UK Immigration News

The British government has defended changes to its immigration and visa rules for Indians and other non-European nationals, even as Indian doctors lodged a legal appeal against a London High Court decision upholding the UK's right to treat non-European medics on a par and equally with Europeans.

The report, originally titled "UK civil partnership law being abused" (23 February 2006), wrongly alleged that Dr Akbar Malik of Malik Law Chambers had advised a Times undercover reporter on how to stay in the United Kingdom by entering into a sham civil partnership. In fact, a reporter never spoke to Dr Malik and it follows that Dr Malik did not give him the advice in question. We apologise to Dr Malik for the distress and embarrassment caused by the article.

A report by the Institute of Directors (IoD), a non-party political organization that represents businesses, found that employers rate migrants as harder working, more reliable, and more skillful than their native counterparts in the United Kingdom. The report also found that the government immigration policies were damaging Britain's ability to compete in the increasingly competitive global economy.

There are close cultural and economic ties between the The United Kingdom and India. However, the two Countries are at odds over immigration. The Indian Finance Minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, has warned that Britain would be the "loser" if immigration laws are not relaxed to make it easier for Indians to work in the UK.

Through the UK Borders Bill published last week The United Kingdoms Home Office is aiming for stronger border security which is expected to help in the fight against illegal immigration and organized crime. It includes provisions for the use of strong information technology systems, "biometric immigration documents" and secure data-sharing at the heart of the plan.

Foreign terrorists and other criminals may free to enter the United Kingdom because immigration bosses are banned from seeing an EU "wanted" list of suspects. Some persons of interest are British citizens convicted of crimes in other European nations.

Top police officials have told MPs that national security is at risk because of the loophole.