Wednesday, 1 June 2016

Immigration News: June 2016




Studying in the UK


Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, May 2016 (Studying in the UK)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published its Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, May 2016.

The key points in relation to studying in the UK are as follows:
  • Long-term immigration for study was estimated to be 167,000 in YE December 2015, compared with 191,000 in YE December 2014 (not statistically significant). This is the lowest it has been since YE December 2007.
  • There was a statistically significant decline in the number of non-EU citizens migrating to the UK to study, from 134,000 in the previous year to 112,000. 71% of the 112,000 were Asian citizens.
  • 206,162 visas were granted for the purpose of study during this same period, excluding the short-term student category (formerly known as "student visitors"), a fall of 5% compared with YE March 2015.
  • In YE March 2016, visa applications from non-EU nationals (main applicants) to study fell by 6% to 222,609, largely driven by declines in the non-university sector. Non-EU applications to study at a UK university fell slightly (down 1%) to 166,357.
  • The largest absolute increases in the number of study visas granted were to Chinese (+6,038; +9%), Egyptian (+371; +29%) and Indonesian (+300; +14%) nationals.
  • The largest absolute decreases in the number of study visas granted were to Iraqi (-2,241; -73%), Nigerian (-2,234; -20%) and Libyan (-2,195; -73%) nationals.
  • In YE March 2016, there were falls in visa applications to study for main applicants for universities (to 164,123; -1%), the independent school's sector (to 13,591; -3%) and the Further Education sector and other educational institutions (to 20,770; -16%).
  • There were 279,000 "short-term student" admissions in the calendar year 2014, a higher number than the number of "short-term student" visas granted for the same period (73,607) because not all nationalities require a visa to visit the UK for short periods of study.
The full report can be viewed here.



All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Students: Inaugural meeting

An All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Students has been set up and has held its inaugural meeting in Parliament.

Concerns were expressed at the inaugural meeting that the UK immigration strategy was costing the UK its share in the international student market. The co-chairman, Lord Bilimoria, said that Indian students were already choosing Australia over the UK. The group also heard that Canada had overtaken the UK last year as a destination for international undergraduates, whilst Australia was projected to do so in just over a decade.

The new APPG aims to:
  • Promote the value of international students to the UK economy and employment
  • Encourage overseas governments to send students to the UK
  • Publicise the value of international students to the UK's "soft power"
  • Highlight changes that might harm the international education sector
  • Develop policies to enhance overseas students' experience in the UK and extend the UK's share of the market.
Further information can be read here. 


Working in the UK

Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, May 2016 (Working in the UK)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published its Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, May 2016.

The key points in relation to working in the UK are as follows:
  • The most commonly stated reason for immigration to the UK is work.
  • In YE December 2015, 308,000 people immigrated for work, an increase of 30,000 from the previous year and the highest estimate on record. Of these, 178,000 (58%) had a definite job to go to and 130,000 (highest estimate) arrived looking for work - a statistically significant increase from 104,000.
  • Around 61% of immigrants arriving for work were EU citizens, 24% were non-EU citizens and 15% were British citizens.
  • 178,000 EU citizens arrived for work in YE December 2015, compared with 155,000 in YE December 2014. Whilst this change was not statistically significant, there was a statistically significant increase in EU2 citizens arriving for work, from 35,000 to 52,000.
  • 57% (101,000) of all EU immigrants arriving for work-related reasons reported they had a definite job to go to.
  • A smaller proportion of EU15 and EU8 immigrants had a definite job to come to in YE December 2015 compared with the previous year. However, there was a much larger proportion of EU2 citizens immigrating for work who had a definite job to come to in YE December 2015 - a statistically significant increase from 14,000 to 31,000.
  • Of the non-EU immigrants arriving for work-related reasons, 51,000 (71%) had a definite job - 28% of these were South Asian nationals.
  • There was a statistically significant increase in the number of non-EU citizens looking for work, from 12,000 to 22,000.
  • For EU citizens, the number of NINo registrations in YE March 2016 was 630,000, an increase of 1,000 from previous year.
  • For non-EU citizens, the number of NINo registrations was 195,000 almost the same as the previous year.
  • In YE March 2016, the total number of work visas granted to non-EU national main applicants decreased by 1% to 121,639. Including dependants, there were 16,857 work visas granted in YE March 2016 - down 4% (-7,167).
  • The number of skilled work visas granted rose by 1,316 (+2%) to 54,961. The number of dependants of Tier 2 skilled workers granted a visa decreased by 6% to 36,872.
  • Indian nationals accounted for 57% of total skilled work visas granted (52,109 of 91,833), with USA nationals the next largest nationality group (9,981 or 11% of the total).
  • There was a 1% increase in sponsored visa applications for skilled work to 56,320 in YE March 2016 (main applicants). The Information Communication sector accounted for 42% of applications by skilled work sponsors.
The full report can be viewed here.




Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange Schemes

UKVI have published revised details and contacts for Tier 5 government authorised exchange schemes.

The updated list can be viewed here.




Immigration Bill receives Royal Assent (Working in the UK)

The Immigration Bill has received Royal Assent, introducing a series of reforms to further crack down on illegal migration.

The new powers impacting working in the UK are as follows:

  • Introduction of a new offence of illegal working.
  • Prosecute landlords and agents who repeatedly fail to carry out right to rent checks or fail to take steps to remove illegal migrants from their property.
  • Immigration enforcement officers will have new powers to search individuals and properties and seize identity documents if they suspect someone is here illegally.
  • Ensure all public employees in customer-facing roles speak good English.
  • Impose a new skills levy on businesses bringing migrant labour into the country to reduce reliance on foreign labour.
Further information can be viewed here. 





Right to Rent Checks

UKVI have published a video explaining how landlords should make right to rent checks on their tenants. The video can be downloaded here.

UKVI have also published updated guidance for landlords on conducting right to rent checks. The revised guidance can be viewed here.





Right to Work Checks: Video

 UKVI have published a video explaining how landlords should make right to work checks before recruiting new employees.

 The video can be downloaded here.





 Restricted certificate allocations (May 2016)

The restricted certificates allocation for May 2016 published by UKVI can be viewed here. 

These figures show that all valid applications for restricted Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) which scored at least 21 points were granted with carry-overs from the previous month(s) indicating that more applications with lower salary levels have been successful than in recent months. There are 2,615 CoS available for allocation in June 2016.





General Immigration Matters

Immigration Bill receives Royal Assent (Other)

The Immigration Bill has received Royal Assent, introducing a series of reforms to further crack down on illegal migration.

The Immigration Act introduces a range of new powers, including:

  • Electronic tagging of foreign national offenders on immigration bail.
  • Restrict support given to people whose claims for asylum have been rejected to those who are destitute and face a genuine obstacle to leaving the UK.
  • Resettle unaccompanied children impacted by the ongoing migration crisis.
The government has also committed to place new limitations on the detention of pregnant women and plans to introduce regular bail hearings to ensure those entering detention stay there for the shortest period possible.

Further information can be viewed here. 



Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, May 2016 (Studying in the UK)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published its Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, May 2016.

Other key points are as follows:
  • Net migration in YE December 2015 was 10,000 higher than the 323,000 published for YE September 2015.
  • The increase in net migration was the result of a decrease in emigration, whereas immigration was at a similar level to the previous year. The decrease in emigration has been driven by a fall in the number of British citizens emigrating (decrease of 14,000).
  • Net migration of EU citizens was estimated to be 184,000, compared with 174,000 in YE December 2014 (not statistically significant). Non-EUnet migration was 188,000; a similar level compared with the previous year (194,000).
  • The estimate of immigration for EU citizens was 270,000, compared with 264,000 in YE December 2014 (not statistically significant). Immigration of non-EU citizens decreased from 287,000 to 277,000 during this same period (not statistically significant).
  • There were 41,563 asylum applications (including dependants) in YE March 2016, an increase of 30% compared with the previous year (32,036). This is the fifth successive year in which asylum applications has risen, although the number of applications is low relative to the peak in 2002 (103,081).
  • The largest number of applications for asylum, including dependants, came from nationals of Iran (4,811; +2,324), Pakistan (3,511; -1), Iraq (3,374; +2,367), Eritrea (3,340; -270) and Afghanistan (3,133; +1,423).
  • 2,235 (+680) Syrian nationals granted asylum or an alternative form of protection in YE March 2016 and a further 1,667 Syrian nationals were granted humanitarian protection under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme.
The full report can be viewed here.



Inspection of the Administrative Review process by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration

David Bolt, the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has published a report on his inspection of the Administrative Review (AR) process.

The full report can be viewed here. You can read the Home Office's response to the findings and recommendations of this inspection here.

UKVI has published revised guidance for completing the form 'objection to a notice of liability to pay a civil penalty for failure to comply with biometric regulations'.


Veristat Services



Audits and Inspections


Veristat has been providing audits/inspections of compliance for Tier 2/5 and Tier 4 for the past 6 years. In the education sector, we have worked with schools, colleges and over 20 universities; we have also worked with numerous employers, including well-known brands, on Tier 2/5 and "right to work" requirements. We are now also operating in association with John Vine, formerly the first Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.

Our audit/inspection service is fully flexible and can be tailored to individual requirements. And our approach is based on sound practical experience of the reality of the UKVI system.

- For education providers our service ranges from a "lite" health-check to a comprehensive review of Tier 4 activities, identifying compliance - or otherwise - with UKVI requirements, as well as any omissions or areas which can be improved. Alternatively, it can comprise inspection of a specific issue, such as visa refusals, or relationships with partner institutions.
- For employers, we offer inspections of Tier 2 compliance in whatever level of detail is required, as well as on-site inspections (which can be announced or unannounced to simulate a UKVI visit) of compliance with "right to work" checks and requirements.

Our audit/inspection service is fully flexible and can be tailored to individual requirements. And our approach is based on sound practical experience of the reality of the UKVI system.

On completion, we provide a comprehensive, evidence-based report together with an assessment of how well the institution or business is prepared to withstand scrutiny by UK Visas and Immigration. We will support the introduction of change if required and offer a 'spot check' follow up service at a later date to reassure management that recommendations have been implemented.

Contact us today to talk over any issues or concerns you have, confidentially and without obligation.
T: 0844 335 1619
E: don@veristat.co.uk
W: www.veristat.co.uk


Training for employers


We are increasingly being asked to provide training on Right to Work and/or Tier 2 sponsor duties. These are normally half day courses conducted on your premises for a standard charge of under £600 regardless of the number of people attending so that the charge per person will generally be less than £100 without them having to spend the day away from the office.

We also offer an online review of employer right to work checks with a self-assessment.

If you think your organisation would benefit from training in any of these areas, please contact us for a no commitment discussion of your requirements at enquiries@veristat.co.uk


LinkedIn 'HR Immigration' Group


We have set up a 'HR Immigration' group on LinkedIn, which aims to provide a networking space for UK employers and HR/recruitment professionals to share and discuss news and best practice about current UK immigration issues.

To join this group please go to http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=6537658


Support for migrant projects


Veristat is supporting MIGFUNDER, a crowdfunding platform dedicated solely to migration, refugee and human rights projects worldwide. Please see www.migfunder.com and share with your colleagues and networks.

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