Immigration newsletter 13 Feb 2014

Do you have a professional level contract in the UK paying at least £180 per day? If so, we can help you find a sponsor and obtain a UK Tier 2 (General) skilled worker visa. It is easier to switch if you already have a Tier 1 PSW visa or a Tier 4 student visa. The UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur scheme may also be an option. Why not contact the London office on 0344 991 9222 for further details.

Malta's 'instant citizenship' programme is 'delayed indefinitely'

Malta's Individual Investor Program, which would have allowed wealthy people from outside the European Union to ‘buy’ Maltese citizenship, has been postponed 'indefinitely' amid controversy and political opposition.

The Maltese government and opposition will now 'discuss amendments' to the programme. If the scheme goes ahead, applicants who pay ‘a contribution’ of €650,000 and buy a property in Malta could as long as they pass security clearance checks obtain citizenship in three months. Maltese citizens can live anywhere in the EU.The European Commission is considering legal action to prevent the scheme going ahead.

London tech firms call for UK immigration reform

A group which lobbies on behalf of UK technology start-up companies has called on the government to make it easier to bring skilled workers from outside the EU to work in the UK.

Russ Shaw of Tech London Advocates told Computer Weekly magazine ‘We need to adjust immigration policies'. Mr Shaw says he has held meetings with the Home Office. He says he is hopeful that the government will make some changes within the next year. He says that London's success as a centre for tech start-ups has created demand for international talent.

UK PM announces 'tech visa' to ease immigration for IT talent

One change that may please Mr Shaw is the new 'tech visa' announced by UK Prime Minister David Cameron. Mr Cameron told journalists that the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa stream will be expanded to allow exceptionally talented programmers and IT professionals to apply.

The Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa allows people of exceptional talent to come to the UK if they are endorsed by a professional body. Currently fewer than 100 people per year qualify for the visa. Even if 400 IT professionals receive Exceptional Talent visas, this will have little impact on the continuing shortage of IT professionalsin London.

EU president accuses UK PM of 'scaremongering' over EU immigration

The President of the European Commission has criticised UK Prime Minister David Cameron for his 'narrow, chauvinistic' policies and pronouncements on immigration from the European Union. Jose Manuel Barroso warned of ''a rise in extremism'' and ''a festival of unfounded reproaches against Europe''.

In recent months, UK ministers have changed benefits laws to prevent EU migrants coming to the UK to claim benefits. Mr Barroso says that so called ‘benefits tourism’ is a myth.

American Apparel pays $4.8m to investors misled over immigrant workers

American Apparel, the US clothing company, has paid $4.8m to settle a lawsuit brought by shareholders. The shareholders claim that American Apparel risked their investment by secretly hiring thousands of illegal immigrants.

When the company was raided by US immigration in 2008, one third of employees were found to be in the US illegally. The shareholders claim that this affected production and caused the company’s share price to fall by 16%.

American Apparel denies deliberately misleading shareholders but says it has settled to avoid expensive litigation. It will also pay the shareholders’ costs of $1.5m.

England cricket writers forced to leave Australia by visa expiry

And finally, three English journalists had to leave Australia before the end of England's disastrous cricket tour because their visas expired. The men had non-renewable Subclass 400 visas and Australian immigration refused to allow them to stay.

The England team were favourites to win the test series when they landed in October. In fact, England lost the test series 5-nil and were also beaten in the One Day Internationals and the Twenty20 series. One of the men, John Etheridge, said he had wanted to see one England victory before he left. Ironically, England won their only victory of the tour in the match following the men’s departure.