New border control agency launches

The new Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) has gone live today promising "greater public accountability".

Although the BIA will remain part of the Home Office, the revamped agency is said to have "greater operational freedom to deliver" its services.

Changes to the system include a visible presence of uniformed immigration officers at all ports as well as the introduction of an individual case-owner managing asylum cases from start to finish.

The BIA will also now have a regional focus with a new director announced for each of the six geographical areas of the UK.

Speaking about the changes, chief executive Lin Homer said the regional focus will mean the new agency is "more responsive to the communities it serves".

"It will engage with a whole range of partners from police, local councils and agencies to deliver the sort of service that the public expects," she added.

"It will be more open and accountable with clear, published targets so the public can see whether it is delivering - putting us in a stronger position to deliver the transformation we have promised."

Home Office minister Liam Byrne stressed the new freedoms given to the BIA will help move the immigration service forward.

"We want to give the BIA freedom not only to work globally delivering border security but act locally tackling local immigration policing priorities," he said.

The changes come after a string of Home Office blunders earlier this year including the failure to record 27,500 crimes committed by Britons abroad.

Foreign students to get graduate work permits

International students who graduate from UK universities will be permitted to stay on for an extra year to work, the government has announced.

From May 1, students who pass a bachelors degree or earn a postgraduate qualification in any subject can apply to extend their visas in a move that the Department for Education and Skills hopes will "cement the UK's status as a top study destination for international students".

The International Graduates Scheme replaces one that had previously only been open to science and engineering graduates in England.

The higher education minister, Bill Rammell, said the year-long visas will "allow UK employers to benefit from skilled people who have gained UK qualifications and have experience of living in the UK."

The offer comes as overseas fees for the price of student visas rose from £85 to £99 yesterday. Work permits applied for overseas also went up, from £85 to £200.

The National Union of Students welcomed the move, saying it could cushion the blow of the visa charges.

"Visa cost rises are being widely criticised as a disincentive for international students applying to the UK," said NUS officer Issahaku Kotomah. "The policy of allowing international students an extra year's stay to attract more applicants is probably aimed at keeping up numbers to meet ambitions for attracting a lucrative market."

Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, has often been critical of the government's decision to raise visa costs, fearing it will force students to study elsewhere. But a spokesman said this scheme was "good news for the UK higher education sector".

"UUK has been calling for some time for a more coordinated and consistent approach to international student employment opportunities in the UK post graduation," he said.

However, the UUK spokesman warned against complacency, saying other countries were taking similar steps to attract top international students.

The immigration minister, Liam Byrne, said international students in higher education contribute more than £3bn a year to the economy and should have the opportunity to be a factor in Britain's prosperity.

However, he warned: "At the end of their year working in the UK they will be expected to return home, or apply for leave to remain under an appropriate skilled workers scheme in the same way that anyone who wants to come here to take up skilled employment has to."

In 2005, seven percent of a total of nearly 150,000 foreign students who applied for visa extensions were rejected, according to the Home Office.

Marriage visa age to rise as part of tougher immigration controls

HOME Secretary John Reid today announced plans to "strengthen" UK immigration controls, including stricter rules on those coming in to the country to marry.

He is to raise the minimum age at which foreigners can receive marriage visas from 18 to 21.

His officials calculate this will mean about 3000 fewer people - mainly women from the Indian sub-continent - will come to the UK.

The government, which recently shelved plans to outlaw forced marriages, will also bring in confidential interviews for fiancees and spouses entering Britain to check they have been not forced into a wedding.

Mr Reid also promised tougher identity checks on people entering Britain to make sure that people are who they say they are.

This will be linked to the "next step" in using electronic data such as fingerprints and iris recognition - on UK passports and entry documents.

But the plans provoked an angry reaction from Habib Rahman, the chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants.

He said: "The new rules could effectively deny UK settlement and citizenship to children in these families indeterminately, while the fees relative to these groups' lower incomes are swingeing."

200,000 'lost' asylum seekers may stay

More than 200,000 failed asylum seekers may stay in Britain indefinitely because they cannot be traced.

Officials have conceded that nearly half of the 450,000 "legacy cases" in which the applicants are left in limbo may never be cleared.

Ministers have flatly ruled out an amnesty and have pledged to remove everyone not entitled to be here within five years.

Some "legacy" cases date back 15 years and experts believe the Government will not be able to fulfil its pledge to clear the backlog by July 2011. Officials attending a recent meeting to discuss the legacy policy were told that half of the 450,000 are "untraceable".

They were also told that 18,000 foreign nationals who have committed crimes in Britain were earmarked for deportation, the first time an official figure has been given.

Damian Green, the Conservative immigration spokesman, said: "It is concerning that there may be such a large number of foreign criminals possibly at large and that the Government is admitting defeat by writing off up to 200,000 lost asylum seekers."

Sir Andrew Green, the chairman of Migration Watch, said: "It is time they [the Government] came clean to the public about the possibly serious implication for the asylum system."

A Home Office spokesman said: "We remain confident that we will be able to clear the entire current legacy of cases by July 2011."

The Home Office is already reviewing the cases of 4,000 failed asylum seekers in Scotland after pressure from the executive in Edinburgh.

As immigration is not a devolved matter, this move could be significant for policy in England, where most of the unsuccessful asylum seekers live.

Many countries, including America, have regularisation programmes for failed asylum seekers or illegal immigrants. Spain has just completed its fifth amnesty.

But a Commons committee last year said an amnesty in Britain would encourage the view that breaches of the immigration rules may be rewarded and undermine confidence in the system.

Last week's Whitehall shake-up left immigration in the hands of the Home Office but day-to-day policy will be handed over to a new Borders agency which comes into being today.

Also from today, any foreign national wanting to settle here will be required to take tests in the English language and the British way of life. This brings long-term immigrants into line with people who seek UK citizenship, who already have to sit the tests.

Last year 180,000 people were granted settlement to stay. Some go on to seek British nationality but others may choose to retain their own while staying permanently.

The Government believes migrants wishing to live in the UK permanently should properly integrate and understand the society they are joining.

Applicants who already possess a good standard of English will take the existing Life in the UK exam. Immigrants with poorer English can take a specially developed English for Speakers of Other Languages course with a simplified citizenship course.

The Life in the UK test is aimed at those with a good grasp of English and their pass mark will be at least 75 per cent. Each applicant sits a 45-minute exam of 24 questions to show a basic knowledge of national culture.

Those less accomplished in English can attend a combined language and citizenship class instead. They will be expected to complete the course "successfully" but do not have to pass the exam to gain citizenship.

A government handbook, Life in the UK, contains much of the information that will feature in the tests, including what to do if you spill someone's pint in a pub (offer to buy another).

Some immigrants and asylum seekers have cheated their way to UK citizenship by buying answers to the Home Office "Britishness" test.

Mandarin-speaking Chinese have paid £150 for the list in London's Soho, so they know which boxes to tick when they take the exam.

Now the Home Office has changed the questions, although applicants who studied the previous handbook are still allowed to take an exam based on the old questions.

UK immigration amnesty texts a hoax

Many in the United Kingdom cranked up huge phone bills this week after a hoax text message swept across the immigrant community urging them to vote for a nationwide amnesty for illegal immigrants.

In a country where the constant fear of deportation reigns among immigrants, the message sparked a texting frenzy from foreign nationals who believed it was a UK government survey.

The text message proclaimed: "Please ring 08453004433 to vote amnesty 4 immigrants in the UK before Tuesday next wk and pass on the message to as many as u can.

"The UK gvt is considering granting permanent visa/indefinite stay to immigrants that are already here both legal and illegal, this will be presented to the parliament next tuesday. You may not need it but remember ur bros & sis who r in need." (sic)

There were slight variations to the text messages seen by New Zimbabwe.com with one urging at the end: "Let's pray for God to make this happen."

It is not known where the text originated from, but the premium rate number belongs to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). A recorded voice announces that it is a "BBC London vote line", and advises that the "line is not active at present and all recent votes have now closed".

New Work Registration Scheme (WRS) Form

The Worker Registration Scheme application forms and guidance have been revised and are now available to download from the forms and guidance section of Home Office Work Permits.

You can download the WRS form from this link

WRS Form

Anyone completing a WRS application from 1st January 2007 should use the revised version (01/2007).

The main changes to note are:

Page 2 of application form - The correct postal address for completed applications is now included on this page. This has been reiterated throughout the form to address the issue of applicants sending their application to the wrong address.

Section 4 of the application form - Minor amendments to the text of questions 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27.

Number 7 of the guidance notes - A paragraph has been included to clarify the status of Accession State Nationals married to UK citizens and their requirement to register on the scheme.

Number 11 of the guidance notes - The correct contact details for the Complaints Team has been included.

New powers to capture foreign nationals' biometrics

Powers to compel foreign nationals in the UK to register their biometrics will be considered by the Home Office in the New Year.

The power would be introduced on a rolling basis and would build on biometric IDs for foreign nationals, which will be introduced from 2008, targeting those applicants where cards will bring the greatest benefits, such as migrant workers seeking to extend their stay in the UK.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:

"We're determined that Britain won't be a soft touch for illegal immigration. Compulsory biometric identity for foreign nationals will help us secure our borders, shut down access to the illegal jobs, which we know attracts illegal immigrants, and help fight foreign criminals.

"The technology is already making a difference, stopping illegal immigrants returning to Britain once they've been deported, helping trusted travellers pass securely through our borders and cutting down abuse of the asylum system."

British govt to relax procedures for training of overseas doctors

The British government has decided to conditionally open the door for international medical doctors after suspending the ‘Overseas Doctors Training Scheme’ under the proposed new immigration rule.

In May this year, the British government banned overseas doctors from getting on-job training, affecting thousands of postgraduate doctors from around the world. The law is expected to be enforced in early January 2007.

Earlier, overseas doctors used to get a temporary six-month visa to the UK and were allowed to look for a medical job and get training. Later they were permitted to seek visa.

The governmen since September has opened the door. Now there is a new system whereby international medical graduates can come to the UK but only for short term training.

Overseas doctors can work for two years provided that they get a work permit, noting that they will be paid on par with the British doctors.

Rapist asylum seeker due damages

A failed asylum seeker convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl is to be awarded damages after a judge ruled he was unlawfully detained in prison.
The 31-year-old, known as "A" for legal reasons, was held for 20 months after serving his sentence while authorities tried to deport him to Somalia.

A High Court judge ruled his detention became unlawful because of its length, and he was entitled to compensation.

Human rights lawyers said he could get up to £50,000 from the Home Office.

Mr Justice Calvert Smith, sitting in London, said the detention became unlawful because of its length, the impossibility of achieving removal and misleading statements for immigration officials.

He also said there had been a failure to consider releasing the man with an electronic tag, an option available since July 2005.

The judge said although "A" had been desperate to remain in the UK, that was not enough to displace the illegality of his detention.

He added that it was not necessary for the man to stay in the UK while damages were assessed.

But it is thought "A" may seek a further judicial review against attempts to deport him.

Media requests that the man should be identified given his criminal record were rejected.

The judge said naming him could hamper Home Office attempts to deport him.

"A" first arrived in the UK in May 1995.

He completed an eight-year prison sentence more than three years ago, for the rape of a young girl at knifepoint.

Minister in the dark over new east European migrants

The government has no idea how many Bulgarians and Romanians have been prevented from coming to Britain by restrictions placed on their employment rights when the countries join the EU, Liam Byrne, the immigration minister, said yesterday.

At a joint hearing of the Commons home affairs and European scrutiny committees, he said it would be "very unwise" to make predictions about the scale of demand for entry into Britain when the two countries join the EU on January 1.

The Home Office was embarrassed when a study by University College London, which it commissioned, predicted between 5,000 and 13,000 workers would come to the UK in the first year when eight countries including Poland joined the EU in 2004, well short of the estimated 600,000 who did so.

John Denham, home affairs committee chairman, put it to him that "given that experience, they would rather not ask the question at all in relation to Bulgaria and Romania, and we've seen nobody will be attempting to make any estimate of what might happen".

Mr Byrne said ministers had not endorsed the lower figure. But he added: "The committee can draw its own conclusions about the value for money the Home Office obtained [from that study]." He went on: "The choice we have to make here is not to stop immigration from Bulgaria and Romania for ever, it's a question of how quickly open access is available."

Michael Connarty, chairman of the European scrutiny committee, said: "What you seem to be saying is this is policy taken in a vacuum of evidence."

John Reid, home secretary, has announced restrictions which will limit employment for Bulgarians and Romanians to 16,250 agricultural workers for up to six months, 3,500 in the food processing industry for up to a year, around 1,800 skilled workers and the self-employed.

Workers from both countries have to be allowed unfettered access to the UK labour market from 2014.

Mr Byrne acknowledged there were no limits on residency rights, provoking warnings from Tory MPs of an increase in the black economy. David Heathcoat-Amory said: "You are trying to restrict immigration from Bulgaria and Romania by the sole device of trying to get the law-abiding workforce to register."

The minister said there were anecdotal reports that immigration from the "A8" who joined in 2004 had put pressure on "some local schools struggling to cope" and anecdotal reports of overcrowding in private housing. There was no evidence of significant strain on the health service. The influx had helped motor economic growth and the Bank of England had reported it had helped keep inflation down.

Mr Byrne would not be drawn on potential pressure from emigration from Turkey, if it succeeded in joining the EU.

Mutiny asylum centre nearly empty

Some 430 detainees have been moved from an immigration centre after it was damaged during large-scale unrest.

About 50 people are left at Harmondsworth, the largest complex of its kind in the UK, following protests over living conditions.

Those transferred - about 144 foreign nationals and 286 immigration offenders - have been moved to various prisons and immigration centres.

Damage caused by the mutiny could rise to millions of pounds.

About 150 "low risk" detainees will be released from other centres so the Harmondsworth evacuees can be transferred.

Protests erupted at the centre on 29 November following a prison watchdog report which was critical of standards there.

Introduction of new rules for people applying for settlement

All adults who apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) inthe UK on or after 2 April 2007 will need to demonstrate knowledge of language and of “life in the UK” in addition to meeting the usual requirements for settlement.

What is Knowledge of Life in the UK?

This is the need to demonstrate knowledge of life in the United Kingdom as well as language ability. There are two ways in which you can do this:

• If you are already at or above ESOL (English for Speakers of other languages) Entry 3 standard of English you will be able to undertake a specially developed short test called "Life in the UK Test".

Or

• If you have not reached ESOL Entry 3 you will need to gain an approved English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualification through attending an ESOL course which includes citizenship materials at a local college.

Life in the UK Test

You may take this test if your language ability is the equivalent of ESOL Entry 3 or above. You will need to take the test on a computer at one of the 100 or so Life in the UK Test centres in the UK. The test is managed on behalf of the Home Office by UfI Ltd, which is responsible for "learndirect" and "UK online centres". The test consists of 24 questions based on the information contained in the handbook "Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship”. The handbook was originally published in December 2004 and a revised handbook is due to be published in early 2007. You need to make sure you read the correct edition of the handbook, which will vary depending on when you take your test. If you are taking the test on or after 2 April you must study the second edition of the handbook. The handbook is available from The Stationery Office and many bookshops and is priced at £9.99. The book can be ordered online from: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop. The test itself will cost you £34 and you will be told the result on the day.

Further details can be found in the Question and Answers below, and on the Life in the UK test website www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk. This website also contains a full list of centres where you can take the test. Or you can call the Life in the UK Test helpline on 0800 015 4245.

If you pass this test you will not need to produce additional proof of your knowledge of English. This is because to pass the test you will need to be competent in English.

ESOL with Citizenship Content Courses.

If you are not yet at ESOL Entry 3 you will be able to meet the new requirements by successfully completing a language course, involving learning materials which incorporate information about citizenship. These materials are intended to enable you to gain sufficient knowledge of the UK at the same time as developing your knowledge of the English language. In order to meet the requirements for settlement, you will need to show that you have progressed from one ESOL level to the next.
Courses are, or will be, available at many Further Education, Adult and Community Colleges across the UK. You will need to make sure the college course that you enrol for includes the "language with citizenship" materials and that the college will give you a letter to this effect when you have successfully gained your qualification.

You can call the learndirect helpline on 0800 100 900 for details of ESOL providers.