Working for UK Employers

The Home Office has recently reported that migrants pay £2.5 billion more in taxes than is paid to them in benefits. The figure contradicts the widely held belief that migrants cost the British economy money and jobs. Recently some British newspapers have reported that migrants will cause a rise in council tax; something which the new Home Office figures suggest is not the case.

Work Permits (UK) has confirmed that with effect from 14 August 2006, registered nurses will be removed from their shortage occupation list and replaced with the following:

Nurses employed or engaged in the NHS at band 7 or 8 of Agenda for Change, or those employed or engaged in one or more of the following specialties:

From today (19/6/06), the payment processing centre of the Immigration & Nationality Directorate will change.

Applications for Work Permits (WP), Sector Based Schemes (SBS), Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) and Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) payment processing will now be done by Siemens in Sheffield.

This firm is widely experienced in respect of preparing and submitting successful HSMP applications.

As a result of the recent changes to permit free training, which mean that non-EEA doctors must now apply under a different immigration category in order to be permitted to work in the UK, we are undertaking HSMP applications on behalf of many doctors who are affected.

PERMIT FREE TRAINING FOR DOCTORS TO END FROM JULY 2006

Doctors from outside the European Union, who wish to work or train in the UK will have to obtain a work permit (or other similar UK immigration status) in order to do so. The only exception will be in respect of non-EU nationals who have been trained at UK medical schools, when two years of permit free training in the UK will still be allowed so that they can acquire full GMC registration.

Applicants who apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and who meet the NMC's minimum requirements are required to undertake all or part of the Overseas Nurses Programme (ONP).

The Government will shortly introduce a new immigration category that allows religious workers in non-pastoral roles to come to the United Kingdom to work for up to two years.

Religious workers will be prohibited from acting as a Minister of Religion, Missionary, or Member of a Religious Order preaching to a congregation, for example, is not permitted. The aim of introducing this new category is to find suitably qualified personnel who are not always available in the United Kingdom.

In order to be eligible to come to the United Kingdom to commence employment as a religious worker, an applicant:

Article by Julie-sue Fransman as published in FIVE EIGHT, Monthly Music Business Insight, October 2005. Every year a significant number of foreign nationals from outside of the European Union wish to enter the UK for purposes of live work in the music industry.

* The UK market is the third biggest music market globally, accounting for 10% of all records sold in 2004.

* In terms of sales, the UK market is heavily tilted towards UK and US acts.

* In 2004, 85.1% of all singles sold in the UK were by UK and US acts.

* In 2004, 84.1% of all albums sold in the UK were by UK and US acts.

On 15 June 2005 the Home Office implemented a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules which provide for a Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme. This is a scheme to enable non-EEA nationals who have been awarded a HND, an undergraduate degree, a Masters Degree or a PhD by a relevant Scottish institution to apply for leave under the scheme for up to 2 years after they complete their qualification. They will have to have shown commitment to Scotland both by choosing to study there and by living in Scotland during their studies. The applicant can apply to switch their status from student to a participant in the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme whilst in the UK or alternatively apply for Entry Clearance from a British Consulate overseas. The applicant must have completed their education and been awarded their qualification in Scotland within the 12 months prior to the date of application.

The working holidaymakers scheme provides for Commonwealth citizens between the ages of 17 and 30 to come to the United Kingdom for an extended working holiday of up to 2 years. Although you will be permitted to work, however this will not be for the full two years, and may only be employment that is incidental to your holiday. The scheme is only available to a person who has not spent time in the UK as a working holidaymaker previously, and the two years cannot be extended. You must intend to leave the UK at the end of your holiday.