Immigration newsletter 18 Dec 2013

Are you in the UK with a Tier 1 (Post Study Work) visa or Tier 4 Student visa? Are you working or have found work in the UK – perhaps in banking or IT? Unfortunately many employers are unable or unwilling to sponsor foreign workers.

Providing you have found suitable work, we can help you find a Tier 2 sponsor and transfer to the Tier 2 (General) skilled worker visa stream. The requirements are easier if you are switching from a Tier 1 PSW or Tier 4 Student visa (at degree level) to a Tier 2 Visa.

If you have a contract or employment and would like help finding a sponsor call the London office on 0344 991 9222 or email us at uk@workpermit.com

UK must make immigration easier

Mark Boleat, the policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, has called on the UK's Prime Minister David Cameron to match his 'open for business rhetoric with action on visas'. Mr Boleat was writing in The London newspaper The Evening Standard. He said that Mr Cameron had claimed, while on a visit to China, that 'an open Britain is the ideal partner for an opening China'. Mr Boleat questioned whether Britain is really as 'open' as Mr Cameron claimed.

Scotland's immigrant population doubles in a decade

Research from Oxford University's Migration Observatory has revealed that Scotland's immigrant population rose by 93% in the decade from 2001 to 2011 from about 191,000 to 370,000. The Scottish government has welcomed the research.

Much of the rise was caused by immigration from eastern Europe after 2004. In that year, eight countries including Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia joined the EU. Citizens of these countries were then allowed to travel to the UK to live and work.

Malta delays plan to 'sell EU citizenship'

The Mediterranean island of Malta announced on 19th November 2013 that it would delay the introduction of a new citizenship programme which would enable wealthy people to buy Maltese citizenship. Malta is an island in the Mediterranean which is a member of the European Union. Maltese citizens can therefore live and work in other EU Countries.

The Maltese government had previously announced that the scheme would open to applicants on 20th November 2013. Under the proposed rules of the scheme, applicants would have to make an 'investment' of €650,000 in Malta to receive Maltese citizenship.

Portuguese immigration issues 318 'golden visas'

In the last year, Portuguese immigration has issued 318 'Golden Visas' under its Golden Visa and Golden Residence Permit Schemes. Most have been issued to Chinese nationals who have invested in property in Portugal. Portugal says it foresees issuing 400 Golden Visas each year.

Portugal opened its 'Golden Visa' scheme in 2012. Citizens of countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who purchase a property in Portugal worth at least €500,000 are thereby entitled to apply for a Portuguese temporary residence permit known colloquially as a Golden Visa.

This is much more expensive than say the Latvian Immigrant Investor visa which, for the time being, has a minimum investment of 25,000 Latvian Lats about US $47,000 or €36,000.