Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Immigration Matters: Modern Slavery affects 13,000 victims in the UK al...
Immigration Matters: Modern Slavery affects 13,000 victims in the UK al...: When we think of slavery we tend to think of bygone days or people in third world countries. However, modern day slavery is as real as it ...
Modern Slavery affects 13,000 victims in the UK alone from overseas domestic worker slaves to sex workers
When we think of slavery we tend to think of bygone days or
people in third world countries. However, modern day slavery is as real as it
was 200 years ago.
Meenal Sachdev, Director of Shiva Foundation
On the day Theresa May signed the letter invoking Article50, the process which will take Britain out of the EU, I attended a conference in Hertfordshire, Tackling Modern Day Slavery, organised by Meenal Sachdev, Director of the Shiva Foundation. The event was attended by
over 200 including the Police Commissioner of Hertfordshire, the Home Office,
NHS and various charities.
The Home Office estimates that there are 13,000 victims of
modern day slavery in the UK, ranging from exploited workers domestic workers
to women being trafficked into the country to work in the sex trade.
The conference has helped to spread awareness of the
exploitation of people, which could be going on behind closed doors in your
neighbourhood.
Prime Minister, Theresa May
Prime Minister Theresa May introduced the Slavery Act while
serving as Home Secretary, widely seen as her legacy from her successful term
in the Home Office. As a result of the act the maximum penalty for slavery is
life imprisonment.
Rescuing victims from forced labour or servitude is
generally only the first step, as they will need ongoing support and help once
freed. This can extend to support in their own country, for people trafficked
into the UK, where they are often in debt to criminal gangs. Romania is one of
the countries cooperating with authorities in the UK and a number of successful
cross-border operations have been conducted to clamp down on criminals.
Slavery is the second fastest growing form of organised
crime which also encompasses people trafficking, immigration fraud crimes and sham marriages where EEA citizens were flown in to marry Pakistani and African men.
The majority of the examples of crimes, were committed by
gangs from Eastern European countries like Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.
There are a number of charities and organisations which help
victims of modern day slavery including Unseen which has a confidential Modern Slavery helpline:
08000 121 700.
The long term outlook for Britain looks positive within Europe, but outside the European Union. The UK is an attractive place to work, start a business or buy property - even with no money down, with no restrictions on foreign buyers and a vibrant mortgage market with record low interest rates. Leading economists predict that, despite Brexit, house prices will continue rising due to shortages of stock and strong demand in the rental sector.
If you would like to learn more about investing in UK property, I have a limited number of complimentary tickets to a LIVE EVENT - Beginners Property Course (held in the UK), which will give you the basic knowledge and techniques to get started. If you are interest, email me your full name and telephone number to euukimmigration@gmail.com.
See also:
Monday, March 27, 2017
Immigration Matters: UK based Indian charity in visa fraud Immigration ...
Immigration Matters: UK based Indian charity in visa fraud Immigration ...: The UK Charity Commission has disqualified Ravinder Singh, a trustee of a British Sikh charity and banned him from being involved in any c...
UK based Indian charity in visa fraud Immigration scam
The UK Charity Commission has disqualified Ravinder Singh, a
trustee of a British Sikh charity and banned him from being involved in
any charity in future after he was found guilty of visa fraud and using the charity
as a front to bring Indian nationals to the country.
The Khalsa Missionary Society had been struck off from the charity register in February 2016 and it was revealed that 57-year-old had misused the organisation to facilitate the serious crime of immigration fraud.
The Home Office began a criminal investigation into charity, set up to advance the Sikh religion in the UK through prayer meetings and lectures, in 2004, prompting the commission to start its own investigation.
The Khalsa Missionary Society had been struck off from the charity register in February 2016 and it was revealed that 57-year-old had misused the organisation to facilitate the serious crime of immigration fraud.
The Home Office began a criminal investigation into charity, set up to advance the Sikh religion in the UK through prayer meetings and lectures, in 2004, prompting the commission to start its own investigation.
The visa scam took advantage of the UK’s generous policy
towards religious organisations wishing to sponsor ministers. Indian migrants
paid the Khalsa Missionary Society around £4,500 each to sponsor their UK visa
applications and work permits as religious ministers to be employed by the
charity.
In addition to the immigration fraud, funds were laundered through the “charity's bank accounts to give the appearance that the charity was receiving legitimate donations," the commission said in its report.
In addition to the immigration fraud, funds were laundered through the “charity's bank accounts to give the appearance that the charity was receiving legitimate donations," the commission said in its report.
"The inquiry concluded that there had been misconduct
and mismanagement in the administration of the charity. He had breached his
legal duties to protect the charity's assets by using the charity as a conduit
to commit immigration fraud," it adds.
The Commission's inquiry had found that Singh was only one active trustee in the charity and had removed him as a trustee in January 2016.
Theresa May, former Home Secretary and current British Prime Minister
The five-tier points based system for UK working visas, brought in by the last Labour government, was wide open to fraud and scams, as the Entry Clearance Officers (ECO's) were effectively stripped of their powers to veto a work permit decision.
When the hen Home Secretary, now Prime Minister, Theresa May took over the Home Office in 2010, she immediately set about closing down immigration schemes and visa appeal rights. The measures have taken many years to turn the 'immigration tanker' around and net migration has fallen slightly last year.
The last seven years has seen a raft of Immigration Rule changes and Acts, as the Conservatives attempted to reverse the more open door immigration policies of the Tony Blair administration under which around 5 million migrants came to the UK.
Mrs May raised the bar for working visas and brought in minimum income and English tests for foreign spouses, the legality of which was upheld recently in the Supreme Court following a legal challenge.
Brexit may herald a new era for a restricted EU immigration policy, depending on how the Article 50 negotiations develop, which is a worry for the estimated 3 million European migrants living in the UK.
Migrants have always been quick to buy property as soon as they find their feet. I know a number of migrants who came to the UK with "nothing to declare" and pennies in their pockets who are now multi-millionaire property investors.
If you would like to learn more about investing in UK property, I have a limited number of complimentary tickets to a LIVE EVENT - Beginners Property Course (held in the UK), which will give you the basic knowledge and techniques to get started as a property investor. If you are interest, email me your full name and telephone number to euukimmigration@gmail.com.
See also:
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Immigration Matters: Article 50 date 29 March 2017 and UK Brexit within...
Immigration Matters: Article 50 date 29 March 2017 and UK Brexit within...: Earlier this week Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the Article 50 process to take Britain out of the European Union will be forma...
Article 50 date 29 March 2017 and UK Brexit within 2 years
Earlier this week Prime Minister Theresa May announced that
the Article 50 process to take Britain out of the European Union will be
formally triggered on 29 March 2017.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May
The historic decision will start a two year period of intense
negotiations with the UK’s EU partners over tariffs, membership of the single
market and customs union, free movement of labour and immigration rights for
the millions of European and British migrants who live in various parts of
Europe.
In a statement, Brexit Secretary David Davis said: “We are
on the threshold of the most important negotiation for this country for a
generation.
“The Government is clear in its aims: a deal that works for
every nation and region of the UK and indeed for all of Europe – a new,
positive partnership between the UK and our friends and allies in the European
Union.”
The fate of three million EU migrants living in the UK is still
in the balance, as thousands apply for indefinite leave and British
Citizenship. Since millions of British citizens live in EU countries and the UK still needs skilled foreign labour, there will be no mass deportations.
Despite the divorce, custody arrangements will have to be made. After all, like a divorced couple with children, the affairs of Britain and EU member states will be inexorably intertwined for many years to come.
Despite the divorce, custody arrangements will have to be made. After all, like a divorced couple with children, the affairs of Britain and EU member states will be inexorably intertwined for many years to come.
UK net migration fell by 49,000 to 273,000 in the year to
September 2016 according to Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Immigration to the UK is estimated to be 596,000 – made up
of 268,000 EU citizens, 257,000 non-EU citizens and 71,000 British citizens.
Whilst EU immigration from several countries went down,
record numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians - 74,000 – came to live in the UK.
In the meantime, current UK Immigration Rules and EEA regulations still apply.
The historic week ends on a sad note following tragic events which took place in Westminster on Wednesday. Our condolences go out to the families of the people who lost their lives or suffered serious injuries, including a Police Officer and an American and Romanian tourist.
The UK is an attractive place to work, start a business or buy property, with no restrictions on foreign buyers and a vibrant mortgage market with record low interest rates. Last week, a leading mortgage lender announced that it was introducing a fixed rate mortgage with an interest rate of .99%.
If you would like to learn more about investing in UK property, I have a limited number of complimentary tickets to a LIVE EVENT - Beginners Property Course (held in the UK), which will give you the basic knowledge and techniques to get started as a property investor. If you are interest, email me your full name and telephone number to euukimmigration@gmail.com.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Immigration Matters: UK Visa £1,000 Immigration Skills charge on Tier 2...
Immigration Matters: UK Visa £1,000 Immigration Skills charge on Tier 2...: The new Immigration Skills Charge for large numbers of Tier 2 holders will come into force from 6 April 2017. The Home Office levy will b...
UK Visa £1,000 Immigration Skills charge on Tier 2 working Visas starts 6 April 2017
The new Immigration Skills Charge for large numbers of Tier
2 holders will come into force from 6 April 2017. The Home Office levy
will be imposed on UK employers holding Tier 2 sponsorship licences employing
non-EEA migrants on Tier 2 working visas.
UK Home Office
The Guardian recently reported that the skills levy on
foreign workers could be extended to EU and EEA migrants post Brexit in order
to reduce immigration and encourage employers to hire British workers first.
Britain’s policy on European migrants resident in the UK has yet to be decided
and will probably form part of ongoing negotiations once article 50 has been
triggered later this month.
Net migration to the UK fell by 49,000 last year following the
Brexit vote, but more likely due to earlier curbs on immigration. Meanwhile,
thousands of EU citizens are applying for UK passports and Indefinite Leave to
Remain (permanent residence) in the panic to beat possible Home Office
restrictions.
The UK Immigration Minister, Robert Goodwill, has stated
that that British businesses were over reliant on migrant labour and said that
an apprenticeship levy would be put in place later in 2017, in order to help
meet the government’s pledge to train more than three million apprentices prior
to the 2020 general election.
Mr Goodwill said: “In April this year we are also bringing
in the immigration skills charge for non-EEA skilled workers. If you want to
recruit an Indian computer programmer on a four-year contract on top of the
existing visa charges and the resident labour market test there will be a fee
of £1,000 per year.
“So for a four-year contract that employer will need to pay
a £4,000 immigration skills charge. That is something that currently applies to
non-EU and it has been suggested to us that could be applied to EU.”.
In excess of 16,000 EU citizens were granted UK citizenship last year, indicating that despite Brexit and all the 'doom and gloom' predictions many Europeans want to remain living in Britain.
The UK is an attractive place to work, start a business or buy property, with no restrictions on foreign buyers and a vibrant mortgage market with record low interest rates. Last week, a leading mortgage lender announced that it was introducing a fixed rate mortgage with an interest rate of .99%.
If you would like to learn more about investing in UK property, I have a limited number of complimentary tickets to a LIVE EVENT - Beginners Property Course (held in the UK), which will give you the basic knowledge and techniques to get started as a property investor. If you are interest, email me your full name and telephone number to euukimmigration@gmail.com.
See also:
Fines issued to landlords under right-to-rent offences
Turn Your Passion into Profit
If you would like to learn more about investing in UK property, I have a limited number of complimentary tickets to a LIVE EVENT - Beginners Property Course (held in the UK), which will give you the basic knowledge and techniques to get started as a property investor. If you are interest, email me your full name and telephone number to euukimmigration@gmail.com.
See also:
Fines issued to landlords under right-to-rent offences
Turn Your Passion into Profit
Monday, March 13, 2017
Immigration Matters: Pop star Lily Allen in NHS immigration spat on Twi...
Immigration Matters: Pop star Lily Allen in NHS immigration spat on Twi...: Singer songwriter Lily Allen has once again got involved in a public dispute on social media, this time over an argument about immigration...
Pop star Lily Allen in NHS immigration spat on Twitter after her two-year-old daughter had to wait to see a doctor at A&E
Singer songwriter Lily Allen has once again got involved in
a public dispute on social media, this time over an argument about immigration
after criticising NHS cuts after her daughter's wait at accident and emergency
(A&E), the Daily Mail reports.
Lily Allen
Lily, 31-year-old said she took her two-year-old daughter,
Marnie, to hospital after she impaled her neck on railings, but was put out
when they had to wait (like the rest of
us) despite having a serious injury.
Then Allen, who launched her career on social media
sites, such as My Space (remember them?). got into an online row with a Twitter
user who blamed the NHS wait on immigration.
A Twitter user, - Twitter handle is @Trumpskins2016 - tweeted
that Ms Allen did not care about 'preserving' English heritage because she is
rich.
Lily, who has 5.9
million followers on Twitter handle +Lily Allen, picked up the tweet and hit back: 'What do you
mean when you speak of heritage, and also how you have come to the conclusion
that money gets in the way of caring about it? '
The user, who must have been ecstatic to receive a reply, escalated
the argument: 'You're rich so the impact of mass immigration doesn't effect
you. People have been saying this to you over and over again.'
Lily defended her stance: 'I doubt it's fault of immigrants that you
can't get someone to procreate with you. If that is the type of heritage you
are referring to.'
The user came back with: 'like to see how Lily would react
to tons of immigrants being moved to the area she lives.'
Lily revealed that she lived in London near 'lots of
immigrants' and had 'no problems'.
On her Twitter feed Lily says she lives near Greeks, Japanese and Scandinavians.
Specifically pointing to her daughter's hospital wait, the
user then said: 'The UK is overcrowded. Liberals like yourself have allowed it
to happen.'
Lily wrote: 'My daughter wasn't seen because the hospital,
like most in the UK, are understaffed because of cuts, not because of
immigrants.'
Lily said that she has seen the decline in the NHS and added
that the number of midwife visits has gone down.
The mother-of-three added: 'I've seen its decline. When I
had my first baby, the midwife came every day.
'Only three years into a Tory government we had one visit.
It was pretty bad. It's horrendous.'
Lily has previously criticised the NHS four years ago after
she claimed she had received lack of attention when she gave birth to Marnie,
who was two at the time of the 2015 incident.
Writing on Twitter: 'After speaking to the Brent midwifery
team at 7 this morning, I was told to stay in all day and someone would be over
to weigh my baby and do a jaundice assessment.
'Waited all day, and nothing, not even a phone call.'
She told followers: 'I don't mean to moan and I know how
over stretched the health service is. But I can't help but think about how
mothers with less support, both financially and emotionally are meant to
cope.'
The NHS, which is barely out of the news, would probably not
be able to function without migrant workers in every department. Nurses are
still being recruited from the EU and countries like India and the Philippines.
In other news, the EU Brexit bill is proceeding after a stumbling block in the House of Lords and Prime Minister Theresa May could trigger the 'Article 50' official leaving process this month.
Three million EU nationals living in the UK are still unsure of their fate, prompting thousands of European migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain and UK citizenship.
Most I speak to have no intention of leaving and plan to settle in the UK. Unlike many EU countries, the UK has jobs, unrestricted access to healthcare and welfare and jobs.
Saturday, March 04, 2017
Immigration Matters: UK population will hit 70 million bringing fears a...
Immigration Matters: UK population will hit 70 million bringing fears a...: The population of the UK will soar to over 70 million and become the largest in Europe by 2050, bigger than France and Germany, due to an ...
UK population will hit 70 million bringing fears and opportunities
The population of the UK will soar to over 70 million
and become the largest in Europe by 2050, bigger than France and Germany, due
to an ageing population and immigration, according to the Office
for National Statistics (ONS).
ONS figures show there has been more births than deaths in
every year since 1976, which combined with a net migration increase over around
250,00 per annum has swelled the UK population to 65 million. By 2045 the
population will reach 76 million experts predict.
Over 65's will hit 25% in 30 years
The age time bomb is an issue all over Europe and a quarter
of the UK population will be over 65 within the next 30 years. The current generation does not appear to be as prudent as their predecessors when it comes to saving, with millions holding less than £100 in the bank and going through life in perpetual debt.
Increasing life expectancy is another factor in the
population increase, as people live longer, due to improved healthcare and
lifestyles, and will be drawing their state pension for many more years than
the schemes were expected to run. In future, Girls born in 2015 are expected to
live 82.8 years from birth, and boys to 79.1 years.
The proportion of people aged over 65 has
increased from 14.1 per cent in 1975 to 17.8 per cent in 2015 - which means
there is a lower proportion working people paying taxes to support pensions and
healthcare for the elderly - and the is projected to reach a quarter of the
population by 2045.
There will be an extra 10 million over 65s in 2045 than
there were in 1975 - accounting for over half of the population growth seen in
that period.
The UK will have a larger population than any
European Union country by 2050, at 77 million, according to Eurostat. The
UK is the third biggest country, after Germany and France, which has falling
birth rates and an ageing population.
The proportion of working citizens is projected to fall as a
result of the growth of the ageing population, which has huge implications for
pensions, housing and employment.
Immigration to the UK and overall net
migration has helped boost the population by 250,000 per year over the last
two decades, which did fall slightly last year. In 2015, 631,500 people
immigrated to the UK, while emigration was 299,200.
Opportunities and fears
A growing population is good for the economy as it can mean
that there are more people available to participate in the workforce and
provide jobs in service sectors such as healthcare and leisure.
However, an ageing population will lead to strains
on the NHS and other public services. Estimates show there were
308 of a pensionable age for every 1,000 people of a working age in 2016 -
and this figure is projected to increase to 365 in 2037.
When releasing the data, the ONS said: "While living
longer is a cause for celebration, an ageing population may result in fewer
people of working age to support those of pension age.
"This increase means that there will be fewer people of
working age to support a larger population over State Pension age. While a
larger population increases the size and productive capacity of the workforce,
it also increases pressure and demand for services such as education,
healthcare and housing."
In the government White Paper, Housing Minister Gavin Barwell admits that the housing system is broken and wants the country to build hundreds of thousands of new homes every year to cope with demand and the current shortage. In order to build, employers will need skilled labour, which means workers from the EU will still be in demand. In turn, this initially creates more housing demand.
In the government White Paper, Housing Minister Gavin Barwell admits that the housing system is broken and wants the country to build hundreds of thousands of new homes every year to cope with demand and the current shortage. In order to build, employers will need skilled labour, which means workers from the EU will still be in demand. In turn, this initially creates more housing demand.
More houses will be needed
Last year, 16,000 EU citizens were granted UK citizenship,
indicating that despite Brexit many Europeans want to remain living in Britain.
The reason people migrate here is because the UK is an attractive place to work, start a business or buy property –
no restrictions on foreign buyers - a vibrant mortgage market with record low
interest rates.
See also:
Friday, March 03, 2017
Immigration Matters: Uber loses High Court case to block English langua...
Immigration Matters: Uber loses High Court case to block English langua...: Uber has been defeated in the High Court in a legal bid to prevent their drivers being required to take an English language test in order ...
Uber loses High Court case to block English language tests for migrant drivers
Uber has been defeated in the High Court in a legal bid to
prevent their drivers being required to take an English language test in order
to work in London.
Driverless cars are already here
The multi-billion dollar tech giant, which does not own any
taxis despite controlling millions of journeys, took its case to court after
Transport for London (TfL) said that drivers should have to sit a test in order
to demonstrate their ability to communicate in English.
Uber’s lawyers argued that the TFL standard of reading and
writing required by the test was excessive claiming it was "unfair and
disproportionate" and will appeal against the court's decision.
Rejecting Uber's claim, Judge John Mitting said:
"TfL are entitled to require private hire drivers to
demonstrate English language compliance".
However, Tom de la Mare QC, for Uber and the drivers, told
the judge that the language requirement would result in 70,000 applicants,
including mini cab drivers, failing to obtain a licence over three years.
He added that the proposals would have a disproportionate
impact on drivers from countries where English was not generally spoken and
give rise to "indirect discrimination on grounds of race and
nationality".
TfL maintain that the requirements were vital to ensure
passenger safety and to raise standards.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, defended Tfl:
"Drivers being able to speak English and understand
information from passengers and licensing requirements is a vital part of
ensuring passengers get the high standard of service they need and deserve”.
Drivers should be more concerned about Uber's bigger plans to eventually dispense with the need for drivers altogether. The company is already tested self-driving cars with Volvo driverless cars on in a Pittsburgh based trial.
See also:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)