UK Immigration News

We would like to put out a reminder about the recent changes to United Kingdom visa fees that take effect from 01 April 2007. Please see our recent news article with a comprehensive breakdown of fees for more information.

Please also be advised that fee changes apply to both in-country and out-of-country fees.

Britain's outgoing Prime Minister, Tony Blair, announced a shake-up of Home Office responsibilities and divisions on 29 March 2007. In addition to its role in police service, crime reduction, immigration and asylum, and identity and passports, the Home Office will now have a stronger role in dealing with the threat of terrorism. A new department, the Ministry of Justice, will also be created.

The United Kingdom is toughening its borders in an effort to combat illegal immigration and fraud. New immigration reforms include increased checks on everyone before they enter Britain, new fines for sponsors of overstayers, higher age limits for foreign marriage partners, and an overhauled visa regime.

Britain has agreed to review changes to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) that have affected a large number of skilled migrants who are currently working in the UK.

Work Permits (UK), the government authority on migrant workers, has stated that it will release information in May on the internal guidance its caseworkers use in assessing applicants for the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) in response to a number of Freedom of Information Act requests.

The United Kingdoms Department of Health recently released guidance that overseas doctors within the UK should not be interviewed for positions if their HSMP visa was set to expire past 01 August of 2007. The clause was retracted, however; mainly in response to efforts by Bapio Action Ltd.