Recommendations to change Tier 2 visa rules to reduce the number of non-EU workers coming to the UK each year by 10% have been put forward by the Migration Advisory Committee.

New UK visa restrictions for Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the points based system were outlined by the UK Border Agency today.

Employers will need to register with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and obtain a license if they wish to provide employment to overseas workers.

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The Points-based system’s restrictions of low-skilled migrants is impacting restaurants across the country.
Most of the UK’s curry houses, estimated to number almost 10,000, recruit staff for their kitchens directly from Bangladesh. The new Points-based system is restricting curry houses’ ability to recruit people with the right skills, leading to staff shortages.
The industry is in trouble, [...]

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Following the announcement of the new HSMP rules, as amended on 7 November 2006, a number of vague areas have caused applicants concern. Most of the concerns focus around HSMP earnings points, and the exact documentation that needs to be submitted with an application in order to ensure approval.
The UK Border Agency has clarified a [...]

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Highly Skilled Migrants have been frustrated by the Home Office changes to the HSMP rules that determine where foreign workers can either come to the UK, or continue to live in the UK.The changes were announced in November, 2006.
Almost a third of HSMP migrants may not be able to extend their visas in the UK. [...]

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Yesterday the British Home Secretary John Reid announced new powers to fingerprint and photograph foreigners who live in Britain as part of a new national identity card plan.
In addition, 150 screening centres around the world will be established in the next 18 months in order to allow for biometric data such as electronic fingerprints and [...]

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University graduates should be able to move more easily between jobs in Australia and overseas with a new type of “qualifications” passport to be introduced nationally. The Australian Diploma Supplement is also expected to give graduates easier access to overseas universities for postgraduate study. Education Minister Julie Bishop announced the move at a conference in [...]

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The EU Free Movement of Persons Directive (FMOP) has been enacted into UK law from 30 April 2006. EEA family permit applications will be dealt with differently due to the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006.
From 30 April 2006,family members of EEA nationals will be allowed an initial period of residence of three months. There [...]

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The Immigration Rules changed in 2006 have resulted in the following significant changes:

Period for settlement applications for those in the UK in an employment or business category or under the UK Ancestry rules, will be increased up to five years.
The maximum period which can be issued initially for most employment or business categories will be [...]