Immigration newsletter 12 Jun 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 Tier 4 student visa or Tier 2 Visa. The UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur scheme may also be an option. Why not contact the London office for further details.

UK Immigration Solicitor needed - Call the UK office on 0344 991 9222

London Mayor: London would fall like Sparta without immigration

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has said that London can only thrive if it continues to welcome immigrants but he has added that, once immigrants arrive, they must be strongly encouraged to integrate into UK society.

Speaking at Investment 2020, an investment conference in London, Mr Johnson, who studied Classics at Oxford, compared the capital to two city states in ancient Greece; Athens and Sparta. Mr Johnson said that London would do better to follow the example of Athens, rather than Sparta, if it is to survive and prosper.

‘Look at Athens and Sparta’ he said; ‘Athens was an open city and Sparta kicked people out. Go and look at the ruins of Athens and Sparta now and ask which of the two cities made the greatest contribution to civilisation’.

No UK immigration bill in Queen's speech

UK political commentators were surprised that there was no mention of a new immigration bill in the Queen’s Speech on 4th June. Prime Minister David Cameron was rumoured to be preparing a new bill only two weeks earlier but, when the queen made her speech, there was no mention of the bill.

Westminster insiders said that internal government wrangling had seen the bill removed at the last minute. The Home Office, the department that is responsible for dealing with immigration into the UK, said that it was busy implementing the UK’s last immigration act which was only passed by parliament in May.

UK Labour adjusts immigration message

In the wake of the local and European elections held in the UK on 22nd May, after some disappointing results, the UK’s opposition Labour Party has a rethink of its future immigration policy.

Labour is the main opposition party in the UK and wanted to win the elections to show that it was on course to win the UK’s national elections in May 2015. In fact, the anti-immigration, anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) won the greatest number of seats in the elections pushing Labour into second place.

On Tuesday 27th May, Labour leader Ed Miliband gave a speech in the Essex town of Thurrock outlining his new tougher stance on immigration. Before the local elections, Labour controlled Thurrock council but, because of an increase in support for UKIP, it no longer does.

Ethnic minority MPs: UK government must tackle immigration fears

Two high-profile MPs from ethnic minority backgrounds have said that the UK government must tackle voters’ fears about immigration. Both MPs are the sons of immigrants.

Sajid Javid, a Conservative MP and minister for culture, and Chukka Umunna, the opposition Labour Party’s Shadow Business Secretary, have both said that voters have legitimate fears about immigration.

Canadian immigration bill will lead to 'second class citizenship'

A new immigration bill currently before the Canadian parliament will mean if it becomes law that new Canadian citizens have lesser rights than those born Canadian, according to opposition critics.

The bill would allow the Canadian government to strip new Canadian citizens of their citizenship under certain circumstances. They could lose their Canadian nationality if they have dual nationality and were to be convicted of a serious offence (for example a terrorist offence) whether in Canada or abroad.

Some lawyers complain that, because this cannot happen to those born Canadian, this would in effect be discrimination and create a class of second-class citizen.