The UK Border Agency has issued new measures for managing returns of families with no right to remain in the UK. (FULL STOP) This process started on 28th February 2011. Family Returns Process commences
Britain losing out due to complicated visa rules for Chinese nationals
It was recently reported in The Telegraph newspaper that those visiting the UK from China face higher fees and longer waiting procedures to obtain a visa compared to other European Countries. As a result, Chinese nationals are opting to travel to alternative cities in Europe which a means a loss for UK retailers.
Chinese tourists have surpassed Japanese tourists in their spending and according to a financial services company; they are worth over £350 million to UK retailers.
Chinese nationals have complained that the forms to obtain visas for the UK are too long in comparison to their European counterparts and that, shorter visas to the UK are substantially more expensive than longer visas to other Countries (notably the Schengen visa). Chinese tour operators are said to be referring nationals
Leading retailers such as Selfridges and Harrods are campaigning for the rules to be relaxed for the 2012 Olympics.
Despite this, the UK Border Agency has declared that there has been a 42 % increase in the demand of visas from China.
Worker Registration Scheme to close
Immigration Minister Damian Green declared, on 10th March 2011, that the Worker Registration Scheme will be closed as of 30th April 2011.
This scheme was introduced in 2004 after the entry of the eight additional countries, known as A8, to the EU.
These countries were:
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
Currently, any national of one of the above countries is required to register under the scheme before commencing employment in the United Kingdom. The scheme was set up for monitoring purposes and UK Border Agency figures show that between May 2004 and end of 2010 an estimate of 1.1 million of A8 nationals registered under the scheme.
Due to the fact that the Treaty of Accession prohibits the UK from applying transitional restrictions on A8 national’s access to the labour market for more than 7 years, as of 1st May 2011, A8 nationals will be able to access the labour market like other EU nationals. Furthermore, A8 job-seekers will be able to enjoy similar entitlement to that of out-of-work benefits as other EU Nationals.
Further information regarding this can be found on the Immigration Minister's written ministerial statement which can be found if you click here.
Should you require any assistance or help regarding your rights and entitlements in the UK, please do not hesitate to contact us either by email at info@ergensharif.co.ukor by calling us on 0207 569 3035.