UK immigration gives new guidance for Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa applicants

The UK Border Agency has announced that it will be writing to all those who applied for Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visas before 31st January 2013 and who have yet to have their applications decided.

The UKBA released a statement on Wednesday 20th March in which it said that it was likely that it would request further information from applicants. In particular, it said it might ask applicants for

•           Additional information such as business plans, market research reports and so forth to show that the applicant was a genuine entrepreneur

•           Proof that they still have access to the funds that they used in support of their applications. If the funds have been moved from their accounts into a business account, then the UKBA will want to see the business's accounts or other proof of that transaction.

           

The UKBA says that applicants will have 28 days to provide the information requested and warns that it may make checks on information provided to prove that it is correct.

The UKBA has also said that it will no longer be able to allow applicants for Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visas to pay for a premium 'same day' service. This is because the checks that need to be made are so extensive that the UKBA will have no chance of completing them in a same day time frame

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Tier 2 Immigrant nurses face jobs freeze in UK's National Health Service

The UK's Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has announced a freeze on the registration of nurses from outside Europe after an internal audit found that its systems for verifying qualifications of foreign applicants were inadequate. The freeze has already prevented 160 nurses from taking up work in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) in the last month. Nurses including those from outside the European Economic Area cannot work in the NHS unless they have been registered with the NMC.

They will also require a UK visa. If they come under Tier 2 of the UK's points-based visa system, they will need to have a job offer from a UK employer which is licensed to sponsor Tier 2 visa applicants. Some qualified nurses, particularly those from Australia, Canada and New Zealand with a grandparent born in the UK, can apply to come to the UK with a UK ancestry visa.

However, the first step is to become registered with the NMC. The NMC website claims 'if nurses or midwives trained in countries outside the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) have been admitted to our register, you can be satisfied that we have been able to check the education and practice experience of the new applicants. We will also have been able to verify their good character and language competence.

Not currently able to process applications

However, just below these words it says 'We are not currently able to process applications from outside the EU and EEA and are reviewing our policies in this area'.

An NMC spokeswoman told UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph 'The quality of information supplied in some cases is not proof of fraud but does not give us the level of confidence we would want'. These problems emerged in February. No fake documentation has yet been found but the doubts mean that it is not considered safe to continue with registrations.

Katherine Murphy of the UK's Patients Association congratulated the NMC on admitting the problem but said that the public would be concerned. She asked why 'if supermarkets can check these kinds of documents before employing someone, why can't the NMC?'

NMC not able to protect the public

Dr Peter Carter of the Royal College of Nursing told The Telegraph 'The NMC's main job is to protect the public. It would seem that they are having problems doing this. We are naturally concerned that the NMC has felt a need to stop registering foreign nurses. They are an important addition to the NHS but public protection is the most important issue'.

The NMC is the UK's main regulator for nurses and midwives. It approves about 1,000 applications from outside the European Economic Area every year, authorising applicants to work in the NHS. These are now suspended pending a review.

The NMC is also the main regulator for UK and EU-resident nurses and has the power to 'strike nurses off' thereby banning them from working in the UK. Last month, the NMC was told after an audit that there was a 'red' warning about its register of nurses because warnings about misconduct were not appearing when prospective employers searched the register.

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Danish Work Permits

Denmark, like many nations, has a large number of occupations for which they are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers. Denmark maintains a large listing of shortage occupations called the Positive List. If you have a job offer from a Danish employer in an occupation on the Positive List, you can obtain a work and residence permit immediately under the Positive List scheme.

Other conditions also apply. If your occupation requires Danish authorization (such as practicing medicine), you must obtain this authorization before a work and residence permit will be granted. In addition, you must have a written job offer that states your expected salary and employment conditions. Salary and employment conditions must meet Danish standards.

The Positive List

Work and residence permits can be obtained for up to three years under the Positive List scheme with the possibility of extension of up to four years. The Positive List contains occupations in a wide range of fields, such as health care and information technology. You can still live and work in Denmark under the Positive List scheme if your occupation is no longer on the Positive List when you apply for an extension to your work and residence permit.

The Positive List is broken into a number of fields of work:

·   Academic Work (includes project management, engineering occupations, lawyers, doctors, and other professional occupations)

·   Construction

·   Hotel, Restaurant, Kitchen, Canteen

·   IT and Telecommunication

·   Management

·   Educational, Social and Religious Occupations

·   Sales, Purchases and Marketing

·   Health, Healthcare and Personal Care

·   Freight Forwarding, Postal Services, Storage and Engine Operation

·   Education and tuition

Family Members

If you have been granted a work and residence permit under the Positive List, your spouse or partner is also eligible for residence permits. Any children under the age of 18 who live with you are also eligible for residence permits. Your spouse or partner would be eligible to work for the entire period his or her residence permit is valid.

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UK immigration minister announces changes to Tier 2 visa system

Let us help you with your Tier 2 application now before the changes come into force on 6th April; Phone us now on +44 (0) 203 - 627 - 4777 to speak to an advisor.

Mark Harper, the UK immigration minister announced a series of proposed changes to the UK immigration system on Thursday 14th March 2013. He told the House of Commons that the changes will be introduced on April 6th 2013. The most significant changes will be made to the Tier 2 visa scheme, the tier visa of the UK's five tier points-based immigration system that is for skilled workers with a job offer.

Fees will be going up so we advise you to make your application now. The minister says that the changes will make the system more responsive to the needs of business. The introduction of a new introductory pay rate for graduate trainees and younger workers may make it easier to get a UK Tier 2 visa for some people but changes to the Shortage Occupation List will make it harder too.

Mr Harper announced a series of changes including

·      Cap for Tier 2 (General) visas fixed at 20,700 per year until further notice

·      An update of the Shortage Occupation List. Some medical occupations are removed from the list. Some engineering occupations are added

·      Amendments to the Code of Practice for Employers

·      Changes to salary thresholds and minimum appropriate salaries for individual occupations

·       A series of changes designed to 'further improve flexibility for Intra-Company Transference and for employers carrying out the Resident Labour Market Test'

·      A rise in the level of fees

The Tier 2 visa system was established in 2008 by the then Labour government. Skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area who have a job offer in the UK can apply for a Tier 2 visa. In order to apply, they must have a valid job offer from a UK employer which has a valid Tier 2 sponsorship licence from the UK Border Agency.

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Poll shows UK split on immigration but in favour of limiting benefits

A recent UK poll has shown that a majority of UK citizens believe that immigrants should have to pay tax in the UK before they can get social benefits in the UK or use the UK's free National Health Service.

The poll was conducted by YouGov, one of the UK's best known and largest polling organisations, for UK newspaper The Sunday Times. A sample of people were asked what proportion of immigrants they thought made a positive contribution to British life;

  •45% thought that half or more than half had made a positive contribution.

  • 46% said that they thought fewer than half had made a positive contribution.

  •9% said that they did not know.

When asked whether they would support measures that would limit the right of people who had arrived in the UK within a certain time period, such as a year, to benefits;

  • 86% said that they would support such measures.

  • Only 7% said they would oppose them.

  • 7% said they did not know.   

                             

Similarly, when asked if they would like to see the right of recently arrived immigrants to use the National Health Service;

  • 75% of those surveyed said that they would like to see the right limited

  • 16% said they would not and

  • 9% said they did not know.

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Denmark Green Card Scheme

Denmark is one of the European Union's most active members in trying to recruit skilled workers from around the world. Denmark's immigration policy, similar to the United Kingdom's skilled immigration program, utilizes a points based system called the Danish Green Card to attract skilled workers from outside the EU. In addition, Denmark has a work permit system called the Positive List scheme for people who have a valid job offer from a Danish employer.
The Danish Green Card
If you can score enough points based upon criteria such as age, education, language skills, and work experience, you can obtain a three year residence permit under the Danish Green Card scheme which will allow you to live in Denmark and find work. A previous job offer is not required.
The Positive List
There are many occupations in Denmark for which there is a lack of qualified workers. If you have skills in one of these occupations, you can obtain a work and residence permit in very little time under the Positive List scheme.
The Pay Limit Scheme
If you have a job offer from a Danish employer that pays more than DKK 375,000 (approximately USD 80,000), you are also eligibile for a work and residence permit in Denmark under the Pay Limit scheme.
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Increase in Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visas

The UK Border Agency, the UK's main immigration agency, also confirmed an increase in the number of Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visas that can be granted each year from 1,000 to 2,000 on 14 March. Mrs May had announced the change in a major speech on immigration in 2012; Mr Harper's announcement confirms that the change is to be made on 6 April.

The 1,000 extra places will be allocated to MBA students only. Applicants will be able to apply from outside the UK for a Graduate Entrepreneur visa.

Imperialvisas.com is a specialist visa consultancy . We are OISC registered. We can help with a wide range of visa applications to the UK or your country of choice. Please feel free to contact us for further details.

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UK puts Brazil visitor visa crackdown on hold

Plans to impose visa restrictions on Brazilian tourists have been put on hold by Home Secretary Theresa May.

Like US, Canadian or Australian citizens, Brazilians can visit the UK for up to six months without a visa.

The home secretary was considering introducing restrictions amid concerns about illegal immigration from Brazil.

But Mrs May has shelved the plan following protests about its impact on efforts to boost business links with the country.

Brazil is fifth in the top 10 of illegal immigrant nationalities in the UK, according to Home Office figures for 2011, and is the only country on the list for which short-term visitors do not need a visa.

But the government is attempting to develop closer trading links with Brazil - seen as an emerging economic powerhouse.

Close relations  -

A government spokesperson said: "Brazil is an important partner for the UK and we are investing greatly in our diplomatic and economic ties.

"We have no current plans to impose a visa regime on Brazil."

Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed the decision to keep visa-free access for Brazilian tourists at Prime Minister's Questions, after a Lib Dem MP, John Thurso, warned imposing restrictions could harm the tourist trade.

Mr Cameron told MPs: "The National Security Council met recently to consider some of these border issues and it has decided not to put these visas on to Brazilian nationals.

Brazil is the only one of the four so-called fast-growing BRIC nations - which also includes Russia, India and China - to have no visa restrictions for short visits to the UK.

But campaign group Migration Watch said the government's decision appeared to have been taken for "all the wrong reasons".

Simply wrong –

"Three years ago there was significant abuse from Brazilians who were coming here for short stays, or as visitors, and staying on," Migration Watch vice-chairman Alp Mehmet told the BBC.

"Serious consideration was given at that time to visas, and I assume the situation has not changed."

“It doesn't send out any sort of signal at all. The number of business visas from all over the world, including countries where there is a visa regime, has gone up.”

Mr Mehmet added: "Of course we want to make it as unproblematic as possible for people to come here and spend their money and have a good time."
But the answer was to introduce simple, workable visas rather than continue to have no visas at all, he argued.
In 2008, the then Labour government warned Brazil and 10 other countries they faced restrictions on short-term visas unless they took steps to improve passport checks and "significantly reduce" abuses.
The following year, visas were introduced for visitors from South Africa, Venezuela, Bolivia, Lesotho and Swaziland.
But Brazil, Namibia, Malaysia, Botswana, Trinidad and Tobago and Mauritius continued to enjoy visa-free access for short visits.
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  UK Ancestry Visa For All Information – Click Here

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UK immigration to introduce premium service for Tier 4 sponsors

   UK immigration to introduce premium service for Tier 4 sponsors

The chief executive of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has announced that he intends to establish a premium service for Tier 4 sponsors. He says that the service will cost £8,000 a year and will give UK universities who sign up a better service.

Access to a named account manager.

Priority consideration of post-licence casework.

.     Monthly information reports on certificate allocations.

      Access to student eligibility checks.

The Tier 4 premium service is expected to be available from July 2013.

New guidance for Tier 4 sponsors

The UKBA has also issued new guidance for Tier 4 sponsors. It was issued on 4th March 2013. The guidance makes it clear that 'there are no substantive changes to your duties as a sponsor' compared to the previous guidance.

One minor change has been made to the rules to allow students at a musical conservatoire to remain in the UK on a Tier 4 visa for over five years.

Imperialvisa.com is a specialist visa consultancy.Dealing with visa applications. We are OISC registered. We can help with a wide range of visa applications to the UK or your country of choice. Please feel free to contact us for further details.

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UK STUDENT VISA

Tier 4 UK Student Visa

The Tier 4 student visa is designed for overseas students who wish to enter the UK to study for a period longer than 6 months. This visa is often granted for 1 year but the duration is determined by the length of the course the student is set to enrol. This visa also provides the student with the opportunity of switching to another immigration category in the UK without leaving the country after completion of the course. Adult students who are married are able to bring their spouse or legal partner to the UK for the entire duration of their course.

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TIER 5 -TEMPORARY WORKERS

Sponsors in the UK can hire temporary workers from outside the UK under following fields

Tier 5 (Youth mobility scheme)

Tier 5 (Temporary worker - creative and sporting)

Tier 5 (Temporary worker - charity workers)

Tier 5 (Temporary worker - religious workers)

Tier 5 (Temporary worker - government authorised exchange)

Tier 5 (Temporary worker - international agreement)

YOU CAN APPLY FOR THIS CATEGORY FROM OUTSIDE THE UK – PLEASE NOTE NATIONALS OF
SOME COUNTRY COMING TO THE UK DO NOT NEED TO APPLY FOR TIER 5 VISAS UNDER CREATIVE
CATEGORY FOR PERIOD OF 3 TO 6 MONTHS

CALL US ON 0203 627 4777 FOR EXPERT ADVISE

Tier 5 (Youth mobility scheme)

The countries and territories participating in the scheme, and the number of places or certificates of
sponsorship allocated to them for 2013, are:

• Australia - 35,000 places
• Canada - 5,500 places
• Japan - 1,000 places
• Monaco - 1,000 places
• New Zealand - 10,000 places
• Republic of Korea - 1,000 places (certificates of sponsorship)
• Taiwan - 1,000 places (certificates of sponsorship)

The applicants need to be between ages of 18 to 31 Years. Once the applicants have fulfilled the
maintenance requirement of £600.00 they are right away eligible to come to the UK. Please note
that UKBA has strict standards of acceptable documents, which if not provided can amount to
refusal.

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UK Ancestry Visa

Eligibility (UK Ancestry Visa) 
UK Ancestry Visa

UK ancestry visa permits Commonwealth citizens to migrate to the UK to live and work on the basis of their ancestral ties to the UK. To qualify for this visa, candidates must have one or more grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. Applicants with a grandparent born in the Republic of Ireland before March 1922 is also eligible. The qualifying grandparent can be alive or deceased. This is also if the applicant or either parent was adopted by a UK citizen and they can provide valid proof of their adoption.

Eligibility Criteria

Commonwealth citizens, in order to successfully obtain the UK ancestry visa, need to fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

·         Applicants must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country irrespective of how the citizenship was acquired.

·         Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age.

·         Applicants must have a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or a grandparent born in the Republic of Ireland on or before 31st March 1922.

·         Applicants must have the intention of undertaking employment whilst in the UK.

·         Applicants must be able to support themselves and any dependents without recourse to public funds whilst in the UK.

·         Applicants must have adequate accommodation whilst in the UK.

The Ancestry visa is valid for a period of 5 years after which the visa holder can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK and even UK citizenship. To apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, the applicant needs to fulfill the following criteria:

·         Should continue to meet all the essential requirements of the UK Ancestry visa.

·         Prove they have continually spent the 5 year period in the UK and had regular employment during this time. They must not have spent more than 90 days outside the UK during the 5 years.

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Marriage/Spouse Visa

Marriage/Spouse Visa

A UK Spouse Visa also known as a Marriage Visa, enables spouses of British Nationals and people present in the UK on Indefinite Leave to Remain to apply for leave to enter or leave to remain in the UK.

We make the process of applying for UK Spouse/ Marriage Visas simple. Our caseworkers have expertise in this category for over 20 years. The service we provide is fast, efficient and affordable that’s why thousands of people look to us when applying for a Spouse/Marriage Visa. With us you face no hassle or hidden costs and just peace of mind and a quality service to every client.

If your partner has been refused before we help you to overturn the decision of the Entry ClearanceOfficer or the Secretary of State

Step 1 – Complete the online assessment form or Call us – This will allow us to assess your eligibility to make an application for a UK Spouse / Marriage Visa.

Step 2 – Pay a 50 % deposit of your fixed fee.

Step 3 – Let the Caseworkers take care of all the formalities immediately. Your allocated Expert will then be doing all the hard work for you, dealing with all the necessary paperwork and documentation to strengthen your application.

Basic Requirements:

The following requirements need to be satisfied before applying for a UK Spouse/Marriage Visa:

o Both parties in the marriage have to be at least 18

o Parties must have met each other, be legally married to each other and plan to live together in the UK

o You must have suitable accommodation available for you in the UK.

o If you intend on applying for a UK Spouse Visa you must be able to support your stay in the UK without recourse to public funds

o Meeting the income threshold of £18,600 for sponsoring the settlement of a spouse/partner – Please note there is a higher threshold for any children also sponsored; £22,400 for one child and an additional £2,400 for each further child.

UK Spouse/Marriage Visa (Duration)

UK Spouse Visas are granted for an initial 27 months period and after this time you or your partner will need to apply for another extension and after completing 5 years in the UK you or your partner will apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR) and British nationality.

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INDEFINITE LEAVE TO REMAIN

INDEFINITE LEAVE TO REMAIN

Indefinite Leave to Remain is also known as Permanent Residency. ILR is the last step any non UK national has to fulfil before becoming eligible to apply for a British Passport. When applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain depending on your current visa, you may have the option of obtaining ILR status in one day. To check whether you’re eligible for the same day process and what our next available dates are Contact Us today on 0203 627 4777. (Same Day Appointments Available)

There are several ways to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom. However the most common avenues are stated below:

UK Long Term Residency Visa
The application for Long Term Residency visa can be filed by candidates who have spent an extended period of time i.e. 10 years or 20 years in the UK.

10 Year Visa
If an applicant has been living legally in the UK for 10 years, they become eligible for this visa. Home Office approval is required for granting the long term visa. If approval is granted, the candidate can live in the UK for an unlimited period of time. Provided the candidate is not absent from the UK for more than 18 months over the 10 year period.

20 Year Visa
This visa is granted to candidates who’ve been residing in the UK both illegally and legally for more than 20 years.

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BRITISH CITIZENSHIP

BRITISH CITIZENSHIP

British Citizenship

British citizenship structure is defined in the British Nationality Act 1981 that came into effect on 1st January 1983. The law outlines how UK citizenship can be obtained, under what circumstances an individual is classed as a British citizen and how they relinquish their citizenship. Based on current citizenship or nationality status, the candidate can apply for a visa in several ways. If the candidate was issued a British passport on or after 1st January 1983, they will be considered a British citizen

British Citizenship Requirements

Below are certain requirements that must be fulfilled to acquire British citizenship. If the applicant is married to a British citizen, they need to have:

Lived in the UK for 3 years and be in possession of ILR for at least 11 months on the date of application
Not been absent from the UK in excess of 270 days during the 3 year period
Not been absent from the UK in excess of 90 days during the last 12 month period before application
Be of good character
Intension of settling in the UK permanently
Good knowledge of English
Passed the Life In The UK test

Applicants who are not married to a British citizen should:

Should have obtained ILR status and held it for at least 11 months.
Not been absent from the UK for more than 450 days in that period.
Not been absent from the UK for more than 90 days during the last 12 months before application.
Be of good character.
Have the intension of settling in the UK permanently
Have good knowledge of English.
Have passed the Life In The UK test.

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