The new UK government rolled out the first of its changes aimed at limiting the amount of non-EU workers travelling to the UK for work and . A temporary cap limiting the number of non-EU workers coming into the UK, will come into effect between now and April 2011. The mechanisms

designed by the new UK government and implemented by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to limit this category of migrants are separated into two of the points based sections, these being Tier 1 and Tier 2 (General) visas.

Tier 1 Visas will be limited in the following ways

• An increase in the points you need to score from 95 to 100.
• A quota that restricts the number of Tier 1 visas that can be issued between now and April 2011, 5400.

These two measures have been introduced as of 19th July 2010. The quota of 5400 Tier 1 visas that can be issued between now and April 2011 equates to roughly 635 Tier 1 visas available to be issued each month by all British High Commissions (BHC) around the world.

In the 08-09 UK financial year an average of 204 Australians and 92 New Zealanders applied for entry clearance per month through the BHC in their home countries. Comparatively in the same period of time there was an average of 972 applications received each month through the BHC in India. Globally there were a total of 34,460 applications received in the year, an average of 2871 per month.

Simple arithmetic shows that should there be the same level of demand for this visa from around the world the possibility for many people to miss out on the opportunity to live and work in the UK on the T1 visa is very real.

So, what does this mean for Australian’s and New Zealanders wishing to relocate to the UK?

According to 1st Contact’s registered migration agent Melanie Pitt, those wishing to relocate to the UK for career motives on the Tier 1 visa should act sooner rather than later to avoid disappointments further down the line.

“Given the monthly quota system and the way in which valid applications not issued in one month, because of limits being reached, are then held over until the start of the following month a major backlog could develop. It is entirely possible that closer to January of next year we could find ourselves in a position whereby at the start of each month all allowable Tier 1 allocations are exhausted immediately due to those valid applications waiting in the queue for the monthly quota to open.”

If your application for further leave to remain was recently refused or if you have been refused on grounds of maintenance only, a recent court ruling could make it possible for the decision in your case to be overturned!

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Moving to a new country can either make a marriage stronger or make it take a turn for the worse. 1st Contact hears from expert, Nicola Baume, and www.simpledivorceadvice.com. Continue Reading

Prior to the election, David Cameron took a tough line on immigration, vowing to bring annual net migration figures down from about 170,000 a year to just “tens of thousands”. At the time, the Liberal Democrats attacked proposals to cap immigration, but have since agreed to back the policy as part of the Government’s coalition deal.

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We receive a huge number of calls every day from people considering taking the plunge and living and working in the UK. And more often than not, the first couple of questions asked are pretty much the same. So we thought we’d equip you with heaps of info, even before you speak to a 1st Contact Visa Consultant!

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Prior to the UK election results, the Conservatives leader, David Cameron, and Liberal Democrats leader, Nick Clegg, clashed over their intended Immigration policies. Continue Reading

If you’re seriously considering moving to Australia, look at the list below to see if you have what it takes to have a lucrative career and enjoy a fruitful and fulfilling life in this country. Continue Reading

6 April saw the implementation of all the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) recommendations relating to the UK Tier 1 (General) highly skilled migrant category visa. Continue Reading

“Earning requirements have been raised quite significantly, but not to the point where it is impossible for normal, skilled South Africans to qualify. The earnings qualifications amount to between 5-45 points with the minimum level of earnings, for which applicants can claim points, set at £25,000 (increased from £20,000)”, explains Cory. Continue Reading

The UK is set to increase its Immigration Visa fees from 6 April 2010 and it seems the group hardest hit by the increases will be those with dependent relatives.  Settlement Visas for dependent relatives have jumped from £585 to a whopping £1680, while the application for indefinite leave to remain for a dependent relative already in Britain will rise to £1,930. An additional 10 percent will now also be charged for every child.

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The UK Government has announced that they have accepted all of the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) recommendations relating to the points threshold for the Tier 1 (General) highly skilled migrant category visa. Continue Reading

The UK government has launched an international action plan to encourage ‘circular migration’ and prevent illegal immigration. Through a points-based system, skilled temporary residents may be able to ‘pause’ their journey to UK citizenship, returning home to contribute their expertise. Continue Reading

When Jaco Voges and his wife Madeleine step off the plane at Heathrow Airport, it will be spring. And even if it’s raining, in a sense, the sun will be shining for this young couple because not only are they both newly qualified chartered accountants, but they are also in possession of something highly sought after by prospective migrants: a Tier 1 Visa which allows them to live and work in the UK for three years! Continue Reading

According to expert immigration group 1^st Contact, recent changes to Australia’s immigration policy presents good news to both current domestic workers as well as to hopeful migrants seeking to relocate to Australian shores. Continue Reading

Leading immigration company 1^st Contact says it will keep costs low, despite the sharp rise.

Walking the path to British Citizenship or simply applying for a visa such as the Tier 1 Visa is set to become a costly exercise after the UK government signaled its intention to increase UK visa fees as of April this year. Continue Reading

International immigration group, 1^st Contact has its offices ready for the large number of enquiries already coming through from eligible individuals in an attempt to obtain British Citizenship. A new development in the UK immigration law, which came into effect on 13 January 2010, has made it possible for individuals with British born mothers to gain UK citizenship through registration. Individuals who qualify for this right, under section 4C of the British Nationality Act of 1948, no longer need to apply via the standard ancestral visa route in order to become British citizens. Continue Reading

The UK may well be advised to relax its Tier 1 educational requirement from a Masters qualification to a Bachelors degree, following recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). The suggestion is good news for applicants currently falling behind in points for the Tier 1 visa. Continue Reading

Foreign nationals heading to the UK for work will soon have to carry special identity cards, as part of a major crackdown on illegal immigration. Skilled workers, student visa holders and those with UK marriage visas will also now need  to apply for an ID card when they renew their UK visas. Continue Reading

Two conmen, Rong Yang and Steven Lee were found sitting in their vehicle outside a test centre in Wimbledon, have been heavily fined after being convicted of using high-tech spy equipment to transmit answers to applicants writing the Life in the UK Test in 2008. Continue Reading