Tougher days are ahead for UK immigrants

8th November 2010: Tougher days are ahead for immigrants. Home Secretary Theresa May has asserted the government intends to control immigration by not just the points-based system; and has warned of action on `students, families and settlement as well as people coming here to work'. 
The assertion came during her first major speech on immigration. According to the UK Border Agency, `the Home Secretary has committed to shaking up government policy, managing numbers in the economy's interest, and ensuring that only the brightest and the best can come to the UK`.

Speaking to an audience of key immigration partners at London's Policy Exchange, she reiterated the coalition government's commitment to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands by the end of this Parliament.

She made it clear that this could not be done through the points-based system alone, saying: 'The government intends to control immigration by focusing on all aspects of the immigration system, not just the points-based system. So over the coming months action will be taken on students, families and settlement as well as people coming here to work.'

Among the Home Secretary's priorities are: encouraging more entrepreneurs and investors to come to Britain; putting a stop to abuse of the student route; and cutting the link between those who come here temporarily and permanent settlement.

Concluding her speech, the Home Secretary admitted that it would not be easy to reduce net migration from the current level of hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands. She said: 'It will take hard work and a great deal of political courage. But the British people want us to do it and it is the right thing to do. So we will do it.'





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Tough immigration controls for UK employers

Employers in the UK who plan to recruit skilled workers from outside Europe must register with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) by 1st October,2010.


Employers in the UK who plan to recruit skilled workers from outside Europe must register with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) by 1st October to ensure they are licensed when the scheme goes live at the end of November.

Text/ Under the Government's new Australian-style points system businesses wanting to employ skilled foreign workers from outside the EEA and sponsor their entry to the UK must apply for a licence.

UKBA said it is committed to supporting industry through the introduction of the rules to ensure legitimate businesses do not fall foul of the new regime and only those with the skills the country needs will be able to work or study here and no more.

Employers found to have negligently employed illegal migrants face large on-the-spot fines of up to £10,000 prosecution and a prison sentence. The Agency is holding series of meetings on the tough new points system for national and international industry.

Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "The points system is one of the biggest shake-ups to the immigration system in a generation ensuring only those with the skills we need will be able to work or study here and no more.

"This tough points system, plus our plans for newcomers to earn citizenship, will reduce overall numbers of economic migrants coming to Britain, and the numbers awarded permanent settlement.

"Our message to businesses is loud and clear - if you want to employ foreign workers from outside the EEA, you need to apply now for a sponsor licence."

Earlier this year the Home Office unveiled the criteria which businesses will have to meet to become a sponsor under the points system. These are that: any business must register with the Agency as a sponsor before they can bring foreign workers from outside the EEA into the UK to work; and as a condition of keeping their licence, sponsors will need to alert us if migrants do not comply with their immigration conditions - for example if they disappear or do not turn up for their job or course. Any sponsor that does not comply with this requirement will risk losing its licence. From November, those who register successfully will be able to sponsor new foreign workers to work in the UK or support those already in the UK who want to stay.

Skilled foreign workers must have: enough points through their qualifications and potential earnings; a good grasp of English language; and enough money to support themselves for the first month of their stay. The new points system is just one part of the biggest shake up to immigration and border security in 45 years, along with fingerprint visas for anyone wanting to come to the UK and compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals.

Minister Byrne: “Only those with the skills we need will be able to work or study here and no more”


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