Immigration Matters
by Charles Kelly
Immigration Adviser &
Co-Author of the book
HOW
2 Come to the UK
to live, work,
study or visit
Welcome to Immigration Matters
February 2005. In this month’s edition:
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Clarke unveils immigration plan BBC News 7th Feb 2005 |
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A new points system that aims to ensure migrants wanting to work
in the UK have the right skills is at the heart of the government's new
immigration strategy. Home Secretary
Charles Clarke told MPs migrants were vital for the UK economy and society
but it needed controls. The plans include
fines for employers using illegal workers. There are also moves to prevent
asylum abuse. Fighting bigotry The five-year plan
comes as immigration looks increasingly likely play a contentious role in
campaigning for the election - widely predicted for May.
Tony Blair told BBC
News there was real public concern and it was in To critics who say he
has taken too long to act, he said: "This requires a long, hard patient
slog, not a magic bullet." In the Commons, Mr
Clarke stressed the positive effects of immigration and warned: "It is a
lack of confidence in our systems of control that can foster bigotry." He announced an end
to the automatic right to settle for immigrants' families. Existing work permit
schemes would be rolled into one Australian-style system where migrants
qualified for a certain number of points according to their skills. A new labour market
advisory group would recommend what skills British businesses needed. Fingerprinting In sectors particularly
open to abuse, workers would have to pay money up front as a bond which they
would only get back once they returned home. And all visa
applicants would be fingerprinted as part of tighter border controls. The changes mean only
high-skilled workers will be allowed to settle in the UK - temporary labour
from inside the European Union will now fill low-skill vacancies. On asylum, Mr Clarke
proposed that genuine refugees would no longer have permanent leave to remain
in the Instead, they would get
permission to stay in the country for five years before it was decided
whether it was safe for them to return to their countries of origin. He also promised more
detention of failed asylum seekers and agreements to return them home. Maeve Sherlock, from
the Refugees' Council, said refugees the plans risked leaving refugees
"in limbo" for five years. Concern Conservative shadow
home secretary David Davis welcomed a points system but accused the a
"panic-stricken" government of promising only half measures. Clear limits on the
number of immigrants were needed because of pressure on public services , he
argued. The UK Independence
Party also wants a points system for economic migration but complains there
are no limits on the number of EU workers coming to the This all points to a
hardening of attitudes from all parties as public fears over immigration
starts to influence the forthcoming election. How will this affect you? Anyone concerned or
worried about the possible impact of the proposed changes should seek
professional advice. At this stage,
however, we do not know the precise details of the proposed new rules, how
they will be implemented or when they will come into force. One thing that is
certain is that things are going to get tougher for anyone, especially the
lower skilled, wishing to come and settle in the If you are planning to make any application for work
permits, work permit extensions, dependant visas, settlement and citizenship,
DO IT
NOW! |
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