As Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU on 1 January 2007, it will soon be possible for nationals of those countries to apply for UK permanent residence based on 5 years living in the UK.
Mistakenly, some applicants have applied for UK permanent residence because they were living and working in the UK in some other capacity prior to January 2007, to accrue their 5 years. While such applicants may be able to apply under some other category of UK immigration, permanent residence based on EEA law is only possible after Jan 2012.
This has been confirmed by the UK Border Agency. There are many advantages to applying for permanent residence under EEA law. For more information on permanent residence under EEA law, then please contact us through our website
www.commonwealthimmigration.com
Friday, 28 October 2011
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
UK shortage list changes
The UK government have now moved to implement in full the changes to the Tier 2 shortage list as was recommended by the Migration Advice Committee and reported in our blog post dated 15 September 2011 (below).
Effective from Nov 14th, the following occupations will removed from the list:
· secondary education biology teachers;
· speech and language therapists;
· pharmacists;
· orthoptists;
· veterinary surgeons; and,
· rank and file orchestral musicians.
Added to the list will be:
·actuaries;
·high integrity pipe welders;
·environmental scientists; and,
·geochemists
Occupations on the list do not require the employer to have advertised for workers within the UK.
For more information on Tier 2 visas, please see our website;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/immigration-consultants-uk.htm
Effective from Nov 14th, the following occupations will removed from the list:
· secondary education biology teachers;
· speech and language therapists;
· pharmacists;
· orthoptists;
· veterinary surgeons; and,
· rank and file orchestral musicians.
Added to the list will be:
·actuaries;
·high integrity pipe welders;
·environmental scientists; and,
·geochemists
Occupations on the list do not require the employer to have advertised for workers within the UK.
For more information on Tier 2 visas, please see our website;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/immigration-consultants-uk.htm
Thursday, 13 October 2011
UK Supreme Court finds Immigration Rules on spouses to be unlawful
In a major blow to the government’s immigration policy – the UK Supreme Court has struck down the restriction on spouses aged under 21 years being able to settle in the UK.
This was introduced in 2008 by the previous government in a bid to cut down on “forced marriages”. However, the rules also discriminated against legitimate couples aged over 18 but under 21 who wished to settle in the UK to join a spouse / partner.
This was an obvious result of such legislation – it just took some time for a test case to be decided by the courts. The court said that the rule was unjustified because it interfered with the human rights of couples.
The Home Office will now need to change the relevant section of the Immigration Rules.
Whilst some age restriction may still be permitted, a blanket rigid ban that has been in force will not be permitted.
The timing of the court decision comes in a week when the Prime Minister made a major speak on immigration restrictions.
We’ll obviously update you on any changes through our newsletter.
Subscribe now to our newsletter;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/contact_us.html
This was introduced in 2008 by the previous government in a bid to cut down on “forced marriages”. However, the rules also discriminated against legitimate couples aged over 18 but under 21 who wished to settle in the UK to join a spouse / partner.
This was an obvious result of such legislation – it just took some time for a test case to be decided by the courts. The court said that the rule was unjustified because it interfered with the human rights of couples.
The Home Office will now need to change the relevant section of the Immigration Rules.
Whilst some age restriction may still be permitted, a blanket rigid ban that has been in force will not be permitted.
The timing of the court decision comes in a week when the Prime Minister made a major speak on immigration restrictions.
We’ll obviously update you on any changes through our newsletter.
Subscribe now to our newsletter;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/contact_us.html
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
David Cameron urges people to report illegal immigrants
UK Prime Minister David Cameron says he "wants everyone in the country" to help "reclaim our borders" by reporting suspected illegal immigrants.
In a speech setting out measures to tighten immigration rules, Mr Cameron said people should report suspicions to Crimestoppers and the UK Border Agency.
He also outlined plans to tackle forced and bogus marriages and for new rules for those wanting to settle in the UK.
"Together we will reclaim our borders and send illegal immigrants home."
Mr Cameron said: "If we take the steps set out today and deal with all the different avenues of migration, legal and illegal, then levels of immigration can return to where they were in the 1980s and 90s... a time when immigration was not a front rank political issue."
For Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "While David Cameron talks about getting tough on illegal immigration, he is undermining our border enforcement by cutting 5,000 staff from the UK Borders Agency. And where he talks about limiting work visas, these actually went up under the Government's immigration cap."
Read the full article at;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15235649
Once we have more information on the exact details of the changes to spouse visas, settlement etc... we will detail these on our website;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/
In a speech setting out measures to tighten immigration rules, Mr Cameron said people should report suspicions to Crimestoppers and the UK Border Agency.
He also outlined plans to tackle forced and bogus marriages and for new rules for those wanting to settle in the UK.
"Together we will reclaim our borders and send illegal immigrants home."
Mr Cameron said: "If we take the steps set out today and deal with all the different avenues of migration, legal and illegal, then levels of immigration can return to where they were in the 1980s and 90s... a time when immigration was not a front rank political issue."
For Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "While David Cameron talks about getting tough on illegal immigration, he is undermining our border enforcement by cutting 5,000 staff from the UK Borders Agency. And where he talks about limiting work visas, these actually went up under the Government's immigration cap."
Read the full article at;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15235649
Once we have more information on the exact details of the changes to spouse visas, settlement etc... we will detail these on our website;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/
Monday, 26 September 2011
Victoria State Migration Plan
Victoria is the latest Australian state government to release its new State Migration Plan.
Once again, a comprehensive list of occupations is included in their State Migration Plan, ranging from medical occupations to ICT to many trade occupations.
Some new occupations on the list for Victoria now include:
Surveyor
Ship’s Engineer (Marine Engineer)
Computer Network and Systems Engineer
A limited number of state sponsorship places are also now available for PhD graduates who completed their doctorate in Victoria and have an occupation on DIAC’s State and Territory Skilled Occupation List (Schedule 1 and 2)
This year, Victoria is seeking to attract up to 6000 skilled migrants and their dependants, in a range of priority industries. In 2010-11, Victoria attracted more than 4000 skilled migrants and their dependants, so the new increased aim should really benefit those who work in an occupation on the Victorian list.
For more information on moving to Victoria, then please complete the online assessment form on our website;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/assesment_form.html
Once again, a comprehensive list of occupations is included in their State Migration Plan, ranging from medical occupations to ICT to many trade occupations.
Some new occupations on the list for Victoria now include:
Surveyor
Ship’s Engineer (Marine Engineer)
Computer Network and Systems Engineer
A limited number of state sponsorship places are also now available for PhD graduates who completed their doctorate in Victoria and have an occupation on DIAC’s State and Territory Skilled Occupation List (Schedule 1 and 2)
This year, Victoria is seeking to attract up to 6000 skilled migrants and their dependants, in a range of priority industries. In 2010-11, Victoria attracted more than 4000 skilled migrants and their dependants, so the new increased aim should really benefit those who work in an occupation on the Victorian list.
For more information on moving to Victoria, then please complete the online assessment form on our website;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/assesment_form.html
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Australian migration proposals for 2012
In a recent speech to our professional body, the Migration Institute of Australia, a senior immigration official outlined the framework of a new selection model, which they hope to implement by July 2012.
The idea that more radical changes are to be introduced will likely annoy migrants still getting used to the current system.
It seems that these new proposals require a lot more thought to ensure Australia can still remain attractive to skilled migrants and that forward planning for potential applicants can still be undertaken.
the following is an excerpt from the speech by Kruno Kukoc, First Assistant Secretary, Migration and Visa Policy Division;
"Another important reform initiative to streamline skilled migration to the benefit of Australia is the introduction of SkillSelect - from 1 July 2012.
SkillSelect is a new skilled migrant selection register which will capitalise on the point test system and will ensure the selection of the best and brightest skilled migrants from a pool of prospective migrants.
As most of you would be aware, SkillSelect is based on an electronic two-stage process whereby prospective migrants first submit an expression of interest and may subsequently be invited by the department to make a skilled migration visa application.
Employers will also have the option to access SkillSelect —allowing them to locate and contact prospective migrants that have shown an interest in employer sponsorship.
Currently, the department is formulating an implementation strategy which will lay out the mechanics of SkillSelect and will be submitted to the government by the end of this year."
do you wish to migrate to Australia as a skilled worker ? if so, then please visit our website;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/australia.htm
The idea that more radical changes are to be introduced will likely annoy migrants still getting used to the current system.
It seems that these new proposals require a lot more thought to ensure Australia can still remain attractive to skilled migrants and that forward planning for potential applicants can still be undertaken.
the following is an excerpt from the speech by Kruno Kukoc, First Assistant Secretary, Migration and Visa Policy Division;
"Another important reform initiative to streamline skilled migration to the benefit of Australia is the introduction of SkillSelect - from 1 July 2012.
SkillSelect is a new skilled migrant selection register which will capitalise on the point test system and will ensure the selection of the best and brightest skilled migrants from a pool of prospective migrants.
As most of you would be aware, SkillSelect is based on an electronic two-stage process whereby prospective migrants first submit an expression of interest and may subsequently be invited by the department to make a skilled migration visa application.
Employers will also have the option to access SkillSelect —allowing them to locate and contact prospective migrants that have shown an interest in employer sponsorship.
Currently, the department is formulating an implementation strategy which will lay out the mechanics of SkillSelect and will be submitted to the government by the end of this year."
do you wish to migrate to Australia as a skilled worker ? if so, then please visit our website;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/australia.htm
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Migration Advisory Committee recommends changes to shortage occupation list
A huge 230 page report released by the Migration Advisory Committee has recommended key changes to the list of UK shortage occupations.
These are occupations for which employers can obtain a Tier 2 work visa more easily, without a requirement to advertise the post in the UK market.
A total of 29 job titles are recommended for removal from the list. They include: secondary school biology teachers; consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology; paediatric surgery; nuclear medicine and paediatric dentistry; veterinary surgeons; and tutti orchestral musicians.
The 33 recommended additions to the list include: consultants in emergency medicine; actuaries; specific roles within the visual effects and 2D/3D computer animation for film; television and the video games sectors; high integrity pipe welders; environmental scientists; and operations managers in the decommissioning areas of the nuclear industry and geochemists.
We now await the government changing the list in line with these recommendations.
If you want to move to the UK, then please contact us through our website;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/immigration-consultants-uk.htm
These are occupations for which employers can obtain a Tier 2 work visa more easily, without a requirement to advertise the post in the UK market.
A total of 29 job titles are recommended for removal from the list. They include: secondary school biology teachers; consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology; paediatric surgery; nuclear medicine and paediatric dentistry; veterinary surgeons; and tutti orchestral musicians.
The 33 recommended additions to the list include: consultants in emergency medicine; actuaries; specific roles within the visual effects and 2D/3D computer animation for film; television and the video games sectors; high integrity pipe welders; environmental scientists; and operations managers in the decommissioning areas of the nuclear industry and geochemists.
We now await the government changing the list in line with these recommendations.
If you want to move to the UK, then please contact us through our website;
http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/immigration-consultants-uk.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)