Category Archives: General UK Immigration News

UK Still Keen to Attract New Zealand Nationals

Mr Hague, who was accompanied on the trip by the Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, said that \”We have to be firm but fair on immigration, but I don\’t think the new rules will unduly affect the number of people coming in from New Zealand into the UK, and I\’d be worried if they did so. […]

EU Pushing Ahead with ‘Blue Card’ Visa

What is the EU Blue Card? The EU Blue Card will allow highly skilled migrants (and their families) to live and work in the European Union for an initial period of two years. Beyond that time migrants will be able to extend the visa so long as they satisfy certain criteria. Those granted a Blue […]

Outgoing CBI Chief attacks Government Policies including the Immigration Cap

In an article with the Spectator, Mr Lambert said “The government is talking about growth in an enthusiastic and thoughtful way, but it has failed so far to articulate in big picture terms its vision of what that means. What I feel is that a number of their initiatives – I’m thinking of the immigration […]

Irish Emigration makes reducing UK Net Migration even more difficult

The report found that: 60,000 people left Ireland between April 2009 and April 2010 40,000 people are expected to emigrate between April 2010 and April 2011 24,000 people emigrated to Australia 11,000 people emigrated to the United Kingdom 4,444 people emigrated to New Zealand 3,462 people emigrate to Canada 1,700 people emigrated to the United […]

NHS will struggle with the Immigration Cap & Lack of Flexibility

The Managing Director of Hays Health care, John Faraguna, has said “In our dealings with employers it is already very apparent that there is a shortage of workers with the necessary skills. Doctors, nurses and specialists, such as radiologists and anaesthetists, are all needed to work in the National Health Service (NHS). The increasing pressure […]

IPPR says UK Immigration figures not expected to show drop in 2010

The IPPR said that its forecast for 2011 was based on: The UK economy continuing to perform better that Eurozone countries including Spain, Portugal and Greece, AND An influx of people coming to the UK from Ireland. Some forecasts have hinted that the UK could see an influx of some 120,000 Irish nationals who are […]

Boris Johnson says Immigration Cap will make the UK uncompetitive

Mr Johnson said that \”There is a risk that the necessity of putting up a public show of rhetoric will do possible damage to London\’s competitiveness. I think there is a case for flexibility and I think the government understands that.\” Many UK businesses have criticized the Immigration Cap proposals, with significant concerns registered over […]

Scotland calls for separate Immigration Cap

In the letter Business leaders and industry organizations in Scotland said that “A limit on net non-European Economic Area (EEA) migration to bring it to the level of \’tens of thousands a year\’ is likely to impede Scotland\’s economic recovery and distort the labour market. We are deeply concerned that the annual limit will have […]

New List of English Language Test Providers to be announced

The UK Border Agency believes that ‘’people applying to live, work and study in the UK must have the required English language skills, and must be able to demonstrate this as part of their application.’’ If you are applying for a Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 4 visa before April 2010 you will still […]

Labour Earned Citizenship scheme scrapped

The Home Secretary said that ‘It is too easy, at the moment, to move from temporary residence to permanent settlement. We will not implement Labour’s policy of earned citizenship, which was too complicated, bureaucratic and, in the end, ineffective. If people enter this country saying that they will only stay here temporarily, then it is […]