Potential impact of migration from Bulgaria and Romania - NIESR report
A report by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) challenges claims that there will be an influx of Romanian and Bulgarian migrants coming to Britain to live and work when labour movement restrictions are lifted in January 2014.
The study also suggested that they are more likely to choose to go to Spain or Italy rather than Britain.
The full report can be read here.
Online Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer) applications
Applicants applying for permission to remain in the UK under Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer) who are earning £152,100 or more will no longer need to meet the English language requirement.
However, the online application system will still ask the applicant to complete questions about their English language ability. The applicant may still choose to complete these questions but if they earn £152,100 or more the English language ability will not be taken into account when making a decision about their application.
General Immigration Matters
Re-tendering exercise for approved secure English language test providers
The Home Office will be carrying out a re-tendering exercise this summer for approved secure English language test providers.
The re-tendering exercise intends to ensure all approved providers offer a high quality service with secure and consistent testing arrangements in place. It will also ensure a more robust criteria is established for the administration of English language tests.
Applicants who are currently applying to take a secure English language test with one of UKBA's approved providers will not be affected by this exercise if they apply for leave to enter or remain before 6 April 2014. Any changes to the list of test providers will take place on 6 April 2014.
Interim Directors General appointment to lead new Immigration commands
Interim Directors General have been appointed to lead the new Immigration commands announced by the Home Office on 26 March.
Sarah Rapson will lead UK Visas and Immigration and David Wood will lead Immigration Enforcement.
Arrangements for recruiting permanent Directors General will be announced in due course.
New Requirements for settlement and naturalisation
The Home Office has published a statement of intent outlining planned changes for those applying to settle in the UK or to become naturalised as a British citizen.
From 28 October 2013, applicants in these categories will be required to pass the 'Life in the UK' test and to hold a B1 (Intermediate) level English language speaking and listening qualification.
Full details of these new requirements can be found in the statement of intent here.
Changes to Family Visitor appeals
The Home Office has announced that it is removing the full right of appeal for applicants refused leave to enter the UK as a family visitor.
Royal assent was given on 25 April 2013 to a clause in the Crime and Courts Bill, published on 10 May 2012, providing for this change.
It is expected to come into effect on or soon after 25 June.
Crime levels in high immigration areas
A recent study by the London School of Economics has examined the common assertion that the level of crime is greater in areas of high immigration.
The study found that rates of burglary, vandalism and car theft all dropped following the arrival of migrants from Poland, the Czech Repulic, Hungary and seven other countries after they had joined the European Union in 2004. However, the opposite was found in areas that experienced an influx of asylum seekers from the late 1990s onwards.
The analysis concluded that immigration had no impact on levels of violent crime in Britain.
The full report can be read here.
Booking a premium service appointment
From 6 April 2013, when booking a premium appointment online applicants will need to call the immigration enquiry bureau by 3pm on the next working day to pay an appointment fee of £100 per applicant to confirm their appointment.
Failure to make this payment by 3pm on the next working day will lead to the appointment being cancelled.
Appointments can be cancelled or rescheduled via an online account. However, if an appointment is cancelled with 5 or less working days notice, or if the applicant fails to attend the appointment, the £100 fee will not be refunded.
The Home Office intends to implement an automated pre-payment system in due course.
Education
London Metropolitan University granted new licence for probationary period
The Home Office has confirmed that the London Metropolitan University has been granted a new licence to enrol International students for a probationary period.
The London Metropolitan University's sponsor licence was removed in August 2012.
The university will be subject to a probationary period in order to ensure the university is complying with the enrolment of new students.
During this probationary period there will be a limit on the number of international students the university can enrol.
Inspections by multiple agencies
Jeremy Oppenheim, Director of External Engagement at the former UK Border Agency suggested that universities could be inspected by multiple agencies at the same time to reduce administrative burdens.
Universities could be inspected by the Quality Assurance Agency, the Higher Education Funding Council for England and Immigration agencies concurrently.
This suggestion was made during Jeremy Oppenheim's speech at the annual conference of the Association of University Administrators in Edinburgh on 26 March 2013.
HR Immigration Services
Audits and Compliance
HR Immigration provides a wide range of services to employers and education providers through compliance audits, advice packages, assessment of intent and recruitment.
Please contact us for a no commitment discussion if you think you would benefit from any of these services by emailing us at enquiries@hrimmigration.co.uk.
Student Recruitment
We are planning to launch a student recruitment service from our new office in Pakistan. The key feature of the service will be that it will be its orientation towards Tier 4 compliance including preparing students for UKBA credibility interviews. Further information will be available shortly.
To register an interest and receive further information, please contact us at enquiries@hrimmigration.co.uk.
Training
We are increasingly being asked to provide training on right to work and sponsor duties. If you think your organisation would benefit from training in either of these areas, please contact us for a no commitment discussion of your requirements at enquiries@hrimmigration.co.uk.
