UK Immigration News

Britain's most senior Catholic cleric, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, says that an influx of immigrants is helping the UK to rediscover its Christian roots and revive religion in a "weary, western" culture. "Not only are new arrivals adding to fading congregation numbers, but they are encouraging the British born demographic to rediscover their faith, said the Cardinal."

The Life in the UK Test for those applying for British citizenship and indefinite leave to remain (permanent residence) has been heavily criticised, after it was revealed that an immigrant was allowed to take the test 64 times before passing it. The unnamed migrant, who needed to pass the test as one of the requirements to be able to apply for British citizenship, was allowed to retake the 45-minute test repeatedly; there are no restrictions on how many times you can take the test.

Arrests of illegal immigrants at the UK port of Dover rose by nearly 300% between 2013 and 2014, according to information released under the Freedom of Information Act. 563 immigration arrests were made at Dover – a site where many immigrants try to enter the UK illegally – in 2014, compared with 148 arrests in 2013 and 105 in 2012.

Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University, whose parents were born in Poland has called the UK government's immigration restrictions "one of the biggest threats" to the UK's higher education system in a pamphlet published at a conference in London.

A migrant died on Tuesday July 7th while attempting to board a moving freight train in Calais on the way to the UK according to Eurotunnel officials. The migrant, whose name, sex, and nationality have not been officially released, is the second to die in similar circumstances in as many weeks while trying to enter the UK through France. The UK is one of the most popular immigration destinations in the World.

From 6 April 2016 most Tier 2 visa immigrants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) must be earning £35,000 or more to qualify for UK indefinite leave to remain (also known as permanent residence), says the Home Office. Theresa May said the new rules will help to reduce the number of non-European Union/EEA nationals and their dependants that are granted permanent residence each year from 60,000 to 20,000.