UK to impose annual cap on immigrants from non-EU countries

A move, that is likely to affect highly skilled workers from non-EU countries of which Indians make the major chunk, the UK government is ready to announce an annual cap on such workers.

Its going to be 24,100 for the period starting July 2010 till April 2011, when they want to finalize a permanent CAP. Well, it remains to be seen whether this will actually be implemented, as there has been a lot of opposition from industry and schools that hire and enroll a lot of fee-paying students from non-EU countries.

The economic times says - "However, the proposed annual cap is expected to face opposition from British companies struggling to recruit employees with the right skills. Campaign groups such as the Highly Skilled Migrants Forum have already announced that they will oppose such limits."

Personally, I fear this move. But since the CAP is just a 5% reduction in the number of migrants that came last year its nothing to worry. Real worry could be when next year, in April 2011 if they go on to reduce the number even lower. Getting a Tier-1 Visa would be then like winning a lottery. (As it happens when applying for H1 Visa to work in the US).

If that is not enough, there are talks of implementing bonds for students who come for education, which they need to pay for studying and will get it back only if they return.

I think this is CAP will just be temporary, and can not remain for long. As it is UK is having shortage of highly skilled workers. This seems to me as a knee-jerk reaction, and nothing else. What this move also serves is a fulfillment of promise made during elections. Come April 2011, when the move will be reviewed, it could be taken back.  Remember what happened to the eligibility rules for Tier-1 in April 2010. First they changed the point based system (PBS) for Tier-1 to allow just masters degree holders to come to the UK in 2009 and then rolled it back in 2010 as they surely found no good in that. Well, that was the non-conservative government at that time, but I believe things will change as economy also recovers during early next year.

The Hindu says - "Leading British businesses are opposed to an artificial limit arguing that it would make it difficult for them to recruit the necessary skilled staff and damage the economy. Universities, who depend on fee-paying foreign students as the main source of their income, are also strongly opposed to such rigid restrictions."

[References]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/UK-to-impose-annual-cap-on-immigrants-from-non-EU-countries/articleshow/5954003.cms

Book Review : New Moon - The twilight saga

http://ruddhi-travelogue.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-moon-twilight-saga-continues.html

Twilight saga is the story where all legends of vampires and werewolves become true. New Moon – The second part of the Twilight saga, is the story about the budding friendship between Bella and Jacob, the story where Bella finally meets the deadly royal vampires – Volturri. I liked this book the same as Twilight one, and here is a small synopsis of what the book has to offer.

Read the full review here.

Apple iPhone4 Reception Problems

IPhone4 Reception Problems.

Applying for Tier-4 UK Students VISA

Here is the process and the documents needed.

Documents needed:

1. Completely filled VAF9 form, refer to http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/1903073/vaf9
2. Completely filled Self assessment form, refer  http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/1903073/PBSappendix8generalstudent
3. Degree Certificate
4. Mark sheets/Transcripts ( Not mandatory but good to submit , just in case)
6. Loan letter/Fund allocation letter showing funds needed for the course.
7. Bank Statement (On official letterhead/stamped, with bank address, your name, account number. ) for maintenance funds.
8. Passport(s)
9. 2 UK Visa size Passports (refer to http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/flr/photoguidance0409.pdf)
10. Fees : Rs. 13950 ( You can take cash, VFS Bangalore has a Standard Chartered counter inside, they would charge Rs. 200 as service charge, so effectively 14150).

All documents are needed to be submitted in original.

You can refer to http://www.liv.ac.uk/studentsupport/ist/overseasvisa.htm ,  Quite helpful.

Refer to http://www.liv.ac.uk/studentsupport/ist/pdfs/VAF9_GS_example.pdf for a sample VAF form.

Process:

1. Take an appointment. http://www.vfs-uk-in.com/schedule.aspx


2. Reach your VFS office well in advance.


3. Do not take big bags etc in the center. However, they allow to take mobile phones.


4. Pay the fees and take receipt.


5. Go to 'information' desk and inform that you have come.


6. Wait for your turn, they would call you.


7. Submit all documents.


8. Pay Rs. 200 if you want your passport couriered, and Rs. 100 if you want application status to be sent by SMS at each stage.


9. Give biometric details.


10. You are done.


11. Wait for the visa

London: First Look

Well, I haven't landed in London yet. But my wife has. And here are her first thoughts at the city.

http://ruddhi-travelogue.blogspot.com/2010/06/first-look-on-london-uk.html

Many things surprise visitors to the UK, especially from India. Like the amazing train network, the culture and the day light savings time as well, when you have looong days during summer. Nice read.

First look at London : From Ru's eyes

http://ruddhi-travelogue.blogspot.com/2010/06/first-look-on-london-uk.html

A new place excites everyone, especially if its a city like London. Here are a few thoughts from Ru after Landing at Heathrow

DSLR Tips : How to blur background

Courtesy : DSLR Tips.com

Social Media Tips

Courtesy - http://digitalmusketeers.ning.com/video/social-media-tips

SEO : All you wanted to know about

http://guides.seomoz.org/beginners-guide-to-search-engine-optimization

What is SEO ?


Do I need SEO for my organization/website ?

How can SEO help me ?

What are the steps and technical challenges ?

If these are the questions you are asking yourselves, go through this beginners guide to SEO. This is an amazing read for those who want to start with SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

-----------------------------------------------------------

Also see this video on Social Media Tips

http://digitalmusketeers.ning.com/video/social-media-tips

People chaper than Fish in India ?

Yes, if seems like. Look at the way Bhopal Gas victims have been treated like in these years so far.

A nice article by bestselling author Chetan Bhagat in Times - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home/Opinion/Edit-Page/Whats-A-Citizens-Life-Worth/articleshow/6064826.cms

Mani Ratnam's Raavan - Review

http://ruddhi-travelogue.blogspot.com/2010/06/ravaan-mani-ratnams-new-movie.html


Read review of Mani Ratnam's latest flick here...

Review of Shutter Island

http://notareview.blogspot.com/2010/06/shutter-island.html

A nice review of Shutter Island without revealing the actual mystery, without which the movie is not worth a watch.

Google certified ad networks in adsense - a video

Whats with these Vampire Movies and Books

Read a nice review of the first book of Twilight Saga here -  http://ruddhi-travelogue.blogspot.com/2010/06/twilight-book-review.html

I suddenly see a sudden burst of vampire books and movies in the market. Especially the Twilight saga. And the movies have been a huge hit, especially with the ladies.

My wife has read the books twice and watched the movies (Twilight and New Moon, waiting for the third one eagerly) numerous times, even the CDs have got scratches I believe.

Riding on vampire wave, other books on vampires and werewolves have also got some publicity, as I see a lot of them in display at Crossword and also at road-side book stalls. Not to mention the prices at roadside stalls, which have increased a lot , especially for these book.s

Me too have started liking the movie - Twilight, after watching it twice. Not a big fan of the book, as I dread reading a fiction novel.

Do read the book and share your comments.

Social Media Measurement

Courtesy http://www.slideshare.net/themoleskin/social-media-measurement

Social Media Measurement

View more presentations from Kelsey Ruger.

Twilight Book Review

http://ruddhi-travelogue.blogspot.com/2010/06/twilight-book-review.html

Read the Twilight book review and share your thoughts.

Whats with Bangalore and Juice Joints ?

No where else in India have I seen so many juice shops, as many as I have seen in Bangalore. You have a juice junction, juice stop, or a juice bar in every street you go (and I might not even be exaggerating). I somehow can not comprehend the reason for this, could be the sudden upsurge of young people with disposable income, but I hear that the juice 'culture' , as I call it, has been there for long.

Bangalore is not a place with hot weather that you need juices to replenish your body fluids so often. And neither is Bangalore a place where we have fruit orchards, and neither is fruit cheap. If at all, fruits are costliest, if you compare with metros and other comparable cities (like Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ahmadabad) in India.

And neither is Bangalore a place for health freaks. Most denizens here are, in fact, obese people working in IT/ITES/BT/Govt sector and are mostly KFC/McD crunching junta. Don't believe me ? Just go at any McD and see yourself, you will find more crowd than in a juice shop.

So, whats the reason ?

I think it has more to do with the culture than anything else. People in Bangalore have been consuming juices more than at other places and the same continues. Well, this is my theory and I would believe so. When I came to Bangalore 5 years back, I was told Bangalore is famous for fresh fruits and juices.

Another theory could be the status of juice in the society now. Its a 'cult' . You see a juice shop and you are tempted to have a juice. Most juice shops display the fruits (or at least the posters) , some even hang them on the pavement to attract passers-by.And one is sure to be tempted. Add to this the pulling factor when the juice shop is crowded with people sipping juice/milk-shakes/ice-creams/custards etc. Money is no concern, as I believe, you will find millions of people with disposable incomes here in Bangalore. Also the juice does not normally cost much (6-7 rs for small glass, and 10-15 for a large).

I , in fact, remember falling to this cult culture some 5 years back, when I came here.There is a juice shop (not surprising) on the way to office, and every time I passed by, I was sure to have one glass for sure. Yes, I agree, I was tempted by the fruits hanging all over, and also I liked the taste. I was also lured into trying new fruits which I never tried before like 'butter-fruit', 'musk-melon' et al. Not that its bad to have juices, but for arguments sake, I fell into it and realized why the juice thing is a Big business here and having juice a cult.

Gmail Chat gets a new chat window

I like the audio and video chat buttons which come in handy. These were earlier very promiscuous.

The overall chat experience does not change much, as it is pretty much the same as earlier.

The look of the small window however changes because of these small images and now it looks like a cool widget.

Movie : Rajneeti

http://ruddhi-travelogue.blogspot.com/2010/06/rajneeti-movie-review.html

Watched this movie last weekend. Loved the first half but did not like the way it was getting stretched till the end. Prakash Jha could have done better. The star cast was awesome with stalwarts like Naseerudin Shah, Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar, Manoj Bajpei and new ones like Ranbir, Katrina and Arjun Rampal.

The story was good and could have been better had there been a little less killings.

Loved a few dialogues though, the ones by Bajpei -

"Karara Jawaab Milega"

"Rajneeti me murdo ko gada nahin karte, unko jinda rakhte hain taaki waqt aney pe wo  bole"

Read a nice review here

Fuel efficiency of four wheelers in India - complete list

Fuel efficiency of four wheelers in India - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/82655-fuel-efficiency-figures-4-wheelers-india.html

Courtesy SIAM (and Team-Bhp-ian who posted it)

The table is sorted by engine capacity (in cc)

Interesting to note that new wagonR gives 18.9 kmpl. Mine (old one 2007 model) does not even touch 12.5 in city with A/C :( .

Like the new gmail chat window

Gmail Chat gets a new chat window

I like the audio and video chat buttons which come in handy. These were earlier very promiscuous.

The overall chat experience does not change much, as it is pretty much the same as earlier.

The look of the small window however changes because of these small images and now it looks like a cool widget.

Rajneeti - the movie

http://ruddhi-travelogue.blogspot.com/2010/06/rajneeti-movie-review.html

Watched this movie last weekend. Loved the first half but did not like the way it was getting stretched till the end. Prakash Jha could have done better. The star cast was awesome with stalwarts like Naseerudin Shah, Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar, Manoj Bajpei and new ones like Ranbir, Katrina and Arjun Rampal.

The story was good and could have been better had there been a little less killings.

Loved a few dialogues though, the ones by Bajpei -

"Karara Jawaab Milega"

"Rajneeti me murdo ko gada nahin karte, unko jinda rakhte hain taaki waqt aney pe wo bole"
Read a nice review here

Fuel efficiency of four wheelers in India - complete list

Fuel efficiency of four wheelers in India - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/82655-fuel-efficiency-figures-4-wheelers-india.html

Courtesy SIAM (and Team-Bhp-ian who posted it)

The table is sorted by engine capacity (in cc)

Interesting to note that new wagonR gives 18.9 kmpl. Mine (old one 2007 model) does not even touch 12.5 in city with A/C :( .

Whats with Bangalore and Juice Joints ?

No where else in India have I seen so many juice shops, as many as I have seen in Bangalore. You have a juice junction, juice stop, or a juice bar in every street you go (and I might not even be exaggerating).  I somehow can not comprehend the reason for this, could be the sudden upsurge of young people with disposable income, but I hear that the juice 'culture' , as I call it, has been there for long.

Bangalore is not a place with hot weather that you need juices to replenish your body fluids so often. And neither is Bangalore a place where we have fruit orchards, and neither is fruit cheap. If at all, fruits are costliest, if you compare with metros and other comparable cities (like Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ahmadabad) in India.

And neither is Bangalore a place for health freaks. Most denizens here are, in fact, obese people working in IT/ITES/BT/Govt sector and are mostly KFC/McD crunching junta. Don't believe me ? Just go at any McD and see yourself, you will find more crowd than in a juice shop.

So, whats the reason ?

I think it has more to do with the culture than anything else. People in Bangalore have been consuming juices more than at other places and the same continues. Well, this is my theory and I would believe so. When I came to Bangalore 5 years back, I was told Bangalore is famous for fresh fruits and juices.

Another theory could be the status of juice in the society now. Its a 'cult' . You see a juice shop and you are tempted to have a juice. Most juice shops display the fruits (or at least the posters) , some even hang them on the pavement to attract passers-by.And one is sure to be tempted. Add to this the pulling factor when the juice shop is crowded with people sipping juice/milk-shakes/ice-creams/custards etc. Money is no concern, as I believe, you will find millions of people with disposable incomes here in Bangalore. Also the juice does not normally cost much  (6-7 rs for small glass, and 10-15 for a large).

I , in fact, remember falling to this cult culture some 5 years back, when I came here.There is a juice shop (not surprising) on the way to office, and every time I passed by, I was sure to have one glass for sure. Yes, I agree, I was tempted by the fruits hanging all over, and also I liked the taste. I was also lured into trying new fruits which I never tried before like 'butter-fruit', 'musk-melon' et al. Not that its bad to have juices, but for arguments sake, I fell into it and realized why the juice thing is a Big business here and having juice a cult.