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UK to impose tougher immigration rules
Published on: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 14:49:11 GMT
THE United Kingdom (UK) will be tightening up its immigration rules, making it more difficult for Jamaicans and other foreigners to be granted work permits. Proposals now before the UK Parliament will see the introduction of a points-based system that will make it much harder for low-skilled workers from outside of the European Union to settle in the UK.
It will also be stricter for entertainers, as they will no longer be able to enter Britain on a group work permit. Presently, non-touring entertainers or performing groups can use one temporary work permit issued through a centre at Sheffield.
Instead, any person wishing to travel to Britain as a part of a touring or theatre group will have to apply to the British consulate individually from their home country. Each member of this party will have to supply details of a sponsor from an approved list and each case will be assessed individually. Those with criminal records could be barred.
Meanwhile, under the new rules, each member of a group will have to apply for a permit costing ВЈ100. Overseas groups currently pay a flat fee of ВЈ153 for a work permit. Some 165,000 work permits were issued last year.
The new points-based work permit system will have five tiers, replacing the 50 ways in which people can now migrate to Britain for studying and working purposes. The categories range from entrepreneur (allowed to settle) to youth exchange (non-immigrant).
Tier one includes investors, entrepreneurs, and highly skilled workers, while tier two includes skilled workers in areas with a skills shortage; skilled workers with job offers, and intra-company transfers.
Tier three comprises low-skilled workers such as waiters, agricultural workers, and food production workers, while tier four includes students and tier-five comprises working visitors such as Commonwealth working holiday workers, and youth exchange participants.
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