Immigration newsletter 27 Feb 2013

As of 25th March 2013, the UK Citizenship Test will become harder. It will be based on a new version of the Life in the United Kingdom handbook and will feature questions on the UK’s culture and history.

We advise you to apply as soon as possible and take the old, easier test. You will have to wait for between one and three weeks after applying so apply today.  Once you have passed the test you can use it to support an application for indefinite leave to remain or a citizenshipapplication at any time.

This is our 25th anniversary year. Over the last quarter century, workpermit.com has helped thousands of people emigrate to the Country of their choice. 

To celebrate, we are making a series of films about people living and working in the UK. If this applies to you, call us on 0344 991 9222 or email us ateditor@workpermit.com

UK visas often take months of processing time. We can submit your application and get it processed on a same day basis. We can help with indefinite leave to remain applications, tier 1 extensions, etc. 

We have a limited number of slots, so, apply early to avoid disappointment. Please call our London Office on 0344 991 9222 for further details.

Last week, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged UK premier David Cameron to make it easier for Indians to work in the UK. Mr Cameron was in India heading a UK trade delegation.

Last week, Mr Cameron said that Britain wants Indian students to study in the UK and welcomes those who want to stay and work. He also announced a one-day visa service for Indians. Mr Singh, it seems, wants him to go further.

Theresa May, the UK's Home Secretary, has accused the UK courts of shielding dangerous criminals from deportation. She says this will mean more crime in the UK.

Mrs May says that judges should order the deportation of foreign criminals even if they have a family in the UK. The judges say that this might breach the European Convention of Human Rights. Senior lawyers say that Mrs May should pass a new law if she wants the situation to change. Mrs May has said that she intends to do so.

The window for US companies to apply for H-1B visas opens on April 1st. Each year, 65,000 H-1B visas are issued to foreign-born workers in graduate level ‘specialty occupations’. A further 20,000 go to workers with higher degrees from US universities. US employers apply for the visas for their overseas workers.

Demand far outstrips supply. Last year, the cap was reached in two months. This year’s quota should run out even quicker so, if you are a US employer who wants to apply, you should do so now.

A Conservative MP has warned that the negative tone of the UK immigration debate and heavy-handed action by the UK Border Agency are damaging the UK economy.

Gavin Barwell said the UK’s positive immigration message is 'not getting through'. This led to a drop of 24% in the number of Indian undergraduates studying in the UK last year and cost the economy £169m.

Republicans in the US Congress have been upset by the news that President Obama is working on a draft immigration bill. Mr Obama promised to reform the US immigration system in 2013 but said he would leave the details to a bipartisan group of senators known as the Gang of Eight.

These senators have already agreed a framework that would

• Strengthen the Mexican border,
• establish a ‘path to citizenship’ for illegal immigrants 
• and award more green cards to foreign technology graduates 

However, the news that the president is working on a back-up bill has annoyed some Republicans. The President’s bill angers others because it proposes the use of ‘drone’ aircraft to police the border.