UK Immigration News

New figures show that about 111,000 workers came to the UK from the new EU countries in the past year. That figure is up from 20,000, the number that arrived before EU enlargement in May 2004.

The eight new EU countries now send as many workers as Asia and the Middle East combined. Other EU countries, excluding the newest eight member states, form the next largest group with 81,000 migrants to the UK.

From 17 October 2005, all visa applicants in Tanzania wishing to come to the United Kingdom for a period longer than six months will need to provide a certificate confirming that they are free from infectious tuberculosis (TB) with their visa application. Applications without a certificate will be refused and visa fees will not be refunded.

The terrible earthquake in Northern Pakistan on 8 October caused no damage to the British High Commission premises in Pakistan or India. Much of the embassy staff is now working to support the government and people of the affected areas.

From 17 October 2005, it will take longer to process a UK visa when applications are made at Posts that are now carrying out fingerprint checks. Some visa applicants could wait for up to seven days for a decision on their visa application. This is a temporary measure and the Home Office is working with colleagues at the IND to reduce the response time.

The UK has released a managed migration consultation document. Click on the PDF file to view the consultation document in its entirety as released by the UK Home Office. Consultation document (PDF format)

The UK recently released its managed migration document, and the government wants to know your opinion. Once you've reviewed the document (provided in the previous news story), please let us know how you would answer some of the UK government's questions:

Do the benefits of immigration outweigh its costs?

Can a managed migration system be used to deliver the UK the workers it needs?

Is the current system too complex and bureaucratic?

Should the users of the system, or the taxpayer, or both bear the costs of the immigration system?

Send us your thoughts.