No appeal for UK family visitor visa refusal from 2014:
Indian and other non-EU citizens will not be able to appeal against refusal to grant them a family visitor visa from 2014 under new rules announced by the British Home Office.
The removal of the right to appeal against the visa refusal in courts is intended to save tens of millions of pounds and free up tribunals to deal with more serious cases, official sources here said.
The new restriction has been included in the Crime and Courts Bill, which was published on Friday.
It is expected to come into effect from 2014 after parliamentary approval and Royal Assent.
Immigration Minister Damian Green has announced that in future the vast majority of failed visa applicants will have to re-apply, rather than launching a lengthy, taxpayer- subsidised appeal.
Green said: "We are not stopping anybody visiting family in the UK; if an applicant meets the rules they will be granted a visa. However, it is grossly unfair that UK taxpayers have had to foot the huge bill for foreign nationals who, in many cases, have simply failed to provide the correct evidence to support their application".
A Home Office release said the number of appeals against family visitor visa refusal had soared since 2000, when full appeal rights were re-introduced for family visit visas.
It was expected that there would be a maximum of 20,000 appeals per year but by 2010-11, the number had risen to almost 50,000, they said, adding that the cost of processing these appeals is estimated at 29 million pounds per year.
The release said: "We are also removing the full appeal right because it is out-of-step with every other category of visit visa, such as the business or tourist visa, none of which attract a full right of appeal".
Refused applicants will still be able to appeal on limited grounds of human rights or race discrimination, it added.
May 2012:
The timetable and arrangements for the rollout of the pre-entry tuberculosis (TB) screening programme in India has been announced. This follows the UK government's announcement in May 2012 that India was amongst 67 countries to which pre-entry TB screening would be extended on the basis of World Health Organisation figures of high TB incidence.
The screening requirement will be extended to applications for work visas (Tiers 1, 2 and 5 of the points-based system) from 10 September 2012 and student visas (Tier 4) from 1 November 2012.
If you want to travel to the UK for longer than 6 months you must be screened and obtain a certificate from an approved clinic to show that you are free of TB before you make a UK visa application in the categories listed above. The UK Border Agency has set up a wide network of approved clinicians in India.
There will be a fee of Rs 1500 for the diagnostic tests. The certificate will usually be valid for 6 months. If you are tested positive for TB you will be referred for treatment. You will not be permitted to travel to the UK until you have been tested as being free of TB, including following successful treatment.
For more information about pre-entry TB screening, please see the frequently asked questions on the right side of this page.
May 2012:
The timetable and arrangements for the rollout of the pre-entry tuberculosis (TB) screening programme in India has been announced. This follows the UK government's announcement in May 2012 that India was amongst 67 countries to which pre-entry TB screening would be extended on the basis of World Health Organisation figures of high TB incidence.
Rollout dates
There will be a gradual rollout of pre-entry TB screening requirements in India, beginning with UK settlement visa applications from 16 August 2012.The screening requirement will be extended to applications for work visas (Tiers 1, 2 and 5 of the points-based system) from 10 September 2012 and student visas (Tier 4) from 1 November 2012.
If you want to travel to the UK for longer than 6 months you must be screened and obtain a certificate from an approved clinic to show that you are free of TB before you make a UK visa application in the categories listed above. The UK Border Agency has set up a wide network of approved clinicians in India.
There will be a fee of Rs 1500 for the diagnostic tests. The certificate will usually be valid for 6 months. If you are tested positive for TB you will be referred for treatment. You will not be permitted to travel to the UK until you have been tested as being free of TB, including following successful treatment.
Travelling to the UK for 6 months or less
Pre-entry TB screening is only required if you are travelling to the UK for more than 6 months. If you are travelling to the UK for 6 months or less, for example on business, family or tourism visitor visas, you are not required to undergo pre-entry TB screeningFor more information about pre-entry TB screening, please see the frequently asked questions on the right side of this page.
January 2012:
Visa changes killing UK reputation: UKCISA
The UK has become a less welcoming study destination due to its tough new visa rules and problematic visa application process, a survey of international students confirms today. A total of 5,000 overseas students on UK university and college courses were polled, with one in five saying they no longer felt welcome in the country and a further one in five were undecided.
Meanwhile, 70% thought the cost of a student visa was now unreasonable (having increased by more than 50% since 2009) and 8% said they had applied as many as three times for their visa, having initially being refused.
The media publicity given to UK immigration policy changes was also found to have influenced perceptions of the UK. The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), which carried out the survey, said that the number of international students coming to the UK’s universities and colleges from some countries had already fallen significantly. It fears that without urgent action the drop will be much larger in 2012.
Dominic Scott, chief executive of UKCISA, said: “Given the UK’s relentless focus on net migration, immigration abuse and student visas, recently played out in the media around the world, it is not surprising that even amongst those who have chosen to come this year there are concerns.”
While 70 per cent of students canvassed found the visa application process quick and efficient (up from 59 per cent in 2009), many made other complaints. One irritation was the fact that the new rules had been implemented in the middle of an admissions cycle, causing confusion for more than half the students, and forcing 10 per cent to take last-minute English language tests or pre-sessional courses.
Around 25% of those required to register with the police found difficulties in doing so, and significant numbers had to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to submit their biometrics (fingerprints and other forms of unique identification), sometimes several times.
Professor Paul Webley, chair of UKCISA, which is urging the government to rethink the rules and launch a positive publicity campaign, said: “All of the students we surveyed qualified for visas. All of them wanted to come to the UK. Many of them will be the brightest and the best.
“It is essential therefore that we get these [visa] processes right…and promote the message that in this field the UK is very much open for business.”
Meanwhile, the abolition of the Post-Study Work scheme was cited as having the single most negative impact on decisions to choose the UK, with one student saying that 15 of his friends had cancelled their confirmed places as a result.
“This could be an early warning sign of larger reductions next year unless action is taken urgently.” Scott said. “With the announcement by Australia of its new Post-Study Work scheme, it is quite possible that significant numbers will be attracted to go there instead and that the real impact on numbers choosing the UK will only be felt in 2012.”
June 2011:
The Public and Commercial Services union has called a 1-day strike beginning at 1800 on Wednesday 29 June and ending at midnight on Thursday 30 June. The strike will affect UK Border Agency staff in the UK. The priorities of the UK Border Agency will remain the security of the UK border and managing migration.
People travelling into the UK may experience delays at border control. The impact of the strike will be different at individual ports, airports and international rail terminals. We have put contingency plans in place and will work hard to keep delays to a minimum.
Passengers arriving in the UK on 30 June can assist us by:
- having travel documents, including passports, available and taken out of any wallets
- using automatic e-Passport gates (where available).
We aim to keep our services in the UK, including public enquiry offices and enforcement, running on the day of the strike. Our overseas visa service is not affected by the strike.
We will post additional information on this website as it becomes available.
Take the customer survey of UK Visa cell:
December 2010:
Plan to scrap student work visa
November 2010:
From today 29 November 2010, any non-European migrant who wants to enter or remain in the UK as the partner of a British citizen or a person settled here will need to show that they can speak and understand English, which allows them to cope with everyday life in the UK, by taking an English language test
August 2010:
Refusals based on the points-based system’s maintenance (funds) requirement
July 2010:
June 2010:
UK immigration outlined by the new government’s five-year planJune 2010:
Visa refusal of an Indian student (TOI)
UK Visa favours people with Cash over skills
The Coalition government has announced its five-year plan for partnership government, outlining a programme that includes Royal Mail privatisation, a major education shake-up, a welfare crackdown and a cap on UK immigration.
The plan states that the Government believes UK immigration has enriched our culture and strengthened our economy, but that it must be controlled so that people have confidence in the system.
“We also recognise that to ensure cohesion and protect our public services, we need to introduce a cap on immigration and reduce the number of non-EU immigrants,” the report stated.
The Coalition will introduce an annual limit on the number of non-EU economic migrants admitted into the UK to live and work, with both parties considering jointly the mechanism for implementing the limit.
Other changes include:
The end of the detention of children for immigration purposes;
Creating a dedicated Border Police Force, as part of a refocused Serious Organised Crime Agency, to enhance national security, improve immigration controls and crack down on serious crime;
Support for E-borders and a reintroduction of exit checks;
The application of transitional controls as a matter of course in the future for all new EU Member States;
The introduction of new measures to minimise abuse of the UK immigration system, for example via student routes, and will tackle human trafficking as a priority.
The exploration of ways to improve the current asylum system to speed up the processing of applications.
April 2010:
Border agency extends the resident labour market test to Four weeks from the earlier two weeks before the job being offered to a migrant worker. Good news for British Citizen while not encouraging for Non-EU migrant workers. ( This is a job advertisement that an employer should make to the jobcentres plus, so that people seeking job-seekers allowance can apply for the job
New UK visa fees comes into affect from 6th April 2010.
Indian skilled migrants are outraged about the new tougher migration rules to be introduced in April, reports The Times of India.
The new UK Visa rules mean that skilled professionals looking to move to the UK through the Tier 1 category need at least a master's degree or a previous job's salary of £20,000 plus, if they do not have a job already lined-up in the UK.
Indian skilled workers, spearheaded by the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) forum, are challenging the government for making it tougher for tier 1 applicants to move to the UK. Indians, who make up the largest group of foreign nationals in Britain (619,000 residents), feel that the new rules are too restrictive.
While it is feared that the new UK visa rules would stop thousands of Indians moving to the UK annually and contributing to the British economy, the British Government feels that migration numbers need to be reigned in to help the economy recover from high unemployment rates during the recession.
The Government is trying to take a tough stance against immigration, with a driving policy of "British jobs for British workers". Many people are sceptical whether the Government is succeeding with this policy, yet statistics do show that the number of short-term migrants is finally receding.
Tim Finch, head of migration at the Institute of Public Policy Research, said the numbers of migrants who move to the UK would continue to drop while the recession hits the UK, and while the Government introduces its tough new system for immigration.
Full Report
Indian skilled workers, spearheaded by the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) forum, are challenging the government for making it tougher for tier 1 applicants to move to the UK. Indians, who make up the largest group of foreign nationals in Britain (619,000 residents), feel that the new rules are too restrictive.
While it is feared that the new UK visa rules would stop thousands of Indians moving to the UK annually and contributing to the British economy, the British Government feels that migration numbers need to be reigned in to help the economy recover from high unemployment rates during the recession.
The Government is trying to take a tough stance against immigration, with a driving policy of "British jobs for British workers". Many people are sceptical whether the Government is succeeding with this policy, yet statistics do show that the number of short-term migrants is finally receding.
Tim Finch, head of migration at the Institute of Public Policy Research, said the numbers of migrants who move to the UK would continue to drop while the recession hits the UK, and while the Government introduces its tough new system for immigration.
Full Report
April 2010: BNP offers £50,000 to non-white British to leave the country for ever.
BNP says they will offer 180,000 non-white British immigrants, £50,000 each to leave the UK for ever, never to return. It also went to say if voted to power it will shut the doors of UK for even Eastern European migrants like the plumbers from Poland or any refugee, as Britain is already overcrowded and was one of the most over crowded country in Europe.
With Spain seeing a downgrade in it's credit rating from AAA to AA by S&P, the out look of Britain also looked doubtful. Although Britain's public borrowing had reached more than 60% of GDP, the rating hasn't been downgraded. A downgrade would mean further blow to Britain's economic recovery and a deterrent for many immigrants who rely on the strong GBP ( to be able to remit higher amounts to their home country). Even for locals it is a bane as prices for essential commodities like Petrol and Diesel would start shooting through the roof. ( which it has started showing signs already.)
The first UK election Debate : 15th April 2010
The first so in British History.
Gordon Brown - Labour - Says will expect 40,000 students this year. Will track people leaving the country, which was scrapped by the conservatives before 1997. Says net immigration is falling and ID cards for foreign nationals been issued.
Gordon Brown's Vision is to train people in Britain and hence will need less people from outside with the skills needed.
Says even though crime is falling. Police is record number on streets. 80% of police are on streets. Right can be given to take an injunction against police if the citizen is denied justice. Wants to make sure that the
Police numbers should maintain. Says conservatives are not prepared to guarantee the police numbers, but Labour wants to guarantee this.
People should be provided the right to recall an MP, if an MP is misbehaving and Parliament doesn't take steps towards it.
Will cut the size of House of Lords by half and make it more efficient.
Says nursery education start as early as at the age of 3 years.
David Cameroon - Conservatives, Talks about more trust in politics. Says immigration is too high in this country. says the balance is 200,000 each year. Says we will add Border Police force.
Money to be saved, a police station already had 5 different card and they were planning to buy £73,000 Lexus, this needs to be saved.
Says Gordon has given the biggest Budget deficit of any developed country in the world and cannot save Health Services, Police services.
Says will cut costs on politics cut the House of commons by 10% and will cut Ministers pay by 5%. Politics is in a mess.
Says Conservatives have relied on rich candidates. Should be able to throw away an MP without having to wait for the Election and should place this in practise as soon as the Election is over.
We spend £300 million each year on schools and not getting much. Need high standards.
Nick Clegg - Liberal Democrats, says he will introduce a 3rd class for skilled workers to come in, that they will be allowed to work only in a region they are needed. Says there is a good immigration and bad immigration. Shouldn't be a arbitrary cap to immigration.
Says Labour has only been talking tough but there has been only chaos and follow countries like Canada and Australia.
Says more police and don't want to waste money on ID cards and want to add 3,000 policemen. Wants to stop young offenders from committing crime and then become criminals. Prisons have turned into over crowded colleges of crime. Nick is from Sheffield and wants crime doers to do community services.
Says you deserves the right to sack your MPs. Wants Fundamental reform of House of Lords.
Questions of the Election Debate.
First question was from Gerard Oliver to Mr. Gordon Brown on Immigration.
Second question was from Jacquiline on Burglars to David Cameroon.
Third question to restoring MPs credibility to Nick
Forth question was on Education from Joe, 17 year old student to Gordon Brown.
Second Third Election Debat on 22nd April : Still undecided on who will be the next PM of UK.
Third Election Debat on 29th April : David Cameroon shone with his best for the last stance.
Election on 6th May, with ballot papers already arriving to people opted for postal ballot.