More than half a million people who helped Britain through the darkest years of the country’s history have taken advantage of scheme to recognise their sacrifice.

Figures published by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) today show that 519,000 people from Britain’s wartime generation have benefited from a free UK passport.

Since October 2004, every British citizen born on or before 2 September 1929 has been exempt from application or renewal fees for UK passports in recognition of the bravery of both veterans and civilians during World War II.

After meeting with James Woolley, the recipient of the 500,000th free passport, Home Office Minister Lord West said:

“It gives me great pleasure to announce this milestone in a scheme which honours every adult who helped defeat the evils of Nazism.

“This is a generation which faced incredible hardship and loss and demonstrated tremendous bravery both on the battlefield as well as on the home front.

“It is entirely right that those who endured these times to guarantee our liberty and security should be given the privilege of free passports.”

Mr Woolley said:

“I am pleased the Government has thought to recognise the hard work and sacrifices my generation made during the war in this way and would encourage as many people as possible to take advantage.”

Home Office Press Office 07/08/2008

Foreign students hoping to come to the UK to study will have to meet strict new criteria, the Government announced today.

The Home Office has published proposals for much tighter rules for foreign students - and the universities and colleges hosting them - under the student tier of its new Points Based System.

All colleges and universities that want to recruit foreign students will now need a licence to do so and will have to take greater responsibility for their international students, helping Government crack down on bogus colleges who abuse the system. For the first time education providers face a ban on bringing over international students if they fail to follow strict new rules - including alerting the UK Border Agency (UKBA) if students fail to enrol.

Students will also face stringent new criteria if they want to study in the UK, ensuring only those who benefit Britain can come. Before they can study here, foreign students must:

1. be sponsored by a UKBA-licensed education institution;
2. prove that they have the means to support themselves and their families while studying here; and
3. supply their fingerprints.

Stricter rules on work placements for students will also ensure that the UK’s labour market is protected.

Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:

“All those who come to Britain must play by the rules. It is right that foreign students wanting to take advantage of our world-class universities and colleges must meet strict criteria.

“By locking people to one identity with ID cards, alongside a tough new sponsorship system, we will know exactly who is coming here to study and crack down on bogus colleges.”

Visas will only be granted to students who show a proven track record in education and are applying for a course that meets a minimum level of qualification. They must also be able to demonstrate they can financially support themselves and any of their dependants.

Students on courses for longer than 12 months will have to show they have sufficient funds to pay their first year of fees, plus £9,600 to cover their first year in the UK. Students wishing to bring their dependants with them will need to show they have a further £535 per month for each person they bring.

Each year, international students contribute £2.5 billion to the UK economy in tuition fees alone and an overall estimated contribution of £8.5 billion. In recognition of the many economic and cultural benefits that these students bring to the UK, earlier this year the Government announced a special visa category allowing successful international students who have graduated from a British university to work in the UK for up to two years.

Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said:

“I welcome the education sector’s involvement in developing a structure that allows international students to benefit from the excellent educational experience the UK offers, while giving them the opportunity to work in the UK for two years following graduation.

“However, I will not tolerate the minority of individuals who seek to damage the quality of our education system through bogus colleges. This is why we have introduced tighter checks to the current Register of Education and Training Providers. The new system will toughen this process further and give extra protection from the damage bogus colleges can cause.”

Under the new system education providers who want to teach foreign nationals must be granted a licence by the UKBA, they can then sponsor students to come to the UK.

Without a confirmation of acceptance for studies issued to them by their sponsoring institution a student’s visa application will not be considered. It also acts as a pledge from the college or university that they accept responsibility for the student while they are in the UK.

Universities and colleges face losing their licence if they fail to:

1. keep copies of all their foreign students’ passports;
2. keep and update their students’ contact details;
3. alert the UKBA to any students who fail to enrol on their course;
4. report unauthorised absences to the UKBA; and
5. inform the UKBA if any student stops their studies.

The sponsorship register for colleges and universities opened for applications this week.

UKBA 30/07/2008

From Monday 28 July 2008, employers and educational institutions can apply to join the sponsor register for tiers 2, 4 and 5 of the points-based system.

If you are an employer or educational institution and plan to bring in migrants to work or study in the UK under the above tiers of the points based system you must apply for a sponsor licence. We will support you throughout the process and provide advice on how you can meet the requirements of being a sponsor

Tiers 2 and 5 are expected to open in November 2008. Tier 4 is expected to open in spring 2009. Make sure you have your application completed in time for the opening of your tier. The duration of the licence starts when the relevant tier opens and not when the licence is approved so you can make your application now.

Full details on sponsorship under the points-based system are available from the employers and sponsors section of this website. We have recently reviewed and updated all the information available for employers and sponsors on this website, if you have any feedback or suggestions, please contact the web team. Additional, new content will be added in the next few weeks.

UKBA 28/07/2008

The age at which someone can apply for a marriage visa will increase from 18 to 21 as part of a crackdown on forced marriage, the Home Office announced today.

Statistics show that 30 per cent of the cases dealt with by the Government’s Forced Marriage Unit involved victims aged between 18 and 21.

The new steps significantly strengthen the safeguards against forced marriage. The five key proposals announced today are to:

1. raise the age of sponsorship for a marriage visa from 18 to 21;
2. ask foreign spouses to enter into an agreement to learn English before they come to the UK;
3. introduce a power to revoke leave to remain where there is evidence that the marriage route has been abused;
4. require all sponsors to register their intention to marry overseas before they leave the UK; and
5. ensure through a code of practice that specialist teams can identify vulnerable people at risk of forced marriage.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

“Forced marriage leads to victims suffering years of physical and mental abuse and - in extreme cases - unlawful imprisonment and rape. It has no place in our society. That is why the Government is determined to do everything it can to stamp it out and to ensure that victims receive the help and support they need.

“That is why we are raising the age limit for visas, checking anyone entering into a marriage does so of their own free will, and demanding that those coming to the UK learn English.”

Any British citizen applying to ’sponsor’ someone to come to the UK as their spouse will have to declare their intention before they leave the UK and marry abroad. This will mean that a young person will know in advance that a marriage will take place overseas and who their prospective partner will be.

Practical guidance is also being introduced so the UK Border Agency staff can spot any risk of abuse or those who are vulnerable to forced marriage and prevent them from being coerced into marriage. In these cases we will make clear what the rights of victims are and how the marriage visa will be dealt with.

Tough new rules will mean that anyone abusing the marriage visa system will be removed from the UK by the UKBA under a new power to revoke people’s right to stay in the country.

The Government believes that those who stay in the UK must have a good grasp of English to ensure they integrate into British life. Before they come to the UK, spouses will need to sign up to an agreement to learn English. Soon after their arrival, the UKBA will check they are fulfilling their promise. If they are not, their leave could be cancelled.

Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne:

“British citizens have the right to marry whoever they choose. But we want newcomers to succeed in our society and sign up to the standards we have in common. That means freedom, not being forced to marry someone, and it means newcomers quickly acquiring a command of English, with consequences for those who break the rules.”

New guidelines will help ensure that police, teachers and health workers can recognise the signs of a forced marriage, take action and help victims escape. A consultation published today will ensure the Government gets this advice for workers right.

Today we are also publishing the Government’s response to the Home Affairs Committee Report on Domestic Violence, Forced Marriage and “Honour”-Based Violence, published on 7 June. The new proposals on marriage visas fulfil a number of recommendations from the Home Affairs Committee, relating to forced marriage

This work shows the Government’s commitment to preventing forced marriage and supporting its victims.

UKBA 23/07/2008

The UK Border Agency has on Monday published the changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 607), which will come into force on 30th June 2008, as part of the role out process of the Points-based system. These changes consolidate the existing Immigration Rules, and made the Tier 1 (General) available to applicants throughout the world, whereas previously it was only available to applicants in the UK and India.

Furthermore, these changes completed the introduction of the Tier 1 system, by introducing the remaining of the three categories: Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), Tier 1 (Investor) and Tier 1 (Post-Study Work). Applications under the Tier 1 system can be made either from outside the UK (known as an Entry Clearance), or within the UK (known as further leave to remain). Similar to that of Tier 1 (General), applicants have to score sufficient points to be eligible to apply. The areas applicants can score points on are: attributes; English ability; and maintenance (funds). It should be noted that Tier 1 (Investor) applicants do not need to demonstrate their English ability, nor the maintenance (funds) available to them.

As a result, the following immigration categories will be deleted and replaced by the completed Tier 1 system on 30th June 2008:
• Highly Skilled Migrant Programme;
• International Graduate Scheme;
• Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme;
• Businesspersons;
• Innovators;
• Investors;
• Writers, Composers or Artists.

If you would like to know more about this new system, or have any queries about it, please do note hesitate to contact UK Visa Services for further details.

www.ukvisaservices.co.uk

They are all at least border on fascinating. Ahem.

France / Italy

If you’re looking for a scenic route whilst crossing an international border and don’t have a fear of heights, you surely can’t beat the cable-car ride which connects France and Italy. You see, whilst the Mont Blanc lift effortlessly glide you from one country to the other (Aiguille de Midi to Point Helbronner) through one of the most stunning areas of the world, the 5km journey also happens to be the highest cable-car traverse on Earth.

Denmark / Sweden

The Oresund Bridge-Tunnel is the world’s longest border crossing bridge and connects Denmark and Sweden across the Oresund Strait. An incredible engineering feat, the bridge itself comes to an end and rests on an artificial island called Penderholm, at which point a tunnel takes over and carries traffic under the strait and onto the Danish mainland. Incredibly, this nearly 8km long structure also has a railtrack underneath the 4 lane roadway.

See the bridge-tunnel on Google Maps here. More info about the bridge at Dark Roasted Blend.

Mexico / USA

Before you attempt to illegally jump a border you may want to visit Parque EcoAlberto in Hidalgo, Mexico for a taster of the experience. This self-styled theme park charges customers the equivalent of £10 in order to take part in a 4 hour illegal border crossing simulation from Mexico to the U.S., complete with ‘actors’ playing the parts of smugglers and border guards. The paying public ‘must hike through undergrowth, dash down steep hills and across rivers, and slip under barbed-wire fences’ whilst avoiding the non-authorities.

More info at Pruned.

Finland / Sweden

At the Green Zone Golf Club it’s very possible, if talented or lucky enough, to get a hole-in-one that spans two countries due to the fact that hole 6 begins in Finland and ends in Sweden. In fact, during the 18 hole course you’ll find yourself crossing the border on a number of occasions between the towns of Tornio, Sweden and Haparanda, Finland. It’s a unique set-up but one which is soon to be trumped by a 27 hole course in the Emerald Triangle, an area of land where the borders of 3 countries (Laos, Thailand and Cambodia) meet. The plan is to play 9 of the 27 holes in each country.

More photos here.

France / Switzerland

Hotel Franco-Suisse in La Cure, France straddles the border of France and Switzerland to the point where you can choose to stay in either a French or Swiss room during your bi-national stay. The best part is the honeymoon suite: the border line cuts through the room, right down the middle of the bed. I’m not too sure if the best way to spend what should be one of the most romantic nights of your marriage is to sleep in a different country to your partner.

Check out the hotel here on Google Maps.

Panama / Costa Rica

Connecting the countries of Panama and Costa Rica is the Sixaola Bridge pictured above. Luckily for pedestrians, the trains no longer run, but that doesn’t mean the 16 wheel trucks have stopped using this incredible old steel bridge at the same time as people. Apparently when the largest vehicles are crossing you literally have to jump onto intermittent safety platforms to ensure you reach the other side of the border.

South American, African and other non-European footballers who cannot speak English will be barred from joining Premier League clubs from the autumn under the new points-based immigration system detailed by ministers.

The introduction of an English language test, covering everyday phrases and simple conversation, forms part of a package of tougher rules for skilled migrants from outside Europe applying to work in Britain and for temporary workers and students.

The immigration minister, Liam Byrne, said that there would have been 20,000 fewer migrants coming to Britain last year had the new rules been in force.

“Our new points system means that British jobseekers get the first crack of the whip and that only skilled migrants we actually need will be able to come. By moving points up or down, we can make sure the numbers we allow into the UK are in line with the needs of business and the country as a whole.”

But ministers said that entertainers and others coming to perform at one-off events and festivals, such as the 2012 Olympics or the annual Edinburgh festival fringe, will be outside the points-based system and will be covered by a new business visitors’ visa to be unveiled later this year.

A vacancy will have to be advertised for at least two weeks (one week in the case of jobs with salaries above £40,000) before a migrant can be recruited from outside Europe. The only exceptions will be if the job has been declared a shortage occupation or is an internal company transfer.

Migrants will also have to show they are competent in English, although ministers’ plans to insist on a GCSE-level standard have been dropped. Instead new skilled migrants will be expected to speak to a “basic-user standard”, using familiar everyday expressions, and be able to discuss basic personal details.

It is expected the new requirement will prevent 5% of existing skilled migrants coming to Britain. The Home Office estimates that English proficiency raises productivity by 20%.

Byrne said Premier League footballers and other elite sports people would not be exempt from the requirement: “It is a basic requirement that they have some command of English,” he said.

The Home Office estimates that if the new rules had been in place last year then 85,800 skilled workers and their dependants would have moved to Britain, compared with the 97,600 who successfully secured work permits.

guardian.co.uk

Foreign workers hoping to fill skilled vacancies in Britain’s labour market will have to meet strict new criteria, the Government announced today.

The Home Office today published proposals for much tighter skilled and temporary worker tiers of its new Points Based System (PBS). The schemes - known as Tier 2 and Tier 5 - sweep aside around 30 different routes to the UK, including the old work permit system.

British-based companies will have to prove they cannot fill skilled posts with a resident worker and must show that the job vacancy has been advertised in the UK, unless the job is on the shortage occupation list. Would-be migrants will need a job offer before they even apply for a visa.

To qualify, skilled foreign nationals will have to earn a certain number of points before being allowed to work in Britain. These points are awarded only if a person can prove they will be doing skilled work, speak a good standard of English, and are earning more than £24,000, or have a decent qualification. Employers will need a licence from the UK Border Agency to offer jobs to skilled workers.

Alongside today’s proposals, Home Office analysis showed if the tighter Tier 2 and 5 rules had been in place last year, close to ten per cent fewer skilled and temporary migrants from outside the EEA would have been allowed into Britain to work in equivalent categories - around 20,000 people. In addition the Home Office confirmed that from this year low skilled workers from outside the EU will be barred.

Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:

“Our new points system means that British jobseekers get the first crack of the whip and that only the skilled migrants we actually need will be able to come.

“By moving points up or down, we can make sure the numbers we allow in to the UK are in line with the needs of business and the country as a whole.

“When we set the points pass mark, we will listen to independent advice - the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on the needs of the economy, and the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) on the effect of migration on society.”

Employers who break the rules and employ illegal workers are already facing much tougher sanctions.

Figures released by the Home Office today show that in the first 80 days of the new illegal working regime - introduced at the end of February this year - 137 businesses were issued with Notices of Potential Liability worth almost half a million pounds. Under the old regime there were only 11 successful prosecutions last year. This means that the number facing punishment since the regime began is more than ten times greater than the entire number of prosecutions last year.

Civil penalties were introduced to make it easier than ever to fine those employers who give jobs to people with no right to work without carrying out the proper checks.

Liam Byrne said:

“Illegal jobs are the root cause of illegal immigration, which is why I’m determined to shut it down. In 2007 we carried out 40 per cent more illegal working operations than the previous year - and frontline officers have new powers to levy on-the-spot fines.

“These fines make up just one part of the biggest shake-up of the immigration system for a generation. With the introduction of compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals later in the year, there can be no excuse for not checking the identity of those applying for jobs.”

The Government also today revealed its proposals for Tier 5 of the PBS which covers those travelling temporarily to the UK for primarily non-economic reasons, such as sportspeople, entertainers and charity workers. To ensure entertainers continue to contribute to British cultural life, those coming to the UK for permit-free gigs or festivals - such as the Edinburgh Fringe - will be assessed outside of the PBS under visitor visa rules. The Government is due to publish details of the new visitor visa category in the near future.

Border and Immigration Agency Info
6 May 2008

www.guardian.co.uk

From 28 April 2008, people applying for an extension of stay in the United Kingdom using application forms for students FLR(S) and marriages FLR(M) will also need to complete the new section (7) of the application form which covers biometric immigration documents.

Biometric immigration document is the legal term for identity cards for foreign nationals.
Details of those who need to apply for a biometric immigration document and information on the application process can be found in the studying in the UK and the UK residency sections of the UK Border Agency website.

UK Border Agency Info