Immigration newsletter 29 Jan 2014

Are you a professional contractor working in the UK and earning at least £180 per day? If so, we can help you find a sponsor and obtain a UK Tier 2 (General) skilled worker visa. It is easier to switch if you already have a Tier 1 PSW visa or a Tier 4 student visa. Why not contact the London office on 0344 991 9222 for further details.

UK immigration policy to blame for 25% reduction in Indian students

The first ever fall in the number of international students starting courses at UK universities has been recorded. Some experts in the UK's export education sector blame the Coalition government for this fall.

The number of new Indian students in 2013 was down by 26% on the previous year and there were 19% fewer Pakistani students.

Senior figures in UK education have repeatedly warned that government policy was damaging the UK's export education sector but the immigration minister Mark Harper has denied this and accused critics of being ‘unhelpful’.

'Flood' of Romanians fails to materialise on UK shores

The influx of Romanians and Bulgarians which was expected by some politicians and journalists to arrive in the UK on 1st January, has failed to arrive. On 31st December, transitional controls preventing the free movement of Bulgarians and Romanians to work in the UK and other EU countries expired.

Some predicted that Bulgarians and Romanians would instantly descend on English ports and airports. However, on 28th January, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said that the numbers arriving seemed ‘reasonable’. Some estimates suggest that only 25 people have come to the UK from the two countries since January 1st.

UK Cabinet split on EU immigration

A senior Conservative cabinet minister has been 'rebuked' by the UK's Prime Minister David Cameron for saying that he did not accept 'that the European Union is responsible for unacceptable waves of migration' and adding that immigration had made the UK 'far more exciting and healthier'.

Kenneth Clarke, a veteran Conservative politician who served in Mrs Thatcher's cabinet in the 1980s, told The Financial Times that immigrants from the EU had made 'a positive contribution to our economy'.

Australian industry lobbies for increase in immigration

The Australian Industry Group, a pressure group that lobbies on behalf of Australian industry, has called on Australia’s Coalition government to increase the number of immigrants granted permanent residence each year from 190,000 to 220,000 with immediate effect.

The chief executive, Innes Willox, says that immigration is necessary to support economic growth. He says that Australia has an ageing workforce and growing skills shortages in industries such mining, engineering, infrastructure and health services which should be filled by immigrants.

Immigration New Zealand to reassess 'hundreds' of partnership visas

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is to reassess hundreds of Family Stream visa applications after an investigation into the criteria used by staff to decide temporary residence visa applications from the partners of New Zealand visa holders. The New Zealand Immigration Ombudsman has carried out an investigation and says that nearly 600 such applications may have been wrongly refused. Immigration New Zealand hasagreed to reopen the cases.

The applications were for Partnership-based Temporary Visas granted under the family stream. These visas allow foreign nationals whose partners are already in New Zealand to reside in New Zealand for the duration of their partner’s visa.

Snoop Dogg issued with Australian Entertainer visa despite campaign

And finally, the veteran rapper Snoop Dogg was issued with an Australian Temporary Work (Entertainment) visa despite a campaign by feminists to bar him from the country. He was therefore able to perform at the Big Day Out festival on the Gold Coast in Queensland on January 19th. Snoop Dogg, real name Calvin Broadus, has long been controversial for his sexist lyrics. The feminist pressure group Collective Shout had lobbied to have Dogg barred from Australia because, they said, his lyrics glorify violence against women. The group set up an online petition which attracted 2,500 signatures but Australian Immigration minister Scott Morrison refused to bar Dogg, who performed as planned.