UK Immigration News

The University of Oxford's Migration Observatory (OMO) reported on May 14th that the limit on UK Tier 2 visas for skilled migrants was almost exceeded in the one year period ending April 2015.

The Head of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, is the driving force behind a highly controversial plan that will force every country within the European Union (EU) to accept a quota of refugee immigrants, including Britain.

The plans were unveiled in Brussels on Wednesday 13, May, but Britain says it will not accept any such proposal made by the European Commission to receive asylum seekers and refugees.

Britain's 'huge green spaces' are proof that UK immigration is not too high insists ex-Labour minister, David Lammy. In an interview with BBC breakfast before the General Election, Lammy said: "If you look at our population, it can manage, there are huge green spaces in the country where there aren't immigrants. It's not too high, it's not."

Lammy criticised the Conservatives for pledging to reduce immigration numbers below 100,000 per year and for cutting English language classes which help foreigners integrate into British society.

Going against all the opinion polls and surveys conducted in the run up to the UK 2015 General Election, the Conservatives have surpassed even their own expectations and have won enough seats to secure a majority government.

In a turn of events that few expected, the Conservatives have won 331 seats, leaving Labour trailing behind with 232 and absolutely decimating the Liberal Democrats who have only managed to secure 8. It looks as if current immigration policy will continue which in our experience will cause numerous problems for the immigrant population.

The UK General Election is taking place today. We take this opportunity to look at the immigration policies of the main political parties as stated in their manifestos, and to speculate about the election outcome.

The Conservatives say they aim to keep net migration down to the tens of thousands and make it more difficult for EU immigrants to claim social or housing benefits.

Biometric residence permits have been a requirement for non EU/EEA nationals applying for UK visas from within the UK since November 2008. It is now a requirement for non EEA nationals applying for a visa from outside the UK as well. Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) for visa applications from abroad began being issued in March 2015, starting with applications made from Pakistan. BRPs are now being issued by the UK Home Office to 'Stage 2' countries (see list below).