Immigration

We are pleased to announce that following our reassessment our accreditation under the Two Tick Disability Scheme has been renewed for another year. We have been a Two Tick employer now for two years and it is as important to us now as when we were first assessed.

I recently read a really interesting article about why businesses lose their clients, but it could easily be tweaked to be a guide as to how to keep clients. Succinct and honest with all the normal "sales babble". Yes it’s stuff that everyone who has clients should already know, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded from time to time!

As from 13^th February 2012 the UK Border Agency's Tier 1 guidance notes have become more resolute in requesting further documents once an application has been submitted. Now if an individual does not provide the requisite documents the UK Border Agency will contact the individual/or their representative to request the further documents that are needed, in order to determine the application. This does not mean if the individual has not provided any supporting documentation to support their Tier 1 application, the UK Border Agency will provide the individual with a list of what is required. The amendments in the guidance notes, in reality are only for those individuals who have made an error in sending the documents in the incorrect format and therefore giving the individual an opportunity to correct their error.

On 2^nd February Damian Green, the Immigration Minister made a bold statement regarding the future of UK Immigration, he indicated the UK immigration process will be made easier for those migrants that will benefit Britain, not just benefit from Britain.

On 12^th January 2012 officers attended an Indian restaurant in Sussex, to carry out immigration checks on staff who were employed there. Four Bangladeshi men were arrested, as it was alleged that three of the men had overstayed their visa in the UK and the fourth person had allegedly entered the UK illegally.

I have recently received a number of telephone calls regarding whether foreign nationals who are in the UK under the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme category, are able to carry out self-employment work in the UK.

It is inevitable media professionals will be entering the UK to report on the London Olympics and Paralympics.

In order to ensure journalists and media professionals are granted permission not only to enter the UK but to allow them to work in the UK as journalists and/or other media professionals, they will need to meet specific UK visa requirements and submit their applications sooner rather than later.

UK Border Agency have begun processing visit visas for foreign nationals who wish to enter the UK to watch the Olympics and/or Paralympic Games in 2012.

As of 1st January 2012 Taiwan nationals are able to enter the UK under the Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme). Other nationals that are able to enter the UK under the Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) are Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Monaco. 

The first monthly UK immigration allocation of restricted Tier 2 (General) certificates of sponsorship took place on 11 April 2011. All applications that met the restricted criteria were successful if 32 points were scored.