Immigration newsletter 27 Mar 2013

We would like to remind you that the UK Border Agency will be increasing its fees from 6th April 2013. Among the biggest increases are:

• Huge increases in fees for dependants. At present, dependants applying within the UK pay only 50% of the main fee. This will rise to 75% in April and will cost applicants hundreds if not thousands of pounds.
• Many applicants will also pay higher same-day application fees.
• And if you cancel your same day appointment it will cost you £100.

From 6th April 2013 there will also be changes to the Tier 2 visa system.  These will include an increase in minimum salary requirements and changes to the skilled occupation list.

If you need your UK immigration application processed fast, why not let us submit it for you? We can get applications processed on the same day.

We can help with applications for indefinite leave to remain, tier 1 extensions, and many other types of application. Please call our London Office on 0344 991 9222 for further details. Our slots are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis so call today.

Canadian Immigration and Citizenship (CIC) has advised those intending to apply for permanent residence under the new Federal Skilled Worker Program to wait.

In a statement, CIC warns that there will be an annual cap and a new list of priority occupations. These will be unveiled in April. A list of organisations that will be authorised to conduct educational assessments will also be announced. CIC warns that if you submit your application before these announcements you may end up making an invalid application. 

US immigration has released a new version of the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form. The form is completed by employers and employees whenever someone starts a new job in the US. The form shows that the employer has checked that the employee is allowed to work in the US. Employers are advised to use the new form immediately though the old form can be used until May 7th 2013.

The UK's Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has announced a freeze on the registration of nurses from outside Europe. It says its systems for verifying qualifications of foreign applicants are inadequate. 160 nurses have already been prevented from starting work in the UK's National Health Service. Nurses cannot work in the NHS unless they have been registered with the NMC. 

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'.

The UK's Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP, has proposed a system of bond payments to prevent UK visa holders from overstaying their visas. In a speech, Mr Clegg said that the government was regaining control of immigration after the previous Labour government left the immigration system in a state of chaos. 

He said that the government would increase the maximum fine for UK employers who employed illegal workers.
And make visa holders from some countries pay 'security bonds' which would be returned when they had left the UK. There will be a pilot scheme this year'.