Immigrating to UK

The laws just got tougher to get Immigrating to UK

New rules are being introduced for immigration to the United Kingdom and it could now take up to 10 years of residence in that country to obtain a citizenship.

Until now, immigrants could apply for a British passport after five years of residence in that country and after passing a citizenship test.

Immigrants will need to earn points to earn a British passport and these will be based on their skills, jobs, qualifications, their language ability as well as behaviour.

The UK government says that 'bad behaviour', or any 'un-British' activity - like for example protesting against British troops - will result in deduction of points.

British citizenship

If you are planning to apply for British citizenship, things may become a little more difficult now. The British government plans to introduce a point-based system by which migrants would have to earn their citizenship.

The new system has been proposed by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne.

Under the new proposal, credits or points would be awarded for contributions made by the immigrant to the British society.

This could be the amount of money they bring with them, their employment record and any voluntary work done for the community.

Points could be deducted from an applicant if he or she is convicted for an offence.

Indians make up one of the largest immigrant communities in UK. Nearly 30,000 Indian workers have been left in the lurch, after the British government decided to amend the rules for the Highly Skilled Migrant Visa Programme (HSMP). And the latest proposal means further bad news.

Britain’s Immigration Minister Liam Byrne in March had promised the HSMP Forum, the Indian-led organisation representing HSMP visa-holders, to "review and reflect on" the changes in the new HSMP visa rules.

The HSMP forum claims that up to 40,000 migrants from India who entered under the previous programme could be forced out of the country because they have to reapply for their visas after one year. Employment success is crucial to gaining an extension.

In a significant indication Britain is keen to re-assess the economic argument for large-scale immigration; Byrne said this could no longer justify the current record number of arrivals to Britain.

Byrne's comments are seen to be the first time a senior minister in the 10-year-old Labour administration has admitted Britain's open-door immigration policy may have gone too far.

Last month, Byrne publicly admitted high levels of immigration had "deeply unsettled" Britain, but now, he has gone even further by describing it as "shocks to the system".

A few years ago, former home secretary David Blunkett had said there was "no obvious upper limit" to the numbers that could come legally to Britain to settle. Britain subsequently introduced the Highly-Skilled Migrants Programme (HSMP), under which an estimated 30,000 Indians arrived here to work and eventually to settle.

But last December, Britain was accused by Indian HSMP visa-holders of moving the goal posts and suddenly changing immigration rules to "disenfranchise" in a "racist, Idi Amin-style" policy.

WHAT IS EARNED CITIZENSHIP

• Britain to introduce new 'Australian-style points system' next year.
• Those aspiring to settle and then go on to become full British citizens would need to accrue credits.
• Passing a basic English test will not do, migrants will need to learn more and faster
• Migrants will have to 'earn' British citizenship under a points-based system.
• Credit would be given to migrants doing voluntary work. Credit would be lost for breaking the law.
• Even offences like dangerous driving, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping will mean losing points.
• Britain will also observe a national day to celebrate British values and achievements.