Working for UK Employers

Ever since the Home Office announced that it wished to introduce a new Points-Based system for migration to the UK it has produced rough time-estimates on when the system will be introduced, stating that it will not be introduced ‘before’ a particular date.  Now the government Minister responsible for the Border and Immigration Agency, Liam Byrne MP, appears to have set down a timetable.

The part of the UK Border and Immigration Agency dealing with work permits (previously called Work Permits (UK)) has made changes to the National Shortage Occupation List. This is the list of jobs where it is recognised that there is a shortage of workers within the labour market in the UK and that employers may not be able to fill the post with a UK or European Economic Area (EEA) worker. In such cases, employers do not need to undertake a labour market search to demonstrate that there is no-one within the EEA who can fill the job.

With the substantial increase in fees charged for UK immigration and nationality applications, extra attention is being given to who does not have to pay fees or to the circumstances in which only one fee is payable for more than one application.

From 1 May 2007 the International Graduate Scheme (IGS) will replace the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS).

Postgraduate doctors and dentists went to court to challenge changes to the UK Immigration Rules made in April 2006 that made it more difficult for them to enter or remain in the UK to undertake training at postgradudate level.

Since August 2004 people coming to the UK on a visa that identifies them as Ministers of Religion have been required to demonstrate competence in English to the International English Language Testing (IELTS) level 4 or above.

On 1 April 2007 the fees charged for immigration applications in the UK were changed by the Border and Immigration Agency, previously called the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. The Border and Immigration Agency is the part of the UK Home Office dealing with immigration and nationality cases.

The UK Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit has published government proposals for a ten-year plan on crime, security and justice, including proposals on immigration. These discuss current immigration to the UK.

New regulations on when people with rights under European law can hold jobs in public service (the ‘civil service’) in the UK came into force on 7 March 2007. Under the new regulations those who will are able to apply for jobs in UK public service are nationals of European Economic Area (EEA) states and family members with rights to work in the UK when the principal is employed, Swiss nationals and their family members exercising rights of free movement under agreements between the European Community and Switzerland, and Turkish nationals and family members exercising free movement rights under the Association agreement between Britain and Turkey.

UKvisas, the joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office department that issues visas at British posts abroad has announced that as from 1 April 2007, new visa fees will apply.

The new fees are set out below. Some of the fee increases are substantial. For instance, the price of a settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR) visa will increase from £260 to £500. People who are in a position to do so may wish to consider applying before the new fees come into effect.