Immigration news

Gavin Barwell, the Conservative MP for Croydon, has warned that pronouncements by UK politicians and heavy-handed policing of immigration rules by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) are damaging the UK economy.

Mr Barwell aired his views in UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday 19th February 2013, while the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron was in India heading a trade mission. Mr Barwell wrote 'It's no good the Prime Minister committing so much of his time to….telling the world we are open for business if every time we talk about immigration domestically it is always in terms of it being a problem.'

Theresa May, the UK's Home Secretary, has accused the UK courts of shielding dangerous criminals from deportation. She says that immigration judges have been ignoring the will of parliament and that their stance will inevitably lead to crimes on the streets of the UK.

The US financial regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on 8th February 2013 that it has filed a complaint against Anshoo Sethi, a Chicago based businessman. It has instigated legal proceedings against Mr Sethi and his investment trust, the Intercontinental Regional Center Trust of Chicago and frozen $145m of assets held by the Trust after an investigation into a suspected multi-million dollar fraud carried out on 290 investors, mostly from China.

We would like to remind you that, as of 25th March 2013, the UK Citizenship Test will become harder. We advise you to apply as soon as possible, particularly if you have been studying for the test for some time. You will have to wait for between one and three weeks after applying to take the test so you should apply without delay. Once you have passed the test you can use results from the test any time in future for an indefinite leave to remain application or for an UK citizenship application.

David Cameron the UK's Prime Minister, has given interviews to Indian television stations in which he has claimed that there is 'no limit' on the number of Indian students who can study in the UK or on the number who can then stay in the UK to work having graduated.

Barack Obama, the President of the US delivered his annual State of the Union Address on Tuesday 12th February 2013 and called, among other things for immigration reform including the establishment of a pathway to citizenship for the 11m undocumented immigrants who are believed to be living in the US illegally.