Immigration news

A new poll conducted by polling company Ipsos Mori for the think tank British Future shows that immigration is regarded by many Britons as a potential source of local and national tension. British Future was established in 2012 by Sunder Katwala, a British Asian who is a former General Secretary of the left-wing think tank The Fabian Society. Its stated aim is to 'to involve people in an open conversation, which addresses people's hopes and fears about identity and integration, migration and opportunity'.

The UK's Prime Minister David Cameron has said that it is impossible to know how many immigrants will come to the UK from Romania and Bulgaria next year when transitional immigration controls as allowed under EU law ends.

Anonymous Washington insiders have said that President Obama is to press ahead with efforts to achieve comprehensive immigration reform immediately. However, because of the almost complete lack of cooperation between the parties it is not clear that the President will succeed in forcing reform through.

US consular staff in India report that the number of H category visas granted in US consulates in India rose by 16,000 in the 2012 financial year while the number of L-1 visas granted fell slightly.

The number of L-1 visas granted in India fell by 'a few thousand' according to Indian newspaper The Economic Times while the number of H category visas granted rose from 114,000 in 2011 to 130,000 in 2012, an increase of some 15%.

David Cameron has said that he is considering preventing EU citizens from claiming benefits in the UK. Mr Cameron was speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on the morning of Sunday 7th January 2013.

The chief executive of the umbrella body of UK universities, "Universities UK", has said that a series of hostile speeches and policy initiatives from UK government ministers about UK immigration is driving international students away from the UK. Many students from India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and China are choosing to study in other countries such as Australia, the United States and Canada according to Nicola Dandridge, the chief executive of Universities UK.