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Removing full right of appeal for family visitors

A clause in the Crime and Courts Bill, published today, will remove the full right of appeal for those applying to enter the UK as a family visitor. Subject to Parliamentary approval and Royal Assent, this change is expected to come into force by 2014. Refused applicants will still be able to appeal on limited grounds of human rights or race discrimination.

* Be aware of fraudsters * -----||||||| FAKE Branch Office in Burewala, Pakistan ||||||------ * Be aware of fraudsters *

It came to our notice that some fraudsters of Burewala, Pakistan are claiming to have their links with our company ‘Johnson Mackenzie Ltd.’ and sometime they do refer to our website (www.johnsonmackenzie.ltd.uk) as well.

Please be advised, we HAVEN'T got any branch office in Burewala, Pakistan and have got NO connections or links with these guys at all.

Premium (Same Day) Visa Services

Johnson Mackenzie Ltd. offers the “Premium Service” to those applicants who would like to have a decision on their applications on the same day. We can represent and submit our clients’ applications at Public Enquiry Office in Croydon for same day processing of applications. This offer is only for the applicants who are already in the United Kingdom and want to get extension, transfer or switch the category.

If you would like to engage our services, please contact us at least one week in advance to enable us secure a slot for you. We cannot however give any guarantees that the home office will decide your application on the same day as they are only able to decide about 97% of such applications on the same day. Some times, they keep the documents and the application to make some further enquiries and in that case, no same day fees can be refunded.

Tighter English language test requirement for Tier 1 and 2 applicants in the UK

From 6 April 2012 the UKBA will be removing the provision for applicants in the UK to apply for permission to stay here (known as leave to remain) before they have taken or received the results of an English language test. This policy applies to applicants applying under Tier 1 (General), Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 2 of the points-based system.

Tier 2 and 5 applications will move online from 14 February 2012

Changes to the Immigration Rules have today been laid before Parliament that will enable applicants applying under Tier 2 and 5 and their dependants who are in the UK to apply online for permission to stay (further leave to remain) in the UK. This service will be launched on 14 February 2012.

Appealing immigration and asylum decisions from 19 December 2011

From today, the UK government's Ministry of Justice is introducing new fees for some asylum and immigration appeals, and changing the way customers can submit their appeals.

This new policy reflects the government's view that users of the appeals system, who can afford to pay, should contribute to the system's cost. Fees of £80 for a paper consideration and £140 for an oral hearing will be applied to appeals against decisions taken on or after 19 December 2011

Extension of employment restrictions for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

Controls to restrict how Bulgarian and Romanian nationals access the UK labour market will be extended until the end of 2013, Immigration Minister Damian Green announced today.

This means Romanian and Bulgarian (EU2) nationals seeking to work in the UK will continue to require permission from the UK Border Agency before they can work in the UK.

Changes to the list of English language tests

The UK Boder Agency have made some amendments to the list of approved English language test providers for applications made under Tiers 1, 2 and 4 of the points-based system and for spouse or partner applications.

The amendments include:

Three tests awarded by Cambridge ESOL now offer certification at 3 levels of the Common European Framework rather than just 2 levels. The tests include the Cambridge English: Key, Cambridge English: Preliminary and Cambridge English: Business Preliminary.

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) have updated their web address for their test of English for international communication (TOEIC) and test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL).

Pearson have updated their contact details and clarified that they do not issue paper certificates.

Separate certificate and notification of candidate results sheet are required for speaking part of the City and Guilds English language test.

UK opens its doors to exceptionally talented migrants

The government has announced the way that it will encourage exceptionally talented leaders in the fields of science, humanities, engineering and the arts to come to the UK.

The new Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) category will open on 9 August 2011. This new category will facilitate not only those who have already been recognised but also those with the potential to be recognised as leaders in their respective fields. There is a limit of 1,000 places in the first year of operation. There will be 500 places available between the 9 August and 30 November and a further 500 places available from the 1 December to 31 March 2012. The number of places will be reviewed at the end of March 2012.

New customer facilities in Liverpool

From Monday 18 July, UKBA customer reception facilities in Reliance House will be moving to brand new premises in The Capital Building, 6 Union Street, Liverpool L3 9AF.

The new facilities, which have been designed with the customer in mind, encompass the public enquiry office, reporting centre and further submissions unit.

The premises are now more convenient and accessible for all callers. The new public enquiry office is open-plan with screenless desks, to provide customers with a friendly and pleasant environment.

Visitors to UKBA customer reception are seen by appointment only. Please note that the public enquiry office will remain at Reliance House until Friday 15 July.

Government sets out proposals for breaking the link between temporary and permanent migration

Migrants coming to the UK to work on temporary visas will no longer be able to apply for settlement, under proposals announced by the government today. The government is implementing reforms to the mmigration system which will reduce the level of immigration to sustainable levels.

Key proposals under consideration in the 12 week consultation are as follows:

- re-branding Tier 2 (the skilled worker route) as temporary, ending the assumption that settlement will be available for those who enter on this route;

- allowing certain categories of Tier 2 migrant, for example those earning over £150,000 or occupations of a specific economic or social value to the UK, to retain an automatic route to settlement;

- creating a new category into which, after three years in the UK, the most exceptional Tier 2 migrants may switch and go on to apply for settlement;

- allowing Tier 2 migrants who do not switch into a settlement route to stay for a maximum of five years with the expectation that they and any dependants will leave at the end of that time;

- introducing an English language requirement for adult dependants of Tier 2 migrants applying to switch into a route to settlement;

- restricting the maximum period of leave for Tier 5 Temporary Workers to 12 months; and

- closing or reforming routes for overseas domestic workers.

Unnecessary immigration appeals to end

From Monday 23 May, tribunals will not consider evidence submitted after an application has been made, in appeals relating to applications made in the UK under the points-based system.

UK Border Agency statistics show that around two-thirds of appeals allowed by immigration judges are due to late evidence being submitted.

The rules change is designed to end unnecessary appeals and help make sure thatapplications are right first time. It will apply to all applications made within the UK through the points-based system.

Abolition of the Certificate of Approval (COA) scheme

On 4 April 2011 Parliament approved the Remedial Order that will abolish the certificate of approval scheme. This means that the scheme will end on 9 May 2011. The government is now seeking to remedy the declaration by the UK courts that the scheme is incompatible with Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (read with Article 12). Additionally, changes made following rulings from the courts have weakened the scheme, and it is no longer an effective method of preventing sham marriage.

Entering into a sham marriage does not entitle migrants to any right to remain in the UK. The UK Border Agency will continue to investigate suspected abuse and, where possible, disrupt marriages before they take place. If they uncover marriages that are not genuine, we will challenge them and prosecute where possible.

First annual limit on non-EU workers comes into force

The first major change to reduce immigration into the UK has been delivered today, as the government's new annual limit comes into force. Under the annual limit, employers will only be able to bring 20,700 people from outside the EU to work in skilled professions under Tier 2 (General) of the points-based system. A further 1,000 visas will be made available to people of 'exceptional talent', to ensure that Britain remains open to the brightest and the best.

Closure of the Worker Registration Scheme

Immigration Minister Damian Green has today announced that the Worker Registration Scheme will close on 30 April 2011. The Worker Registration Scheme is a transitional scheme, which was introduced in 2004 when the following countries (known as the 'A8' countries) joined the European Union (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia).

Tier 1 (General) to close overseas

The UK Border Agency has announced that it will stop accepting Tier 1 (General) applications made overseas from 00:01 on 23 December 2010. Tier 1 (General) in the UK will remain open until 5 April 2011. There will be transitional arrangements beyond 6 April 2011 for some applicants who are already in the UK, and UKBA will announce details of these in due course.