Immigration newsletter 22 Oct 2013

We would like to remind you that we can help with many UK applications including Tier 2 visas and Tier 1 visas for entrepreneurs and investors.

If you are in the UK with a Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) visa, we can help switch to a Tier 2 (General) skilled worker visa. We can even help you to find a Tier 2 sponsor. We also help with sponsorship licences for Tier 2 and Tier 5 employers and for Tier 4 student visas.

We can also help with applications for Canada, Australia, the US and many other countries. Our expert staff are ready to help so why not give us a call now for a free consultation?

UK MPs say asylum system is 'under strain'

A committee of MPs has warned that the UK's asylum system is 'overburdened and under severe pressure'. The MPs say that the asylum backlog now contains 32,600 cases and some people have been waiting for 16 years for a decision. The Committee also expressed concern about the 'sub-standard level of housing provided to asylum applicants' and also warned that some people who were granted asylum were later found to be terrorists.

New Zealand allows students greater work rights

New Zealand has announced reforms of the rules governing students' work rights.

Students studying full-time will now be allowed to work during all scheduled course breaks. Doctoral and masters students will be allowed to work full-time and English language students will be allowed to work part-time. Government ministers also announced a new regime to ensure that international students who are deceived by dishonest agents or colleges are able to get compensation quickly.

UK Indefinite Leave to Remain requirements to change. Apply now!

You have less than a week to make your application for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain if you want to avoid taking both the Life in the UK test and an English language test. From October 28th, you will need to take both. Give us a call at our London Office on 0344 991 9222 today and we will help you apply and beat the deadline.

UK's chief immigration inspector says e-Borders has 'some way to go'

The UK's chief inspector of immigration, John Vine, says that the E-Borders programme is still not complete. E-Borders was launched by Tony Blair in 2008. He said that it would help fight illegal immigration and assist in the ‘war on terror’. The project was due for completion by 2010 but is still far from ready. Mr Vine says that the project has been delayed by inadequate IT equipment and poor staff training. He said the system would be complete in 2018 at the earliest.

We can help you with your US and UK student visas

A new survey of the world's top universities has found that over half are in the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The world’s top two universities are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University in the US. Numbers three to six are in the UK. They are; Cambridge University, University College London, Imperial College London and Oxford University. Five more US universities, Stanford, Yale, the University of Chicago, Princeton and the California Institute of Technology complete the top ten.

The OECD says that 4.3m students are studying abroad in 2013. Phone us now on 0344 991 9222 and we will help you apply.

UK immigration introduce new visa application forms

UK immigration introduced new forms for many visa applications on 1st October 2013. The UK's Home Office said that the old forms could be used for a short transitional period. From 22nd October 2013, only the new forms will be accepted. Most visa applications under the UK’s five tier points-based visa system will be affected.

If you need assistance with your application give us a call on 0344 991 9222