Immigration could pay for soaring costs of pensions
Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:31:20 GMT
A huge upturn in immigration to the UK might be needed to stem the country's pensions crisis, a controversial new report claims today. Up to ten million migrant workers might need to enter the UK between now and 2025 to ensure pensioners can continue to receive the basic state pension, according to the study, published in the latest issue of the Economic Journal.
Big rise in student visas raises fear of scams
Mon, 19 Jun 2006 12:27:22 GMT
Labour's immigration policy was under fresh attack last night after the Government admitted that it had no firm data on how many foreign students left the UK after the completion of their courses. The admission came after Douglas Carswell, the Conservative MP for Harwich, discovered a huge increase in the number of student visas issued to people from just five countries. Separately, the Foreign Office disclosed yesterday that as many as 180,000 people living in Pakistan and Bangladesh could be holding British passports and be able to live here - 135,000 more than official estimates.
Pitfalls of the Spouse Visa
Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:04:36 GMT
A recent decision by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) brings into sharp focus a problem that bedevils many families in the diaspora. In this case, the applicant spouse had applied to travel to the UK on a spouse visa and was refused, partly because she and her sponsor had lived apart for far too long. This state of affairs is altogether too familiar in diasporic communities. Spouses and families routinely live apart, sometimes because circumstances dictate. I know a man who genuinely struggled to finance his wife’s trip to join him in the UK.
UK closes loophole in immigration process
Fri, 09 Jun 2006 07:29:25 GMT
First discovered six years ago, a loophole that allows immigrants to illegally use a fabricated National Insurance number toward their residency process has now been closed down. Individuals who wish to work in Britain must have a National Insurance number. It is used to deduct taxes, determine national insurance contributions, and to generally track movement of an individual through the work force. Various benefits are also allocated, based upon these statistics.
Foreign Prisoners cleared to stay in UK
Wed, 07 Jun 2006 00:19:42 GMT
HUNDREDS of foreign prisoners at the centre of the Home Office deportation row have now been cleared to stay in the UK by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Lin Homer, the director of the beleaguered IND, said about 200 of the 1,019 foreign prisoners had been allowed to stay in the UK after finishing their sentences. Historically, only 60 per cent had been deported, she said.
Immigration advisor was 'not fit' to give advise
Tue, 06 Jun 2006 09:31:22 GMT
A Belfast-based businessman provided immigration advice to clients despite having only a "limited knowledge" of the regulations, a government body has stated. The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) said the recent prosecution of Yee Hing Frankie Ho should send a "clear message" on the need to abide by the law.
UK Immigration 'Not Fit For Purpose'
Fri, 26 May 2006 20:47:51 GMT
Britain's immigration service is not "fit for purpose" and needs a "fundamental overhaul". That was Home Secretary John Reid's verdict on his own department when speaking to MPs. Mr Reid complained he had been forced to "defend the indefensible" since taking over at the Home Office. He also hinted heads could still roll for some of the mistakes it has made in recent months.
EU Immigration Could Topple the UK
Sun, 21 May 2006 11:30:33 GMT
Over a quarter of a million immigrants from eastern Europe could arrive in the UK unless restrictions are put in place, a new report has claimed. Up to 300,000 Romanians and Bulgarians could come to the UK seeking work once their countries join the EU, campaign group Migrationwatch said. It warned that Britain must not be among a handful of EU states to "go it alone" and allow unrestricted access for immigrant workers.
UK effecting changes in visa services
Sun, 14 May 2006 08:43:51 GMT
The United Kingdom was going to effect some changes in visa services, including introduction of bio-metric recognition, in the next two to three years for those seeking immigration, British High Commissioner to India Sir Michael Arthur said on Friday. "Bio-metric recognition process is happening everywhere in Europe. In future the authorities clearing visas for UK will need to take finger prints of the applicants," he said.
UK migrants preferred over local labourers
Mon, 01 May 2006 02:15:42 GMT
Many employers providing low-skilled, low-wage jobs prefer migrants to British nationals who some describe as lazy, according to a Joseph Rowntree Foundation study published today. The survey of more than 1,000 migrant workers and employers by the social policy research organisation reported that three-quarters of employees believed that European enlargement had been good business, "with migrant workers doing jobs under employment conditions that UK nationals are not prepared to accept".
|