Three MPs forgetting their party differences have come forward to be a part of the immigration policy solution in association with More United, finding a way of shaping this legislation together in a way that is right for the country. This includes Labour party MP Tulip Siddiq, Conservative MP Nicky Morgan and Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine. On the other hand, a research has suggested that the use of visa restrictions to control global migration is “counterproductive and ineffective”, that pushes people who want to stay within the law towards illegal channels.
This comes after a shocking number of writers who were 'harassed' regarding their visa application to a fully-paid visit to the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has come forward on Tuesday, as we went to press, saying that Theresa May's target to lower net migration to the tens of thousands “could be dropped”. The Independant reported that he also indicated that while the target is in place “at the moment”, the government needed to have a closer “look” at how it shaped its immigration policy in the future.
The International Trade Secretary has previously made clear about his concerns about the inclusion of students in the net migration target. But Home Secretary Sajid Javid refused to endorse the lowering of immigration target in an interview. Net migration rose to 282,000 in 2017, up from 249,000 in 2016 while net migration from the EU fell to 101,000 in 2017, down from 133,000 in 2016 to its lowest level since 2012.
The study by academics from University College London (UCL), University of Birmingham and Royal Holloway, University of London, found that increased visa restrictions on migrants creates a greater need for enforcement. Researchers suggested governments should consider the wider impacts of controls, and take into account the aspirations of the individual in order to stem illegal immigration.
The government has indicated it will bring forward draft proposals for the UK's immigration system at the end of this year. An Immigration Bill would likely follow in early 2019. The survey by More United, a platform creating new model of politics that is open to public, is asking public to make their opinions heard. (You can take the survey at https://forms.123formbuilder.io/form-4072922/Immigration-Stage-1-Shre).
The three MPs in a joint statement said, “Whilst there are lots of ideas we will disagree on, we all agree that a new immigration policy for Britain should not be xenophobic, should support our economy, and should support our local communities when they experience unusual migrayion flows. And we are open-minded about how best we can do this.
“By working with More United, these MPs want to reach beyond the usual suspects- think tanks, research centres and politicians- to create the largest possible pool of people like us who want to work together to tackle the big challenges of the day.
“With your help, we hope that we can build support across Parliament to build confidence in the immigration system and to help heal divisions.”
In the year to March 2017, the UK Home Office received 2.98m visa applications; 400,000 were refused and of the 2.55m granted – 299,000 were for study, 47,000 for family or dependants, 164,000 related to work and 1.96m were visitors.
According to a Guradian report, study co-author, Dr Cassilde Schwartz of the University of London said, “It’s extremely difficult to measure unauthorised migration … as it is often clandestine and unobservable.
“Using experimental survey techniques, we found that fewer than 20% of aspiring migrants are willing to consider illegal channels. Of course, when visa policies become too restrictive, they are left with few options.”
Highly-skilled immigration saga continues
The highly-skilled migrants have held five protests outside the Parliament already, against Home Office and its 'unjust' policies. They have been joined MPs and Peers across community. The Financial Times reported last month that a government move that allowed companies to bring more skilled foreign workers into the country has already been overtaken by demand just a month after it was introduced.
Two solicitors’ firms said they had seen applicants for so-called “Tier 2” visas from non-European Economic Area migrants rejected in July, even though for the first time doctors and nurses, who previously accounted for around 40 per cent of applications, were excluded from the process.
At least 1,000 highly skilled migrants seeking indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK are wrongly facing deportation under a section of the Immigration Act designed in part to tackle terrorists and individuals judged to be a threat to national security, MPs and experts have said. While the new Home Secretary has stalled some decisions, many appealing are left in the lurch.
You have a story to share about how your ILR was rejected on minimum tax discripancy or a relative has been refused visa on invalid grounds? Write to us with your story at [email protected].
