Strengthening the rules for citizenship

15 January 2009

The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill changes the rules for aspiring citizens, requiring hard work and rewarding volunteerism.

The bill makes the process of attaining British citizenship more thorough.

It would require all immigrants who wish to gain British citizenship to learn to speak English, and to obey the law. But it would also speed up the citizenship process for those who contribute to the community through hard work and volunteerism.

New system, new rules

Under the rules of the new bill, anyone wishing to apply for citizenship would have to live in the UK for five years, then spend an additional year proving they deserve citizenship.

They could prove this by demonstrating they've been:

• working legally and supporting themselves
• paying taxes
• giving back to the community through volunteer work
• learning to speak English

Breaking the law, even with minor crimes, would lengthen the application process. Anyone sent to prison for a serious crime could face deportation.

Under the new system, only citizens and permanent residents would have full access to benefits, including social housing.

Proving their commitment

Home Office Minister Phil Woolas said those applying for citizenship should 'speak English, work hard, and earn the right to stay here - and only get British citizenship once they have proved their commitment to the country.'

He added, ''Migration only works if it brings benefits, and these measures will ensure that only those migrants who make a positive impact on their local community will be able to stay in the UK.'

The bill would also strengthen the country's security by giving UK Border Agency frontline staff combined customs and immigration powers - making it easier for them to crack down on illegal immigration and smuggling.

The bill will also enable routine border controls on air and sea routes between the Republic of Ireland and the UK. However, there are no plans to introduce fixed controls on the land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

More changes

In addition, the bill would:

• require the UK Border Agency to safeguard the welfare of children in its work
• give automatic British nationality to a child born in the UK where at least one parent is a foreign or commonwealth member of the British armed forces
• remedy the situation whereby a father of a child born abroad before 1961 can pass on his British nationality while a mother cannot

Do I need a visa?

If you are coming to the United Kingdom as a general visitor you are allowed to stay for up to six months. This section explains the different types of general visitor and what you are allowed to do as a general visitor to the United Kingdom. If you intend staying for longer than six months you need to look at the residency or working in the UK sections of this website.

For information about the requirements you must meet to be allowed to enter, or pass through (transit), the United Kingdom and what you can expect when you arrive at our border, see Travelling to the UK.

New rules for business and special visitors have been published today and will be introduced from 27 November 2008.

If you are coming to the United Kingdom as a general visitor, including as a business visitor before 27 November 2008, please see information within the visiting the United Kingdom section.

This section explains:

• how you can come to the United Kingdom as a general visitor;
• how you can come to the United Kingdom as a business and special visitor.
• whether you can come to the United Kingdom for medical treatment;
• how to sponsor a visitor;
• what the group travel scheme is;
• how to change your conditions of stay; and
• what rights and responsibilities you have when visiting the United Kingdom.

How changes to UK immigration system affect your application to work here

How changes to our immigration system affect your application to work here

This page explains what tier and category of the points-based system you should apply under to come to work in the United Kingdom. It tells you all the categories that have closed and which category of the points-based system you may be able to apply to instead. Some categories are still under review or will not be replaced by the points-based system. You can find information in the other categories section.

On this page

* Highly skilled workers, investors, entrepreneurs or post-study workers (Tier 1)
* Sponsored skilled workers with a job offer (Tier 2)
* Sponsored temporary workers (Tier 5 Temporary workers)
* Arrangements for young people (Tier 5 Youth mobility)
* European Economic Area and Swiss nationals
* Other categories

Highly skilled workers, investors, entrepreneurs or post-study workers (Tier 1)


Category of worker Former category for applying to work in the United Kingdom Appropriate new category of the points-based system When can I apply
to the new category?
Highly skilled workers Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) Highly skilled worker (Tier 1 General) 30 June 2008
Self-employed lawyers Highly skilled worker (Tier 1 General) 30 June 2008
Writers, composers and artists Highly skilled worker (Tier 1 General) 30 June 2008
Investors Investors Tier 1 Investor 30 June 2008
Entrepreneurs Business persons Tier 1 Entrepreneur 30 June 2008
Innovators Tier 1 Entrepreneur 30 June 2008
Post-study workers (graduates of United Kingdom universities) Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme Tier 1 Post-study work 30 June 2008
International Graduates Scheme Tier 1 Post-study work 30 June 2008


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Sponsored skilled workers with a job offer (Tier 2)


Category of worker Former category for applying to work in the United Kingdom Appropriate new category
of the points-based system When can I apply to
the new category?

Sponsored skilled worker


Most work permits including entertainers

but not:

* training and work experience schemes (see temporary workers below);
* General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS - see temporary workers below).

Skilled worker (Tier 2 General) 27 November 2008
Overseas qualified nurses and midwives (with a job offer) Skilled worker (Tier 2 General) 27 November 2008
Representatives of overseas media organisations Skilled worker (Tier 2 General) 27 November 2008
airline ground crew Skilled worker (Tier 2 General) 27 November 2008
some seafarers including those working on vessels on one-port voyages Skilled worker (Tier 2 General) 27 November 2008
Ministers of religion Ministers of religion, missionaries, members of religious orders, religious workers in non-pastoral roles, visiting religious workers (if you are coming to the United Kingdom for more than two years)

Sponsored worker (Tier 2 Ministers
of religion) - for pastoral role
that includes preaching to a congregation
27 November 2008
Sports people Work permits - elite sports people or coaches at the highest level, but for some sportspeople for 12 months or less (see temporary workers below) Sponsored worker (Tier 2 Sports people) 27 November 2008


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Sponsored temporary workers (Tier 5 Temporary workers)


Category of worker Former category for applying to work in the United Kingdom Appropriate new category of the points-based system When can I apply to the new category?

Temporary workers


Work permits - sports people or entertainers for some jobs of less than 12 months

but not:

* athletes for the Olympics; or
* those who now come permit-free (see other categories below)

Creative and sporting workers (Tier 5 Temporary worker) 27 November 2008
Training and work experience scheme Government authorised exchange workers (Tier 5 Temporary worker) - but only if you have a sponsoring United Kingdom government department 27 November 2008
China graduate work experience scheme Government authorised exchange workers (Tier 5 Temporary worker) - sponsored by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Overseas government employees International agreement workers (Tier 5 Temporary worker) 27 November 2008
General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) International agreement workers (Tier 5 Temporary worker) 27 November 2008




Private servants in diplomatic households

but not: domestic workers in private households (see other categories below)
International agreement workers (Tier 5 Temporary worker) 27 November 2008
Ministers of religion, missionaries, members of religious orders, religious workers in non-pastoral roles, visiting religious workers (if you are coming to the United Kingdom for two years or less Religious workers (Tier 5 Temporary worker) 27 November 2008
Voluntary workers Charity workers (Tier 5 Temporary worker) 27 November 2008


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Arrangements for young people (Tier 5 Youth mobility)
Category of worker Former category for applying to work in the United Kingdom Appropriate new category of the points-based system When can I apply to the new category?
Youth mobility scheme Working holidaymaker scheme Youth mobility scheme (Tier 5) - but only if your country participates in it 27 November 2008
Au pairs Youth mobility scheme (Tier 5) - but only if your country participates in it 27 November 2008
Gap year Youth mobility scheme (Tier 5) - but only if your country participates in it 27 November 2008
Japan: youth exchange scheme Youth mobility scheme (Tier 5) - if Japan participates in it 27 November 2008

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European Economic Area and Swiss nationals

European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals do not need to apply under the points-based systems. You can find more information in the section on European citizens.

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Other categories

The following categories are still open but are under review:

* sole representatives of overseas firms - may change in the future;
* domestic workers (private household) - may change in the future;
* film crew on location - will come into new visitor category in due course;
* some sports people coming for a specific event - now come into a new visitor category;
* some entertainers coming to perform at a specific event - now come into a new visitor category;
* overseas qualified doctors taking the professional and linguistic assessments board (PLAB) test - will come into new visitor category in due course; and
* clinical attachments and dental observer posts - will come into new visitor category in due course.

ALL OUR INITIAL ADVICE IS FREE.

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU AND IS THEREFORE TO THE POINT. ALL OUR INITIAL ADVICE IS FREE.
What we do: UK Immigration, trainee / work experience work permits and all applications for extensions up to Indefinite Leave to Remain (UK Residency) for full work permit holders on completion of 47 months of their 48 months UK work permit approval.

Fast Track UK Visa Service: For all categories detailed on our Special Visa Services page provide a 24/48 hour special fast track to ensure you are not without your passports more than 24/48 hours, that you will know a successful decision has been made in the shortest time possible. The sooner your residency application approved, the sooner you could naturalise as a British Citizen and apply for a British passport.

What we do not do: We do not give general immigration advice/consultations. We are not immigration advisors or practitioners. We do not give any advice on candidates private lives and relationships, we only provide a professional service for all the following:


BUSINESS CATEGORIES
Index of our UK Work Permit / Professional UK Visa Services

Fast Track UK Visa Service: Provide secure, low cost, 24/48-hour processing of all 34 permitted categories listed and detailed on our Special Visa Services page. Provide application and support information/documentation checklist free and without obligation.

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Small Business Applicants: We advise on the exact criteria for this category of potential business establishment by a foreign national in the UK. The Minimum amount of finance required and all the conditions attached to this status. As with all our services we aim to minimize delays, assist with every essential documentary requirement expediently not only to ensure initial success but also place the candidate in the best position for a later unproblematic UK Work Permit extension.

Persons of Independent Means/Investors: We provide a professional immigration service in this category both for strategic placement of proposed UK capital investment through our regulated financial associates and advise on all matters affecting both the investor and his or her family entitlement in the United Kingdom.

Naturalisation: Advise and represent overseas nationals with application(s) to naturalise as British citizens. Advise on essential supporting information/documentation to minimise any travel limitations and ensure success in the shortest time possible.

Highly Skilled Migrant UK Work Permit Immigration Programme: Advise candidates on their exact eligibility for this self-application process. Target relevant information/documentation essential for expedient, successful approval.


IMPORTANT

In every category of UK Work Permits, Work Permit extension and applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain (UK Residency) plus all other categories we will advise free of charge: candidate/employer eligibility and confirm - can it be done, how long it may take, and provide a no win no fee affordable fixed cost for a professional service.

SUMMARY INFORMATION

Work Permits Criteria: Candidate's for UK Work Permits should be University graduates in an area relevant to the proposed area of UK employment. Most candidates should also be able to documentarily confirm their past/current employment skills in either a responsible senior, or technically complex position.

Candidate's who do not strictly meet these criteria may still be considered for a UK Work Permit but conditions may apply to potential UK employer to support their candidate's application.

Training & Work Experience: UK Work Permits can be issued for up to a maximum of 24 months within this category. They are not extendible. Candidates issued a one or two-year trainee/work experience work permit are expected at the end of their term to then pursue their careers abroad and may be eligible for later full time UK employment.

Student Free Time Employment: If you have valid student leave to remain and are not a visitor/tourist student you do not need free-time employment approval. It must be stressed that students are those who are attending a day time course for not less than 15 hours a week and have in excess of 6 months leave to remain for this purpose endorsed in their passports.
Go to www.student-visa-extensions.com for more information.

IMB Group continues to professionally represent many major local and international businesses in banking and finance, commercial insurance, electronics, export-import, manufacturing, IT technologies, aviation, pharmaceuticals, the automobile industry, property, travel, construction, recruitment and the public and private health sectors. IMB Group's opening page confirmed all our information would be to the point. From any information you submit we shall confirm as quickly as possible your potential work permit category, how long any procedure may take and provide an affordable fixed cost. We will answer all your initial enquiries free of charge.