UK Visa & Immigration Blog

Over the past ten years UK immigration has welcomed almost 2 million new workers and developed into one of the most competitive immigration systems in the Western world.

In the past two years the UK immigration system has been completely overhauled with old immigration routes made redundant and a new points based immigration system introduced.

The new UK immigration system consists of five new tiers that are open to all citizens outside of the EU.

Between 1991 and 2001 half the population increase was due to foreign-born immigration. In 2007 the number of people moving to work in the UK reached a staggering 237,000, an increase of 46,000 on 2006.

The largest groups of people given British Citizenship in 2006 were from India, Pakistan, Somalia and the Philippines. With several Eastern European countries entering the EU in 2004, the UK seen a mass increase in numbers, notably skilled workers form Poland, since there is free movement of labour within the EU.

With the introduction of the points based system the UK now has a more managed migration system to cope with the demand for skilled labour shortages.

Immigrants who can demonstrate they possess certain skills that cannot be found in certain areas are understandably much sought after.

Skilled workers from outside the EU whose jobs are on the Critical Skills Shortlist are especially attractive to the UK and will find their application for a UK visa will be looked upon more favourably.

Skills such as engineering, teaching, doctors and nurses are currently in demand.

The UK is open to young people who might not already possess the skills and experience but would like to visit all the same.

The Youth Mobility Scheme is one such scheme targeted at 18-30 year olds. The UK visa is open for two years and entitles the holder to work for up to one year.

With so many people moving to the UK in the past ten years, the UK government has begun to make UK immigration more difficult for new immigrants. Higher education certificates, more money in the bank and genuine offers of employment or education from approved employers and education providers are just a few of the changes.

If you want to move to the UK the traditional ways are via marriage, ancestry or work.

A UK marriage visa offers settled status with no time or work restrictions on your stay. UK immigration authorities have changed this route recently as well meaning both parties must now be at least 21 before a marriage visa can be issued.

Spouse visas are issued for a two-year period initially, after which the holder can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

The UK Ancestry visa is open to Commonwealth citizens with ancestral ties to the UK. There are no points based skills assessment like other UK visa routes and upon a successful visa application the holder and heir family have immediate access to the employment market with no restrictions. The visa is granted for a five-year period after which applicants can apply for permanent residence.

Applicants must have a grandparent born in the UK or the Republic of Ireland before March 1922 to be eligible.

Tier 1 General visas and tier 2 Work Permits are other popular ways to move to the UK. For the tier 1 General you will need a minimum of a master’s degree and be earning £20,000 minimum or for the tier 2 work permit applicants must have a job offer from a UK based company already in place.

A tier 2 Intra-company transfer is a viable option to move to the UK. This work permit allows employers to bring in overseas workers to the UK to fill a specific role for an agreed amount of time.