Immigration to the UK & Scotland

Migration is a global phenomenon. Growing numbers of people are making a decision to live and work abroad. The United Nations estimates that around 175 million people are living outside their country of birth. Moreover, almost one in ten people living in developed parts of the world are migrants. Immigration is driven by a complex range of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors – the latter includes globalisation, the opening up of labour markets, and the speed and ease of international travel; the former is driven by to war, political unrest and economic disparity.

Migrants come to the UK primarily for economic reasons. The vast majority make a positive contribution to society, bringing skill, labour power and links to industries across the globe. As such, the UK Government is committed to a policy of managed migration, the details of which are described in the document ‘Controlling Our Borders: Making Migration Work for Britain’. This paper outlines entry requirements for visas, provides a strategy to tighten border controls to prevent people coming to the UK illegally, and offers an overview of the New Asylum Model.

Nationals from the European Union are allowed to come to the UK to work without having to apply for a visa (although nationals from the eight Eastern European accession states have to register to work). A reciprocal arrangement is in place for UK citizens to work in Europe. Nationals living outside of the European Union can apply to the BIA for a work visa. This will be decided according to a points-based system, which considers criteria such as qualification, work experience and income. The rights and privileges of immigrants vary according to the individual’s country of origin and/or visa entitlements. The new points-based system will have four tiers:

Tier 1 (Highly Skilled)

The most highly skilled – including doctors, engineers, finance experts and IT specialists – will be able to come to the UK without a job offer. This will be on the basis of their qualifications from graduate level upward, work experience and current salary, with additional points for those with highly-sought skills. This will ensure that highly skilled individuals can enter the UK to look for work or self-employment opportunities. Investors and entrepreneurs will be scored according to the level of their investment or the jobs they create.

Tier 2 (Skilled)

Others, with skills at NVQ level 3 (A level equivalent) and above, will be able to come if they have a job offer in a shortage area, and where an employer cannot find the skills they require within the UK or EU. This will ensure that UK employers have access to the skills and experience they need. Tier 2 workers includes nurses, teachers and administrators.

Tier 3 (Low Skilled)

In view of the increased migration from the EU accession states, the quota based schemes in the agricultural, food processing and hospitality sectors will be phased out over time. Where additional needs are identified in future, the Government has the flexibility to introduce tightly managed quota based schemes for specific shortage areas and for fixed periods only, with guarantees that migrants will leave at the end of their stay.

Tier 4 (Students and Specialists)

This tier will bring together students and a range of schemes where there is no significant issue of competition with the domestic labour force, including visiting workers representing overseas Governments or international companies based in the UK. The Working Holidaymaker scheme for Young Commonwealth Nationals will be subsumed under this tier.

Tier 5 (Youth mobility)

People coming to the UK under Tier 5 are principally here to satisfy non-economic objectives. Youth mobility schemes can play an important role in promoting the UK abroad, as nationals return home and encourage further trade and tourism. Allowing for certain types of temporary worker also helps to satisfy cultural, charitable, religious or international objectives. Those coming to the UK under Tier 5 additionally contribute to the economy by working, paying taxes and spending on goods and services.

Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals

From 25 November 2008, UKBA will start issuing identity cards to non-EEA foreign nationals, and their dependants, who are granted further leave to remain in the UK within certain categories (student and marriage / civil partnerships / unmarried couples).

All those applying for further leave to remain under the categories above will be required to enrol their biometric details at one of our seven offices. Successful applicants will then be sent the card by secure delivery.

As well as showing the holder’s photo, name, date of birth, nationality and immigration status, the credit-card sized document has a secure electronic chip for biometric details. Using fingerprint technology and digital facial images we can lock an individual to a single identity, helping to strengthen border control, prevent identity fraud and illegal working or immigration.

The card will help to confirm a person’s immigration status and eligibility to entitlements in the UK. It will also help employers, educational establishments and other public service providers to understand a
migrant’s immigration status via a single document.

For further information about the Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals and guidance on checking the card please visit:

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/idcardsforforeignnationals

EU Accession States

On 1 May 2004, ten countries joined the European Union (EU): Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Prior to enlargement, existing EU member states had the right to prevent the nationals of the eight Eastern European accession states from accessing their labour markets for a time limited period. Most EU member states chose to place restrictions on A8 nationals’ right to work, with the exception of the UK, Ireland, and Sweden. Italy has since lifted its restrictions. While allowing A8 nationals the right to live and work in the UK, the Government nonetheless put in place transitional measures to regulate access to the labour market (via the Worker Registration Scheme) and to restrict access to benefits.

On the first of January 2007, another two countries acceded to the European Union: Bulgaria and Romania. Nationals of these countries who wish to come to the UK to work are subject to more tightly regulated regulations: a maximum of 20,000 work permits will be issued each year and will only be available within certain sectors of the economy.

Scotland – Migration, Demographics and Economic Development

Inward migration is key to the economic and social prosperity of Scotland. Indeed, there is a compelling case for increasing Scotland’s population through the promotion of specific measures within the UK’s policy of managed migration. Scotland has an ageing and declining population, which, if left unaddressed, could place residual pressures on economic performance, productivity and on our ability to care for vulnerable members of society.

The Scottish Executive’s Fresh Talent Initiative aims to redress demographic trends by attracting hard-working and motivated people to live, study and work in Scotland. The scheme involves measures such as:

The Fresh Talent Initiative is complemented by a range of economic development strategies. Scottish Enterprise sets out its vision for a vibrant and productive Scotland in its strategic plan ‘A Smart, Successful Scotland’. Three strategic objectives are identified – ‘Growing Businesses’, ‘Global Connections’ and ‘Skills and Learning’. These objectives refer, respectively, to the development of a highly skilled population that can sustain higher wages, increased productivity and business growth; to the improvement of the flow of products and technologies in and out of Scotland in the context of a global market; and to the improvement of employability and skill levels of the Scottish labour force.