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Australia working holidaymaker visas available right now for 18 to 30 year olds. Call the London Office on 0344 991 9222 for further details.
Unannounced UK Immigration audits of Tier 2 Visa sponsors increases
The Tier 2 Visa sponsorship Licence system was introduced in 2008, to further control and restrict immigration into the UK. UK companies need a Tier 2 sponsorship licence to sponsor and employ foreign workers from outside of the European Union on Tier 2 visas.
A Tier 2 sponsorship licence is valid for four years, so those issued in 2012 are now starting to expire. Because the Tier 2 sponsorship licence system was introduced in 2008 there was a sudden rush of employers applying for Tier 2 sponsorship licences in that year. As you need to renew the Tier 2 sponsorship licence every four years the number of renewal applications this year is higher than normal being eight years after the tier 2 sponsorship licence system was first introduced.
In an attempt to further reduce levels of immigration into the UK there has been an increase in the number of unannounced audits made by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to offices of Tier 2 visa sponsors.
New US Guest Worker Visa Scheme Proposed
US Republican Senator for Arizona, Jeff Flake, has recently introduced legislation that could lead to the setup of a new, US guest worker visa program. Flake says that the scheme will ‘fill the gap’ that currently exists between the temporary visa schemes for H-2A for agricultural workers and H-2B non-agricultural seasonal workers, and the highly-skilled H-1B specialty worker visa scheme for graduates.
The Willing Workers and Willing Employers Act would modify the Immigration and Nationality Act, creating a new H-2C classification.
Tier 2 Sponsorship LIcence Help!
Are you an employer looking to sponsor people from outside the EU? If so, we can help you apply or renew a Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence. Contact the London office on 0344 991 9222 for further details.
H-1B and L-1 Visa Fee Row Won’t be Discussed During Modi’s US Visit
The row between India and the US over H-1B and L-1 visa fee increases is unlikely to be discussed when Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, visits the US in June. Modi is due in Washington on a planned visit to address a joint meeting of the Congress and Senate.
According to a report published by ZDNet - an online technology related portal – a discussion with the Obama administration over fee hikes for the temporary, non-immigrant US work visas is not on the agenda.
In March, the Modi government filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the US for increasing L-1 visa fees to $4,500 and H-1B visa fees to $4,000 in certain circumstances. The changes mainly affected Indian owned companies.
2,615 Tier 2 Visa Certificates of Sponsorship Available in June
There continues to be a good availability of Tier 2 Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) with the number available for allocation in June standing at 2,615, according to UK Visas and Immigration data. The department published its May report citing that its figures were correct as of 13 May, 2016.
An employer with a Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence needs to apply for Certificates of Sponsorship for immigrants they wish to employ under the Tier 2 visa scheme.
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