Tier 1, 2 migrants to pass Life in the UK test, rather than ESOL course

17th March 2011: Migrants in Tier 1, Tier 2 and their precursor routes will need to pass the Life in the UK test, rather than an ESOL with citizenship course. Applicants will also need to be clear of unspent convictions while applying for settlement. Giving details, the UK Border Agency has asserted: `Subject to Parliamentary approval, the rules for settlement in the UK will change on 6 April 2011. `We will tighten the current settlement criteria by introducing these changes: A new criminality...

From 6th April 2011, Only 1,000 visas per annum for exceptionally talented migrants

17th March 2011: The government is all set to dole out 1,000 visas per annum for exceptionally talented migrants in the fields of science, arts and humanities. The permission to stay in the UK will initially be granted to them for three years and four months. But, they will be able to extend their stay for a further two years, and to settle here after five years' residence in the UK. The government has already published a statement of intent outlining how the new Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) route...