Topical:
Intense lobbying by Britain's education sector and others has resulted in the Tier 1 Post Study Work immigration scheme continuing for another year. Tier 1 PSW allows non-EU students of UK educational institutions to live and work in the UK after graduation for up to two years. The Government is also expected to allow private further-education colleges which provide "pathway" courses to apply for student visa sponsorship accreditation.
A committee of MPs has urged immigration minister Damian Green not to move forward with the introduction of stricter rules for student immigration into the UK. The committee has warned that more stringent student immigration rules would be "potentially calamitous" to an industry worth £40 billion annually.
The UK has released more information concerning the new 'Exceptional Talent' visa which will replace Tier 1 (General) of Britain's points based immigration system. The visa will be capped at 1,000 per year and is aimed at a very small number of top highly skilled immigrants. After 5 April 2011 it will be very difficult to gain entry to the UK as an independent skilled immigrant.
If you have a professional or tertiary level qualification and would like to live and work in Singapore, you may be eligible for a one-year visa to find a job. You will normally be granted permanent residence if during this time you find a job in Singapore; Singapore has hardly any unemployment.
Many Countries have tightened their immigration laws. Singapore still has relatively liberal immigration laws. If you meet the requirements Singapore provides a great immigration opportunity under its Landed Permanent Residence (LPR) visa scheme.
The UK has announced new visa rules which would allow wealthy foreign-born investors and entrepreneurs to gain permanent residence (properly known as indefinite leave to remain) in the UK much more quickly than normal.
The new rules, which take effect in April 2011, would allow people who invest at least 5 million to settle (indefinite leave to remain) in Britain after three years. Those who invest at least 10 million will be able to settle after two years. Normally, people must live in the UK lawfully for five years to attain settlement.
Several economists have said that the UK's immigration cap will hurt economic growth in the country and harm Britain's continued recovery from the global financial meltdown of 2008.
"Limits on skilled migration have a significantly negative effect on growth," said Jonathan Portes of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR).
At the NIESR's pre-Budget conference in Westminster, former government economist Vicky Pryce agreed with Portes.