Immigration

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UK Opens Arms to the Wealthy

January 19, 2011 in Expat Locations, Immigration, Living in Britain by Paul Allen | No comments

As ever, money talks. The UK government may be trying to curb overall levels of immigration into the country, but for those with the cash the doors are opening wider.

At the tail end of 2010 the government’s Home Secretary announced new limits on various components of its points-based immigration system, making it harder for non-EU citizens to enter the country. The changes will take effect from April 2011.

However, it also emerged the Tier 1 Investor and Entrepreneur categories would be made more attractive to applicants. In addition, a new Tier 1 category, Persons of Exceptional Talent, will be introduced for internationally recognised people.  

No details of the changes to the Investor category were released at the time of the announcement. However, it appears one aspect will be to reduce the time it takes for a qualifying person to be granted residency.

Investor criteria

The Investors category is designed for those who intend to make a substantial investment in the UK[1]. To be eligible, applicants need:

a)      A minimum of £1 million of your own money in a regulated financial institution that you can dispose of in the United Kingdom, or

b)      Personal assets of more than £2 million, and a £1 million loan from a financial institution regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Successful applicants receive a three year visa initially, which can be extended for a further two years. Partners and dependent children are also covered by the visa, and are free to work/attend school. After five years visa holders can then apply for permanent residency.

Residency fast-track

Under the upcoming changes, though, it appears there will be a new fast track to residency for the wealthiest. The qualifying periods look like being:

  • 5 years for those investing £1m-£5m
  • 3 years when investing £5m-£10m
  • 2 years when the investment is £10+m

 

When you’re rich, the world really is your oyster.

[1] See the UK Border Agency website for more details, http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/investor/

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Immigrating to America: What You Need to Know

October 20, 2010 in Expat Locations, Immigration, Moving Abroad Tips, Working Abroad by Paul Allen | No comments

The United States is one of the most popular countries in the world for businesses and families to immigrate to. With a diverse array of cultures and companies throughout the large nation, the opportunities for immigrants are virtually endless.

However, because of the strict requirements for people immigrating to the U.S., it is important to know the processes to ensure you get the right visas and documentation for a visit or smooth transition to life as an American citizen or permanent resident.

There are several ways to immigrate to the U.S. depending on the needs of your business, family, or yourself. You can choose from a work or student US visa for a temporary stay, apply for a green card if you have a spouse or relatives who are U.S. citizens, or apply for citizenship if you plan to make a permanent move to the U.S.

A green card affords permanent U.S. residency. People who hold a green card are permanently approved to work within the U.S. despite not having citizenship.

After a certain number of years people with a green card may apply for citizenship if they choose. However, it is not required – something especially important for people to know when there is any possibility of moving back to their home country.

Naturalization, or the process of obtaining American citizenship, is another option, although it applies to those who plan to make their move to the U.S. permanent. After five years of residence in the U.S., green card holders can apply for citizenship. The test required for nationalization measures knowledge of U.S. civics, as well as English language proficiency.

Overall, U.S. immigration laws change rather frequently, so it is vital to know the current regulations in advance, whether you choose to get a USA visa for work, a student visa, or you want to apply for citizenship.

This article was provided by Global Visas, the leading immigration experts for private and corporate clients locally and worldwide. 

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Immigration and the UK’s Population Growth

June 9, 2010 in Immigration by Paul Allen | 3 comments

The UK is projected to add another 9 million people to its population by 2030, bringing the total to 70 million. And that, says a new report by think tank Forum for the Future[1], will put enormous pressure on the country’s long-term living standards.

The report makes seven recommendations on how to tackle the challenges. They include:

  • Planning for the growth to ensure adequate public services, infrastructure, jobs and training exist.
  • Trying to change attitudes to consumption.
  • Improving family planning to reduce the birth rate.
  • Having an objective discussion on immigration, to discuss its benefits and discover ways to reduce the economic, social and environmental drivers that incite people to migrate.

 

As the think tank points out, population and immigration issues are hot political potatoes. Nevertheless, immigration has returned to the mainstream political agenda for the first time in years, as was evidenced during the recent UK election.

Indeed, the Government has just announced a new measure (the first in a series) to tighten immigration policy, in the form of an English language test for spouses and unmarried couples. This will require all non-European migrants to demonstrate a decent grasp of English before they can receive a visa.

According to Theresa May, the government’s Home Secretary: “The new English requirement for spouses will help promote integration, remove cultural barriers and protect public services.”

For expatriates of all stripes, local language knowledge is certainly a huge part of the integration equation. Without it, you are condemned to remain on the sidelines of society, restricted in your ability to make friends and deal with everything from local shopkeepers to the gas company.

The UK government’s initiative therefore sounds fair enough. I wonder how we would feel though if other countries – say Mexico or the United Arab Emirates – put onerous language restrictions in place on expatriates from English-speaking countries like the United States, Britain and Australia?

[1] Growing Pains: Population and Sustainability in the UK, Forum for the Future, http://www.forumforthefuture.org/files/population_web.pdf

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Migration and the UK Coalition

May 14, 2010 in Living in Britain by Paul Allen | No comments

 

It’s not quite the West Wing, but the UK election and subsequent coalition negotiations have turned into a fascinating drama (mind you, I’m a politics graduate, so perhaps I’m biased, and a little sad).

There has even been a bit of humour. At their first joint press conference, Prime Minister David Cameron and his Liberal Democrat deputy Nick Clegg stood side-by-side in the garden at 10 Downing Street to set out their coalition stall. It was followed by a question from a journalist: “Prime minister, do you now regret when once asked what your favourite joke was, you replied ‘Nick Clegg’?” he asked.

Cameron looked suitably embarrassed, but Clegg took it in good heart. Indeed, it even revealed the relaxed camaraderie that seems to be burgeoning between the two leaders. Is this politics growing up at last? A recognition that people from different parties can work together in that stock phrase of the last few days, the National Interest?

There is certainly a lot to do, as the new government’s agenda shows. And from an expat perspective, it reveals some important choices and changes.

A notable one is immigration. It was a big area of difference during the election campaign. But the Conservatives’ proposals have now won out. As a result, the government will introduce an annual cap on the number of economic migrants from outside the European Union that are allowed into the country.

As for what happens to tax levels and spending on core services such as education we will have to wait for the upcoming Budget, which will offer the first detailed breakdown of the government’s programme.

The question then will be can this historic coalition succeed in making the UK a better place to live, both for people thinking of moving to the country and those already there? I can only hope so.

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Britain’s Immigration/Emigration Debate

May 23, 2008 in Leaving Britain by Paul Allen | No comments

Research this week from the House of Commons Library suggests England’s population will have shot up by 17 million people by 2056, taking the total for England alone to 67.9 million. The cause: more births, people living longer, and large immigration flows.

 

Indeed, the latter point appears to be gaining increasing significance, according to the National Statistician, Karen Dunnell. Her research, reports the Daily Mail, reveals that from 1992-96 (when the Conservatives were in government) ‘natural change’ as a result of people living longer or having more children was the biggest contributor to UK population growth. This accounted for an additional 582,604 people, compared to 143,112 from net migration and other factors.

 

However, under Labour, points out the Mail, net migration has taken over as the primary factor behind population growth. From 1997-2001, migrants and other factors added 532,652 people to the total, whereas 416,471 came from natural change. And from 2002 to 2006 net migration climbed to 932,999 people, almost double the 528,429 increase that stemmed from natural change.

 

On the flip side, the most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 207,000 British citizens emigrated in 2006, the highest number since current records began in 1991. And from 1997-2007, a total of more than 1.5 million Brits moved abroad. The figure was jumped on by Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green, who claimed the exodus was a reflection of a decade of life under Labour.

 

Certainly there is a connection in many people’s minds between the two flows (particularly if you browse through the Daily Mail and Telegraph reader message boards). Immigration is making our densely populated little island even more overcrowded, putting more pressure on our already stretched housing stock, and on our health, education and transport systems. As a result, disgruntled Britons are fleeing in their droves in search of a better quality of life elsewhere.

 

This seems an illogical argument to me. You’re fed up with people moving into your country, so you’re going to move to someone else’s instead! And how do you suppose the local population in Spain or Australia or Canada feels about it? Would you blame them if they reacted with hostility to your incursion?

 

I too jumped ship and left England five years ago, so I can understand the motivations involved in migrating somewhere in search of a better life, wherever that may be. And I can only say I hope any legal immigrant to Britain is welcomed as warmly as I have been by the people here. After all, what’s sauce for the goose …

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