Immigration newsletter 08 Nov 2006

Call us for visa advice at our London office: +44 (0) 20 7842 0800.

New HSMP Points Calculator with latest changes 
The US DV-2008 (Greencard) Lottery - apply by 3rd December 2006

The UK announced that the current HSMP programme is suspended immediately and will resume under new rules from December fifth. The introduction of new rules affects HSMP extension applications, as well. Some transitional rules will come into effect for persons who currently hold an HSMP, with specific provisions for self-employed persons, but all new HSMP applications and applications for extension will be subject to the revised points-based system. 

Most notable, 75 points are now required when previously 65 were needed. Several points categories have been eliminated, with a specific income scale for additional points. A high level of English language proficiency must now be proven, in addition to other criteria. 

Transitional arrangements will apply for those whose leave to remain expires under the new rules and whose applications will be considered against the new criteria. Those who are making a useful contribution to the UK economy - for example, working in a skilled job - but who fail to meet the new requirements, will be offered a 'grace period' in which they have an opportunity to switch into the Work Permits scheme. 

The Immigration Nationality Directorate also announced that it will double the enforcement budget by 2009/10.

Only 3 1/2 weeks remain to file for the United States Green Card Lottery. Applications MUST be submitted electronically using the Internet, and none will be accepted after 12:00 noon Eastern Standard Time, on Sunday, December third. 

Greenwich time on December third will be 5:00 p.m. (in London) when it is 12:00 noon on the East Coast of the United States.

Several dozen U.S. cities and local jurisdictions began passing their own immigration laws and regulations this year. The moves are highly controversial because the United States Constitution grants specific authority only to the federal government to regulate immigration. 

In Escondido, California and in Hazelton, Pennsylvania recent legal actions are contesting this trend. Escondido is being sued by a coalition of human rights interests to halt the local ordinance. Hazelton has had its law suspended by a federal judge, pending court review of compliance with constitutionally protected rights.

Spain may already have at least 800,000 Romanians living and working in the country, and the general attitude in Spain is somewhat welcoming. Studies in the United Kingdom and Ireland this year consistently show that the economic strength seen in those countries is largely due to a huge influx of East European immigrants. 

30 million Romanians and Bulgarians will join to form the EU-27 on January first, 2007. Many existing EU-25 States are considering restrictions to their labour markets, but several, notably Spain, Poland, Finland and Sweden, have announced plans for few or no restrictions. 

Spain is planning to give Romanians and Bulgarians free access to its job market by 2009, which will synchronize Spain's policy with the ten States that joined to form the EU-25 in 2004. 

It is estimated that Spain requires an additional 4 million immigrants before 2020 to fulfil its labour needs.