Immigration newsletter 17 Jan 2014

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

EU vice president accuses UK PM of fuelling immigration fears

Viviane Reding, the vice president of the European Union, has accused the UK's Prime Minister David Cameron of misleading the UK public by claiming that Britain is under siege from an army of European immigrants who will steal British jobs or live off British benefits. She said that the figures show that the UK has, in fact, benefited from EU immigration.

Ms Reding said that the UK government was spreading fear about EU nationals coming to the UK to take jobs or to claim benefits, for electoral purposes. She said that these stories were nothing but 'myths'.

Canada needs speedy EOI skilled immigration system says report

Canada risks losing out on the brightest immigrants if it does not speed up its skilled immigration system,according to a report by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Canada intends to introduce a new ‘Expression of Interest’ system for processing skilled migrants applying for permanent resident visas in January 2015.

The report says that, applications will take six months to process. It says that this is three times slower than the AustralianSkillSelect system which can process applicants in two months.

UK's migrant population quadruples in 60 years

The UK’s immigrant population has quadrupled since 1951, new figures show. 13% of the UK population, about 8m people were born abroad.

Analysis of census data by the UK’s Office for National Statistics shows that the highest number of immigrants comes from India. 694,000 Indians are currently living in the UK. There are also 579,000 Poles and 482,000 Pakistanis.

The research also shows that Britain's immigrant population has become much more diverse since 1951. People from virtually every country on earth now live in the UK.

US Representative Issa says immigration reform is unlikely in 2014

US Congressman Representative Darrell Issahas told journalists that he does not expect immigration reform legislation to pass in 2014. He says there is too much 'animosity’ between Republicans and Democrats.

Mr Issa said that the major difference between the parties is over what should be done about the 11.5m illegal residents living in the US.

The Democrats favour the introduction of a 'pathway to citizenship' which would allow most illegal residents to embark on a pathway towards citizenship. Many Republicans would like to see illegal residents being forced to leave the country.

Australian senator calls for 35m population through immigration

Sam Dastyari, a left wing Senator in the Australian parliament, has called for greatly increased immigration to Australia to boost the economy. He says that the population should rise from the current level of 22m to 35m by 2050.

Mr Dastyari is an immigrant himself. He was born in Iran and travelled to Australia with his parents when he was five. He said ‘We must embrace immigration as a big idea for Australia's future'.

Lech Walesa accuses UK of immigration 'irrationality'

The former Polish president Lech Walesa has accused the UK's prime minister David Cameron of irrationality and short-sightedness over immigration.

Mr Walesa led the Solidarity union strike at the Gdansk shipyard in 1980 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983. He became angry after Mr Cameron said that Polish immigrants to the UK should not be paid UK child benefit if their children live in Poland. Mr Walesa said that the people of Poland were responsible for the collapse of communism and said that the UK should be grateful.