to enter or stay in the UK if they owe money to the National Health Service (NHS) above a certain amount. This is to prevent migrants from using and then not paying for NHS healthcare services.

UK Immigration Minister Phil Woolas announced a UK Border Agency (UKBA) public consultation ending on 28 May 2010 to try and deal with this issue. The immigration rules already prevent visitors from accessing NHS services without permission while in the UK.