Immigration newsletter 10 Feb 2015

Are you an UK employer wishing to employ nationals from outside the EU? workpermit.com can help you obtain a Tier 2 sponsorship licence and help with compliance issues for new and existing Tier 2 sponsors. Call the London Office on 0344 991 9222 for further details.

Thousands of Tier-2 migrants to be removed from UK

The UK government has announced a crackdown on bogus Tier-2 visa sponsorships, which may lead to up to 2,500 migrants having to leave the Country.

An investigation by immigration officials has revealed that in some cases migrants are being given Tier-2 visas for jobs that don't exist, or are completely different from those advertised.

Jobs in petrol stations, massage parlours and kebab shops are being advertised by employers as highly skilled positions, as part of the process for obtaining a Tier 2 visa. Examples of this include an advert for a £30,000 a year salesperson for a corner shop, and adverts for a PR manager for a takeaway, and for two 'family therapists' for a Thai massage parlour.

Australia launches new pilot visa programme for Indian visitors

A new pilot visa programme has been launched recently to make it easier for business and tourist visitors from India to apply for a visa by allowing them to apply online for a visa to travel to Australia.

Andrew Robb, Trade and Investment Minister said: 'India is one of the world's fastest growing outbound travel markets. This trial will make it easier for Indian visitors to apply for visas to travel to Australia'.

The pilot programme enables Indians to make online applications under Subclass 600 as long as the visa application is made via selected travel agents across India. The Subclass 600 visa is for temporary visits to Australia for business or pleasure.

UK Tier 2 Sponsorship

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 who can apply for a UK Tier 2 (General) skilled worker visa. Contact the London office for further details.

The US Immigration success story

Many of the headlines in recent weeks have been dominated by opposition in the Republican Party to President Barack Obama's immigration reforms which are mainly aimed at helping the millions of undocumented Hispanic migrants in the US. Obama's reforms should mean that these migrants will more easily be able to integrate into US society.

In the last fifty years the Hispanic population in the US has grown from 3 million to 53 million. Despite the large numbers of undocumented migrants, included in these figures, many argue that Hispanic migration to the US has been a success. Simon Rosenberg, president of the pro-immigration group NDN/New Policy Institute, argues that we may now see a 'tipping point' where Hispanics are now able to gain socioeconomic status and acceptance by the general population.

Despite this many Republicans still want to restrict the Affordable Care Act, and repeal some of the recent reforms implemented by Obama. These policies would surely harm the Hispanic community.

Migrant voters likely to be key to UK elections

Migrant voters are almost as numerous as UKIP supporters and so the way they vote is likely to affect the outcome of the next general election, according to a new report from Manchester University and the Migrants Rights Network.

According to the report “…around one voter in every ten eligible to vote in 2015 will be a migrant voter, and many more will be the children of migrants.” The migrant vote could be decisive in up to 70 key elections across England and Wales, where the number of migrant voters is substantially greater than the winning margin of incumbent MPs at the last election.

With a general election due in less than 100 days, immigration is expected to be high on the agenda for the main political parties. Both Labour and the Conservatives are expected to try and counter the rise of UKIP be being seen to be ‘tough’ on immigration.