UK Immigration News

Universities in the UK have reacted with anger to the government's attempt to raise overseas student visa prices during the election.

Universities UK fears the new increase will make it harder for institutions to recruit overseas. A previous Home Office decision already bumped up charges to renew student visas.

A study done by the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics finds that immigration is beneficial to the UK economy. The study criticizes the main UK parties for pledging to curb the free movement of labour into Britain.

Far from posing an economic threat to British residents' jobs and wages, the study concluded that immigration had "many economic benefits" including helping fund the pension system.

Sanwar Ali of Workpermit.com recently addressed students of Spain's IESE, a business school which is currently on the list of MBA programmes of the UK's Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) MBA provision. Ali updated students on the changes made by the UK government on 12 April 2005 to the HSMP scheme, touching on the recent immigration debate in the UK.

In light of the upcoming elections in the UK and the important role immigration is likely to play, we bring you a look at what each party proposes on immigration controls, refugees, ID cards, and work permits, as compiled by The Guardian.

Immigration controls

Last year saw the suspension of EC Association Agreement applications for citizens of Bulgaria and Romania wishing to work in the UK. This was reintroduced on 1 September 2004.

We have heard from reliable sources that the refusal rate for these sorts of applications at British Embassies and Consulates in Romania and Bulgaria is about ninety percent.

The UK government has announced that updated versions of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) application forms will be available from 12 April 2005, to include information on the new MBA Provision within HSMP. Both forms for those over and under age 28 have been updated.