And now UK courts term Tier-1 cap as unlawful

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12022613

The temporary cap on Tier-1 applications from outside EU (for highly skilled immigrants) enforced by UK Deptt of Home Affairs in July 2010 has been deemed unlawful by the courts.

This had made, the already chaotic immigration system, more chaotic. As the report suggests, some of the policies are being put into place just for the sake of doing something.

I hope the Tier-1 - PSW visa does not get scrapped.

And now its 'Tier-1 PSW' that might go !

UK Immigration Ministry, as a major drive to keep limits on immigration has now decided to close the Tier-1 PSW as well. Reason for the same is that more students using this criteria are doing lower-than-degree level courses and are not so-highly-skilled as they should be.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2010/dec/16student-visa-system

Now, its upto the schools to sit down and decide whether its the right decision.

Scrapping the PSW will mean disaster to me, and to the other students from outside EU who want to work in the UK post MBA. I hope, (against any hope), that the PSW gets changed to allow post-graduates to work, which will include us :)

In extreme cases, will have to go back to India, which might not be that bad. I believe whatever happens happens for good. Will keep my fiingers crossed though..

Tier 1 to be abolished ?

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2010/nov/78-first-annual-limit

http://www.1stcontactenews.co.uk/featured-news/goodbye-tier-1/
According to the latest new available from ukba , UK is now limiting the number of Tier-1 visas to 1000 from April 2011. The number of people under  Tier 2 (General) visa will be capped at 20,700,and they will be able to stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years ( provided their yearly salary is atleast 40K GBP)

This seems like moving to a visa/immigration system like one in the US.

The number of visa applications is going to rise in the next few month for sure.

Applied for VISA

After a long wait, my educational loan got approved. What a relief !

The next logical step is to apply for the VISA, and so did I.  Luckily I got an appointment for 26th, as requested, and submitted on the same day.

Hope I get it without any re-application.

Updated on 31st July- Got my Visa approved ! Wow.

Interim CAP on Tier-1 and Tier-2 Visas for UK implemented

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsfragments/27-intro-limit-for-t1-pbs

Few highlights:

1. A total of 5400 Tier-1 visas will be issued, equally divided into monthly installments, from July 2010 till April 2011. The limit will be a little low in July (318 to be precise), but will be 635 for remaining months from Aug till March 2011.

2. Quoted from UKBA site - "The UK Border Agency will operate the system on a first come first served basis with a limit placed on the number of Tier 1 General Visa applications considered in any one month. If an application is submitted after the limit for a month is reached, the application will be held and considered in the following months limit. Applications will continue to be accepted during the period in which the limit has been reached; however the UKBA will not process the application until the next month. Applications will be held in a queue by order of the date on which they were received. Applications in the queue will be processed when the following month's limit is opened. If application numbers look as though they will exceed the total limit for the whole of the interim period, the UKBA will notify the individual at the time of application. Details of waiting time will be announced on the UK Border Agency Website."

3. Those already in UK in another immigration category will not be included in this limit. (Good news !) . So those who want to switch to PSW, or from Tier-2 will be exempt from this limit. Reason being, the rationale behind all this is to limit immigration, and since these people have already migrated, no point in limiting them.

4. However, the points needed for Tier-1 will go up from 95 (75 for age/income/uk exp/education+ 10 for english language + 10 for maintenance) to 100 now !!! Might be a little difficult who just managed to get only 95. This applies for all Tier-1 applicants, even those who are switching from Tier-2 or Tier-4 (to PSW)

5. UKBA expects that the overall applications and visa issued should be on the same levels as last year, as during the same period around 5000 visas were issues. However, the number might go down because of increase in required points.

6. It is estimated that, if assuming applications fall in line with the fall in Tier 1 and 2 grants, UKBA fee income would drop by £920,000. The range here is £510,000 per annum in the lower scenario and £1,320,000 per annum in the upper scenario;

Read more on Tier-1 visa

See how points are awarded in Tier-1

Read more on Tier-1 Guidance

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

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

The Big Question : Tier-1 or Tier-4

Tier-1 (G) - Erstwhile HSMP visa. This is the most popular and sought after visa which is needed for working in the UK. Most employers do prefer this visa over others like Tier-2 etc.

Tier-4 (Students) - Students visa for studying in the UK. One gets a Tier-1(PSW) to work post study.

I am eligible for Tier-1(G) visa now (based on points calculator). But a Tier-1(G) visa is meant for employment purpose only. Likewise a Tier-4 visa is only for study purposes. So while technically I might be able to stay and study on Tier-1, its not 'appropriate', and if UK home office finds any such irregularities, I might be in trouble. Before making any decision, I would like to get a clarification (written permission will be best) from the UK Immigration Home Office, details of which can find here - UK Border Agency | Home Page . Even if its allowed, I find the following cons of studying on Tier-1.

• Note that one needs to pay the council tax (which is waived for students) when you stay in the UK on tier-1. So this will be another overhead.

• Tier-1 is valid for initial 2 years only and can be extended for further 3 years, given that you show enough earnings in the last one year. So consider the case where you are studying on Tier-1, where you wont be earning for the first year, and then if it takes another 3-4 months to find job, you will just be left with 8-9 months to show earnings for, and which might not be enough (of course if you get a FAT salary, 6 months might be more than enough) to accumulate those earnings to get the needed points. (25K GBP for 5 points, and atleast 30K GBP for 15 points)

While if I go with Tier-4 (students) and then convert to Tier-1 (PSW) later on, which can be done within a month of completing studies, I would be well off. I heard that some employers do prefer Tier-1(G) visa holders, but Tier-1-PSW should be good as well. Again hoping that the economy recovers a little and jobs start appearing.

Refer to my previous post on Tier-1 related information.

http://followingmydream.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/welcome-changes-in-tier-1-immigrant-visa-for-uk-from-april-2010/

Welcome changes in Tier-1 Immigrant Visa for UK – From April 2010

A good news for all those who want to apply for the Tier-1 Visa for working in the UK.

Here are the changes done (I am listing the major ones):

1. Now you can score points for Bachelors Degree as well. In the previous changes to rules for Tier-1 in 2009, the points were awarded only for Masters and PhD.  Now you can easily get 30 points for having a bachelors degree.

2. New point system for previous earnings. You do not get any points for earnings under 25000 GBP. See statement of policy below to see the full table.

3. New point system for age. You get 20 points for agent 29 or under, 10 points for age 30-34, 5 points for 35-39 and no points for 40 or above.

4. Earnings multiplier (currently 5.3 for India) is going to change. Actual change has not been announced yet.

All these rules apply for applications submitted after April 6' 2010.

References:

• See how points are awarded in Tier-1

• Read more on Tier-1 Guidance

• More about Tier-1 and UK Visa

• Forum for discussing Immigration related problems/issues/questions

• Case worker guidance manual - Complete guidance for all documents and all prerequisites. - http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/ecis/hsmpcaseworkerguidance/

[updated on April 6th 2010]

- Immigrants working on Tier-2 visa (intra company) will not be eligible for permanent settlement as per new laws now. Read more here

UK stops student visas from a few centers following huge volumes

Read this article on ibnlive.

Following huge volumes of applications from certain centers in northern India, UK has , for now, stopped accepting any further applications for Tier 4 visa.

This is a cause of concern. This should not be a cause of concern for genuine students but defintely this makes things difficult going forward. Like stricter regulations etc.

This could be another roadblock for those hoping to go to the UK for further studies like me.

I hope this is just a one-off case and does not effect the general visa application process.

May the visa-god be with me. But before that I need to secure an admission. Well ! thats another story.