The Claimants in the cases of Owu v Akwiwu; Taiwo v Olaigbe were both Nigerian nationals who came to the UK after being granted visas to work as migrant domestic workers for two separate families. Both were subsequently badly treated and exploited by their employers, through long working hours, underpayment, restrictive living conditions and physical and verbal abuse. The Claimant`s were success...
In the case of Wijesundera v Heathrow 3PL Logistics Ltd the EAT held that a Sri Lankan national who was working without a work permit was able to bring a claim of sexual harassment. On applying for work with the Respondent, the employee informed them that she required a visa to lawfully work in the UK. In the months before she started work she visited the Respondent`s offices to discuss work and...
UK immigration continues to be a controversial issue. The BBC`s Panorama programme has recently highlighted alleged abuses of the student visa system, including cheating in English tests and falsifying documents in order to provide illegal entry to the UK. Footage shows "fake sitters" with perfect English taking speaking and listening exams in the place of candidates, as well as the invigilator r...
The Government is currently consulting upon the current charging structure for immigration fees and visas required by individuals who want to visit, live and work in the UK. The consultation which is open until 3 December 2013, seeks views upon how the Government can ensure that those individuals who benefit directly from the immigration system and border control contribute appropriately to its r...
You may deal with immigration issues in your business. The Government has announced that a consultation process will be undertaken about immigration fees and charges. The consultation started on 12 November and will last for 3 weeks. The government has announced a consultation looking at charging principles which begins on 12 November and will last for 3 weeks, its purpose is to ensure that thos...
The EU Commission estimates that over 100,000 third-country seasonal workers come to the EU every year. A new Directive aims to end exploitation as well as ensuring that temporary stays do not become permanent. If approved at a plenary vote which is due to take place in January 2014, member states will have two and a half years to bring it into effect. It is proposed that any application to ente...
The Home Office has published a new, updated version of its `Full guide for employers on preventing illegal working in the UK`. This version replaces the previous one published in May 2012. The substantive content remains the same but the main changes in the updated guidance are: Highlighting that the current restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals being will come to an end on 31 De...
Boris Johnson has plans for a fast-track visa to attract the world`s "best and brightest" technology experts and fashion designers to London in proposals that he has submitted to the Home Office. The aim is to make it easier for exceptional applicants in these fields to get jobs in the capital. Supporting the proposal Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse emphasised that individual talent is essential to th...
The Government has published a consultation on proposals to strengthen and simplify the current civil penalty scheme, which is aimed at preventing migrants from working in the UK illegally....
The House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee report on migration statistics was published on 29 July 2013. The report makes the following findings "Migration statistics produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Home Office are blunt instruments for measuring, managing, and understanding migration to and from the UK". They are not detailed enough to measure t...
The "go home or face arrest" campaign has been widely criticised. The Home Office was forced to defend the week long £10,000 campaign in six London boroughs which we commented on last week....
Following the announcement in May for tougher rules to be introduced to tackle immigration the government continues with its policy to reduce the overall numbers. To this end, the Home Office this week launched a novel one-week pilot scheme to encourage illegal migrants to leave the UK voluntarily. Vans were driving around Hounslow, Barking & Dagenham, Ealing, Barnet, Brent and Redbridge displa...
Sir Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were awarded the Nobel prize for physics in 2010 after they developed the material graphene at the University of Manchester. According to the University of Manchester`s website: "Graphene is a two dimensional material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb or chicken wire structure. It is the thinnest material known and yet is...
Chancellor George Osborne, speaking on the Today programme, explained that the UK does still welcome the brightest and best to the UK. Mr Osborne argued that if there is a perception that they are not welcome, those perceptions must be tackled. He referred in particular to the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) category as a way to fast track world leading scientists to the UK....
The Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) category of the Points Based System is a visa for people from outside Europe who are internationally recognised as world leaders in science, humanities, engineering and the arts who want work in the UK. While the threshold or standard of criteria to be met to qualify under this category may be high, the benefit is that applicants who can show genuine expertise i...
According to the Yorkshire Post, 10 members of staff at Leeds Professional College were arrested on 4th December 2012 on suspicion of immigration offences. Adrian Watkins of the UK Border Agency`s (UKBA) financial and criminal investigation unit told the Yorkshire Post that the arrests related to students failing to attend classes, working illegally or disappearing. Leeds Professional College w...
John Vine, Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration published his report on 29th November 2012 on Tier 4 of the UK Border Agency`s (UKBA) Points Based System....
A private Indian university has announced plans to open a campus for 15,000 foreign students in London. According to the Independent today, Amity University has said it hopes to attract the brightest students and academics from around the world to its new residential campus in the UK. It is understood that if the proposals go ahead the campus could cost up to £100 million. The plans have receive...
Amid growing pressures within the Government, David Cameron met with the Home Secretary Theresa May in late October to see if the net migration target could gracefully be abandoned....
The list of jobs which cannot be filled by domestic workers because of a lack of sufficient skill (a.k.a. the shortage occupation list) is now contained in Appendix K of the Immigration Rules to give the shortage list legal effect following the Supreme Court decision in Alvi....