UK Immigration News

The United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), one of the UK's immigration authorities, which has responsibility for visa applications made overseas, has said that it is to cease its mobile biometric clinic service on Borneo. The UKBA says 'We have received a lot of positive feedback on the mobile biometric service and we will explore the possibility of offering this service in summer 2013.'

Yesterday, the Trades Union Congress, an annual gathering of UK Trades Unions voted to explore the practicalities of a general strike to protest at the ongoing cuts being imposed by the UK's coalition government. If such a strike occurs, public sector workers, including immigration staff will carry out coordinated strikes causing chaos throughout the country, not least at the UK's rail, sea and air ports where UK Border Force staff might walk away from their positions in passport control.

Dame Helen Ghosh, the civil servant who is Permanent Secretary to the Home Office, has said that the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and the UK Border Force (UKBF) had persuaded too many staff to leave with redundancy packages in 2010-2011. She revealed that 104 staff who left with generous redundancy packages have since been re-employed.

A senior London lawyer has stated that the decision by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to revoke a university's licence to teach foreign students could be suspended by the High Court for 'many months' pending a full court decision on the matter.

An insider at the UK Border Force has told The Daily Star newspaper that long delays are likely at Heathrow Airport from the beginning of October 2012. During the Olympics and Paralympics, extra staff were drafted in from the Ministry of Defence to help man the passport control desks but these workers will return to their regular duties at the end of September 2012, leaving a shortage of staff.

The United Kingdom Border Agency has announced changes to the rules regarding those who wish to apply for renewed leave to stay in the country when their leave to do so has expired. As from October 1st 2012, applications for further leave will be refused if the application is made 28 days or more after the previous leave has expired. This rule already applies to those who apply under the family migration route. From 1st October 2012, it will apply to all other applicants. These areApplicants under:• The points-based system• All working and student routes• Visiting routes