Immigration newsletter 12 Jun 2013

The UK Border Agency processed only 51% of work visas and 25% of student visas on time in 2012.  The UKBA aimed to process Tier 1 visas for high value migrants,Tier 2 skilled worker visas and Tier 4 student visas within four weeks but failed to do so most of the time. The UKBA’s performance was markedly worse than in 2011 when it dealt with 80% of visas on time.  The UK government abolished the UKBA in March 2013 because it was ‘not good enough’.

Seven Indian MPs have travelled to Washington to ask US Congressmen not to increase the cost of H-1B visas for Indian outsourcing companies. The MPs say that the proposed change would harm relations between the two countries. Under the proposed law ‘H-1B dependent employers’ will have to pay much higher fees for H-1B visas and in some cases will be prevented from applying altogether.  

About half of H-1B visas are currently issued to international outsourcing firms, many of which are Indian. The proposed reform law would make these firms pay an additional fee of $5,000 or $10,000 for each H-1B visa. Firms with 75% H-1B workers would not be allowed to apply at all. 

Canada’s Quebec Immigrant Investor Program may reopen on 1st August 2013. If so, Quebec will probably accept around 2,500 applications before re-closing the program so, if you are interested, you should prepare your application now.  To qualify for the program, applicants must have two years’ management experience and net assets of CAN$1,600,000 and invest CAN$800,000 in Quebec for five years.

We can often get your UK immigration application processed within 24 hours. We have 25 years’ experience and we can help with tier 1 visa extensions, indefinite leave to remain applications and many other visas. It’s first-come-first-served so call today. 

We can also help with Australian visas such as the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189). Call us on 0344 991 9222.

A group of Conservative MPs says that the UK should sell work visas to rich individuals and international companies. The Free Enterprise Group issued a report written by George Freeman and Kwasi Kwarteng. Mr Kwarteng is the son of Ghanaian immigrants. The report says that the introduction of 'market based immigration visas' would help the UK develop trading links with new markets. It says that the scheme would cut bureaucracy and ensure that only highly skilled or wealthy immigrants would be able to get a visa.

The Daily Express newspaper says the UK government will require EU citizens to work in the UK for six months or a year before claiming benefits. This would undoubtedly escalate a dispute between the UK and the EU over 'benefits tourism'. On 30th May, the European Commission announced it would sue the UK in the European Court of Human Rights for discrimination because it claims EU citizens are frequently denied UK benefits. 

If the government makes EU citizens work before they can claim benefits then, unless it requires UK citizens to do the same, this is bound to be seen as discriminatory by the Commission.

The Australian immigration minister is introducing legislation that would allow Fawad Ahmed, a Pakistani-born refugee and talented spin bowler, to play cricket for Australia in the Ashes series against England this summer. England are currently strong favourites to win the series and Australia badly needs a spinner to improve their chances.

Under the current law, Fawad would not be eligible to play for Australia until 18^th August when four of five matches would have been played but the amendment would allow him to play in the first match of the series on July 10^th. Fawad will not be the only Pakistani-born player in the Australian squad; batsman Usman Khawaja has played for Australia since 2010.