UK Immigration News

The latest immigration statistics have been released by the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS). They show that net immigration for the year ending in June 2012 was a third lower than it was in the year ending in June 2011.

The chief executive of the UK Border Agency Rob Whiteman has announced that he is intending to raise fees for UK visas and immigration, nationality and citizenship applications. There will a huge increase in fees paid by dependants applying from within the UK. The changes will come into force on 6th April 2013 providing that parliament approves them. This is normally a formality. The fees will almost certainly increase from 6th April 2013.

Figures released by the UK's Home Office show that only seven Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visas were issued by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) in 2011. In the year to September 2012, the first year in which the Exceptional Talent visa was available, there were 51 Exceptional Talent visas granted to main applicants and 21 more to dependants, a total of 72.

David Cameron has given an interview with UK newspaper The Daily Express in which he says he intends to introduce a 'simple, common sense test' which will be used to find out whether immigrants are actually resident in the UK before they are entitled to any UK social benefits such as legal aid, healthcare or unemployment benefit.

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has revealed that he urged his UK counterpart David Cameron to introduce 'a visa regime that facilitates greater movement of people between the two countries' at a meeting.

Mr Singh was speaking at a Delhi press conference given by the two prime ministers on Tuesday 18th February 2013. Mr Cameron is in India heading a UK trade delegation.

Four London men who worked for the same north London solicitors firm have been jailed for a total of nearly 35 years for their parts in a sham marriage operation during which they organised about 8,000 bogus marriages. It is believed that the scam may have netted them £20m. The Judge, Judge John Bevan said that the four men were guilty of the 'systematic perverting of the processes of the UK Border Agency over a period of years'.