Dear [Visitor]

New US Visit Visa requirements to go into place

Those wishing to enter the US under the visa waiver scheme will from 12 January 2009 need to apply electronically for travel authorization. They will need to apply online under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

According to the Customs and Borders Protection Office at the US Embassy the number of British tourists applying for authorization is only about 3,700 a day. In January 2008 eight thousand British tourists travelled to the US every day. Therefore, it seems likely that many British tourists will face difficulties when entering the US.

UK Border Agency and Points System

On 5 January 2008 the UKBA announced that 4,875 businesses had registered as sponsors under the Points System. This still means that huge number of businesses that need to bring in overseas workers are not registered as sponsors.

The requirement that the British business becomes a registered sponsor is in many ways tougher than under the previous work permit scheme. However, this does bring in additional delays which could cause serious problems for employers and may cause long term damage to the UK economy. In the long term as more and more employers become registered this is less of an issue.

The end of the Working Holidaymaker scheme for young Commonwealth Citizens and it’s partial replacement by Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme may not be in the best interests of the UK. Only nationals from three Commonwealth Countries and Japanese nationals can come under the new Tier 5 scheme.

Shop keepers from Pakistan, in London for 7 years	University of London Union President	working in London as an IT developer in an investment bank	Selvi, in London on a business trip

Reminder for UK educational institutions sponsoring international students

On 19 December 2008 the UKBA made a further announcement regarding the Student Tier 4 of the points system to be introduced in March 2009. Under the new points based system educational institutions will have to be licensed to sponsor students.

UKBA in their announcement said that they have already begun issuing licences for sponsors under tier 4 and would encourage all potential sponsors who have not yet applied for their licence to do so as soon as possible.

UK work restrictions for Bulgarians and Romanians to continue

On 18 December 2008 the Government announced that for the time being Bulgarians and Romanians will not get free access to the British labour market. It is interesting to note that Bulgarians and Romanians can enter the UK under an European Community Association Agreement on a self employed basis to do almost any type of work.

Skilled and Highly Skilled workers from Bulgaria and Romania will probably come under Tier 1, Tier 2 or the European Community Association Agreement; Lower skilled workers can come under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) and the Sector Based Scheme (SBS) for food processing or in some circumstances under the EC Association Agreement.

In 2009 the number of Bulgarians and Romanians admitted under the scheme goes up from 16,250 places to 21,250. The quota for the Sector Based Scheme for food processing currently only for Romanian and Bulgarian workers will stay at 3,500.

Immigration Offices in India

If you would like to meet us in India to discuss immigration to the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the United States,

make an appointment (either office): indiaoffices@workpermit.com.

Tel: +91 11 4223 5025
Eros Corporate Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi 110 019, India

UK immigration system and childrens welfare

The welfare of children in Britain's immigration system is a top priority, according to new UK Border Agency guidelines introduced on 6 January 2009.

The new code of practice deals with how youngsters should be treated during any stay in detention or while being transferred into local authority care. UKBA will then be in line with other Government organisations that take care of children.

The UKBA says that the vast majority of children are detained for less than a week, and during that stay they are committed to treating them fairly and with compassion.

Obama and US immigration Reform

President-Elect Obama is under increasing pressure to reform US immigration. Latinos voted for Barack Obama in big numbers in the US. They are now expecting Obama to keep his promise on immigration reform.

It is expected that Obama will stop immigration raids in future. Further immigration reform for the benefit of the largely Hispanic illegal immigrant population could be more difficult. Obama will have the greatest influence in Congress during the start of his presidency; This may be the best time to push for immigration reform.

ANNOUNCING - Vacancies for Australian & Canadian Immigration Experts


We are looking for immigration consultants experienced in Australian and Canadian immigration. This is an exciting opportunity to join our Migration Team in the workpermit.com Head Office in Central London.

If interested please send email to worklondon@workpermit.com with a covering letter and CV.

We are looking for immigration consultants experienced in Australian and Canadian immigration. This is an exciting opportunity to join our Migration Team in the workpermit.com Head Office in Central London.

If interested please send email to worklondon@workpermit.com with a covering letter and CV.

• Reminder for UK educational institutions sponsoring international students

  On 19 December 2008 the UKBA made a further announcement regarding the Student Tier 4 of the points system to be introduced in March 2009. Under the new points based system educational institutions will have to be licensed to sponsor students. more  »

• UK work restrictions for Bulgarians and Romanians to continue

  On 18 December 2008 the Government announced that for the time being Bulgarians and Romanians will not get free access to the British labour market. It is interesting to note that Bulgarians and Romanians can enter the UK under an European Community Association Agreement on a self employed basis to do almost any type of work. more  »

• UK Border Agency and Points System

  On 5 January 2008 the UKBA announced that 4,875 businesses had registered as sponsors under the Points System. This still means that huge number of businesses that need to bring in overseas workers are not registered as sponsors. more  »

• UK immigration system and childrens welfare

  The welfare of children in Britain'simmigration system is a top priority, according to new UK Border Agency guidelines introduced on 6 January 2009. more  »

• Obama and US immigration Reform

  President-Elect Obama is under increasing pressure to reform USimmigration. Latinos voted for Barack Obama in big numbers in the US. They are now expecting Obama to keep his promise on immigration reform. more  »

• New US Visit Visa requirements to go into place

  Those wishing to enter the US under the visa waiver scheme will from 12 January 2009 need to apply electronically for travel authorization. They will need to apply online under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). more  »

• No change expected to Australia's record high migrant intake

  Despite the global financial crisis, Australia's Immigration Minister Chris Evans has indicated that he expects only modest cuts in next years migrant intake program which is currently at an all time high, with Australia taking more than 200 000 new immigrants per year. more  »

• Switzerland: 25th signatory to the Schengen Agreement

  On 12 December, Switzerland added its name to the list of countries that have adopted the Schengen Agreement and In doing so became the 25th member of the group, which has no border controls for people passing between member states and a single external border. more  »

• US opens four new immigration facilities in Florida

  The USCitizenship and Immigration Services is opening four new immigration facilities in South Florida to replace the one that it currently operates. more  »