Fancy A Trip to the UK?

[Dua]

...............In the New Year the Home Office will unveil a series of measures designed to try to show it is finally getting serious about immigration. First, every foreign visitor to Britain will be fingerprinted on departure and arrival. Then all new foreign nationals living in Britain will have to carry a biometric ID card. ......................................................

.......Meanwhile, a new report this week will confirm the immigration population is now growing by more than 200,000 a year. It will also reveal skilled workers are flooding out of Britain—with more people leaving than at any time since the 1840s.

Be prepared to be fingerprinted like a criminal.

 

[Bongolander]

Dua
I always think other countries would do like what Brazil did to Americans visiting Brazil. When they come to Tanzania we should fingerprint them and let them carry the IDs with them. Pamoja na kuwa inasikitisha lakini naona kuwa wana haki ya kulinda usalama wa nchi yao, na kuhakikisha kuwa watu wasiostahili hawaingii kwenye nchi yao, it makes some sense. Lakini questions should be why skilled labor is moving out of the country, hilo napenda kujua ni kwanini!

 

[Mtanzania]

How it works

This page explains in more detail the various tiers of the new points system and how it works.

Please note: The detail of points based system is being finalised so some aspects are still subject to change, the information provided on this website will be regularly updated over the coming months. Please re-visit this site to get the latest information.

A points based system: five tiers
Underpinning the new migration system will be a five tier framework. This will help people understand how the system works and direct applicants to the category that is most appropriate for them.

Tier 1: Highly skilled individuals to contribute to growth and productivity
Tier 2: Skilled workers with a job offer to fill gaps in United Kingdom labour force
Tier 3: Limited numbers of low skilled workers needed to fill temporary labour shortages
Tier 4: Students
Tier 5: Youth mobility and temporary workers: people allowed to work in the United Kingdom for a limited period of time to satisfy primarily non-economic objectives

The five tiers will cover all routes for those wishing to enter the United Kingdom to work, study and train; there are currently about 80 for these purposes. We have rationalised these into 5 tiers with different conditions, entitlements and entry-clearance checks. This will make the system easier to understand and use and allow us to adapt our policy on points and sponsorship to the very different needs of those entering the United Kingdom to work or study.

Tiers 3 and 5 are temporary routes – as such people in them will not be able to switch out of them once they are in the United Kingdom. Those in tiers 1, 2 and 4 will be eligible to switch between these tiers subject to meeting the requirements of the tier they wish to switch to. Tiers 1 and 2 will potentially lead to settlement if settlement requirements are met at the time of that application.

Dependants will be allowed under tiers 1, 2, 4 and 5. However, dependants will not be allowed to work where accompanying a student (tier 4) or a temporary worker (tier 5) who has been given less than 12 months leave in the United Kingdom.

Points and structured decision-making
For each tier, applicants will need sufficient points to gain entry clearance or leave to remain in the United Kingdom. Points will be awarded according to objective and transparent criteria. In all tiers points will be awarded for control factors which indicate whether the applicant is likely to comply with their immigration requirements in the United Kingdom. In tiers 1 and 2, points will also be awarded for attributes such as age, previous salary or prospective salary and qualifications. Prospective migrants will be able to assess themselves against these criteria, and see whether they are likely to have enough points to qualify before paying an application fee. An online self-assessment tool will allow applicants to score themselves against points.

Points allow us to have an objective way of making decisions and to trade off attributes against each other. The highly skilled migrants programme is already based on points and we have found this approach to be successful. Decision makers will be able to rely on a more structured and objective decision making process which is more transparent and easier to use for applicants.

Sponsorship and compliance
Those who benefit from migration (employers and educational institutions) should take on some of the responsibilities associated with migration. All applicants in tiers 2-5 will need to provide a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor. The certificate will act as an assurance that the migrant is able to do a particular job or course of study.

Sponsors will be expected to tell us if a sponsored migrant fails to turn up for their first day of work, or does not enrol on their course. They will similarly be expected to report any discontinuation of studies, or if the contract is terminated, the migrant is leaving their employment, or is changing educational institution.

There will be increased focus on compliance in the United Kingdom and more responsibilities for sponsors whose compliance will be checked through our account management structure. Account managers will provide help and guidance to sponsors in discharging their responsibilities but where there are concerns, compliance officers will be directed to make robust checks on job roles, qualifications and salary. Serious breaches of the rules may lead to sponsors being removed from the register and prevented from employing migrant workers.

Financial securities
In due course, financial securities will be required of those whose circumstances suggest that they present a high risk of breaching the rules. The use of financial securities will depend upon the development of an objective and reliable set of data about risk and we expect to introduce this only once the system has been running for a while. Financial securities will not be used in isolation – migrants will need the necessary points have a valid sponsor, as well as depositing a financial security where there is a risk of non-compliance.

Costs and charging
The costs of administering the new scheme will be recovered through fees and charges. As we develop the structure and services supporting the new system, the costs of each of the component parts of the system will be understood and an appropriate set of fees and charges will be available.

Our current plans are that those who benefit most from the immigration system will pay proportionately more to help fund the wider transformation of the system. This would apply to tier 1 and 2 applicants with costs for tiers 3, 4 and 5 set at or below cost recovery levels.

The actual proposed fee levels will be set out for approval by Parliament early in 2008.