Immigration news

On December 15 2001 major changes were made to the Independent ImmigrantCategory. These represent the most significant changes made to the points systemfor over twenty years. The General Occupation list was discontinued and nowanyone in a management, professional or highly skilled occupation may be in aposition to qualify for entry.

Foreigners with skills and money are to be allowed to enter the UK to seekjobs.

The new policy will be based on a points system and is intended to attracthighly skilled and high-earning migrants to fill skills shortages. Applicantsusing the new system, which begins next month, will be given points linked totheir educational qualifications, work experience and past earnings.

The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, which starts next month, offersadmission to applicants who gain at least 75 points on its scale.

The 14 British Dependant Territories have been re-named British Overseas Territories, and their citizens have been given the right to become full British Citizens with the right to live and work in the UK and EU.

Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Antartic Territory, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Island, St Helena and dependencies, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Home Office Minister, Lord Rooker announced that new categories of work permits to help support industries with severe recruitment difficulties are being explored.

Speaking at the Trade Union Council's conference on international migration, Lord Rooker outlined how the Government plans to create a new, fairer migration programme by increasing levels of skilled migration based on the needs of the UK economy.

Immigration and Citizenship Minister Lord Rooker said:

The UK government is planning a major overhaul of the UK immigration rules which could see a reduction in the number of Commonwealth citizens coming to the UK on working holidaymaker visas and the length of those visas halved.

The review, due out next year, is understood to be considering:

The British and Japanese governments have announced a reciprocal agreement in which young British and Japanese nationals can spend up to a year in and develop an understanding of each others’ countries’ culture, people, way of life.

This British visa scheme is very similar to the existing British Working Holidaymaker visa by which young Commonwealth citizens can come to have an extended holiday in the United Kingdom. The Japanese national is allowed to work in the UK in order to fund their holiday. The Japanese national will not be allowed to: