Immigration to UK falling post-Brexit

UK net migration dropped by 49,000 to 273,000 in the year to September 2016. Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures reveal.

This is the first time in two years that the net migration figure - the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving the UK - had dropped below 300,000.

Overall 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 fell, record numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians - 74,000 – came to live in the UK.

Around 323,000 people may have left the UK, slightly up on the previous year by 26,000.

The levers are estimated include 128,000 British citizens, 103,000 EU citizens and 93,000 non-EU citizens, although exact figures for legal and illegal immigration in the UK are almost impossible to calculate.

In summary, the overall number of people arriving to work in the UK is about the same as previous years. The UK has jobs and low skilled work, while other EU countries, such as Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece all have high levels of unemployment, especially for the youth.

Over 16,000 EU citizens were granted UK citizenship last year, indicating that despite Brexit many Europeans want to remain living in Britain.

Meanwhile, property prices in London and the south east of England have reached levels beyond the means of young first time buyers, many of whom have become long-term renters or are living at home with their parents well into their 30's. Home ownership levels are falling.

The UK is still an attractive place to work, start a business and buy property – no restrictions on foreign buyers - a vibrant mortgage market with record low interest rates.

Learn how you can get involved in the buy-to-let boom with this free CD training programme:

Free CD SET - UK BUY TO LET BOOM 

See also:

Minimum £18,600 income for foreign spouses lawful "in principle", Supreme Court rules 

Buy UK property with NO MONEY DOWN!

EU Immigration to UK Tops 2 Million but Care and Nursing Vacancies Unfilled

The number of EU migrants living and working in Britain now exceeds two million, official figures reveal today.

According to the figures, more than a million migrant workers are from eastern European countries, such as Poland, Romania and Bulgaria who migrated to the UK since the EU expanded in 2004.

Combined with non-EU migrants, there are over 3.2 million foreign nationals working in the UK, up by over a quarter of a million in the last year alone.

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the total number of foreign nationals working in the UK has increased by 257,000 or 15% over the past year.

One in ten workers are now non-British, compared with one in twenty seven in 1997 when Tony Blair came to power.

There are now 189,000 employees from Bulgaria and Romania, an increase of 19% on a year ago, which coincides with the lifting of restrictions on working in the UK on 1 January last year.

Newest EU entrants from Croatia are also being deterred from coming here by a similar 7 year restrictions on working in the UK.

Croatian citizens need permission to work in Britain, which can take the form of a Tier 2 Work Permit, for instance for a Nurse or Doctor, or a yellow card permit to work whilst studying.

Britain’s growing economy is clearly attracting immigrants according to experts.

Carlos Vargas-Silva, of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said the reason migrants were moving to Britain was because they can easily find jobs.

He said: 'As long as the EU economy remains weak and the UK economy is strong, you are going to see more people come in.'

You don’t need to be an Oxford Professor to work that one out, but Carlos has a point.

Britain’s economy is growing whilst the economies of most EU countries, burdened by the Euro and EU regulations, have been going downhill for years.

This week in Brussels, Prime Minister David Cameron is hoping to come away with a renegotiated deal and prevent an EU exit vote by British voters in a forthcoming referendum vote.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said there were still two million more people in jobs than in 2010.

'On top of that, today's figures show job vacancies at a near record high - evidence of the continued confidence of British businesses, and potential for further growth in the UK economy.

'Our one nation government is helping millions across the country to succeed and achieve their full potential. I was particularly pleased to see that wages are continuing to rise - meaning that hard-working people will see a real difference in their pay packets.'

Unemployment has fallen by 221,000 in the last year, and long-term unemployment has been reduced by 210,000 since 2010.

Despite unemployment figures exceeding 1.8 million, there are 735,000 UK job vacancies, an increase of nearly 70,000 since last year. 

There is an acute shortage of nurses and care workers in the UK, with NHS hospitals and private care homes crying out for staff. 

Currently, my own clients have have hundreds of job vacancies for nursing and care staff all over England and Wales.

Migrant workers are needed to fill the vacancies, as many British workers do not want the jobs. In the last few weeks I have witnessed local workers not even bothering to turn up for interviews.

If you are an overseas nurse or care worker (EU citizens only) and would like to work in the UK, email your CV.

Croatian Carer working in the UK on a Yellow Card Permit

Croatian Care Worker talks about working in the UK and how she got her yellow card permit and NIN with the help of Concept Care Solutions.

For more information on Croatians working in the UK see: http://how2cometotheuk.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/immigration-information-for-croatians.html

Dario from Croatia talks about working in the UK

If you would like more information about how Croatian EU Citizens can legally work in the UK visit my blog - Immigration Information for Croatians Coming to the UK to Work, Study or Visit.

NMC Test of Competence for International Nurses who want to work in the UK starts at University of Northampton

Good news for international nurses who want to work in the UK as a nurse or midwife. The University of Northampton's School of Health has successfully started delivery the new 'Test of Competence' on 17 November, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has confirmed.

The new competency test for non-EU nurses and midwives replaces the old Overseas Nurses Programme (ONP) and will fast-track the process for internationally trained nurses and midwives seeking to work in the UK as well as ensuring candidates are assessed robustly in a standardised way.

The new assessment process is formed of two parts starting with a test in the candidates own country:

1.  multiple choice computer-based exam, which candidates sit at test centres around the world
2. practical clinical examination delivered at the University of Northampton in the UK

The NMC, the official professional body which regulates nursing in the UK, said they “want to ensure that all people joining the Nursing and Midwifery Council's register are meeting the UK standards”.

Jackie Smith, NMC Chief Executive and Registrar, said:

“Each year, hundreds of nurses and midwives who trained outside Europe apply to practise in the UK. 

"As a responsible regulator, we need to make sure that they are able to demonstrate clinical and theoretical knowledge as well as the professional values that will ensure patient-centred, compassionate care.

"This test will put candidates through scenarios that they may find in the UK’s health services."

Although we have not seen the results of the changes, the competence-based testing system for international nurses should be more straightforward than the previous cumbersome and expensive ONP, which often hindered hospitals and care homes from recruiting overseas nurses. The simple two-part process will do away with the subjective 3-6 months of adaptation and supervision and help hospital Trusts employers fill thousands of UK NHS nurse job vacancies they are unable to fill within the UK or EU.

Nurses union RCN said there are around 20,000 nursing job vacancies in the UK. With NHS hospitals unable to recruit enough nurses in Spain and Portugal, they are once again offering Tier 2 working visa sponsorship for non-EU overseas nurses and those who are on Tier 4 students in the UK. Student Visa holders are allowed to switch to Tier 2 work permits whilst in the UK.

Going through the initial NMC registration process and obtaining a PRN letter can take several weeks, if not months, so if you are serious about coming to work in the UK you should get started as soon as possible. NHS hospital employers going out to countries like India or the Philippines will not want to wait around for 3-6 months while you sit an IELTS test and apply for the your NMC if they have candidates who are already in process. English tests are required for most of the English speaking countries - Australia, NZ, Canada - likely to need more nurses, so get studying!

Non-EU nurses and midwives still have to pass an IELTS English test at an overall band score of 7.00 in order to register with the NMC - and have at least 1 year's clinical experience in a hospital (private nursing or 'company' nurse will normally not be sufficient for the NMC). For full details on the new registration process and working in the UK for non-EU trained nurses or midwives, visit the NMC website or email me your CV if you are interested in migrating to and working in the UK as a nurse.

UK International Nurse Recruitment Set To Take Off As Concept Care Solutions Are Appointed to NHS LPP Framework

Concept Care Solutions appointed to LPP Lot 5 Collaborative Framework for NHS International Nurse Recruitment (via PRWeb)

Concept Care Solutions has been appointed onto the LPP 'Lot 5 Framework' suppliers list to recruit international nurses for NHS Trusts. (PRWEB UK) 3 June 2014 Concept Care Solutions has been appointed onto the LPP 'Lot 5 Framework' suppliers list to…

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