ah, UK government, how predictable you are

[winterbadger]

A friend passed on this news. Basically, the UK is cranking up the drawbridge a little higher.

I will still be able (so far) to get a post-study work visa if I do a master's in 2011/2012 (unless they change *that* in the meantime, which they may), but there is now officially *no* way I would be able to transfer from that to a regular Tier 1 work visa. Not unless I were able to land a job paying £150,000 or more right out of the gate (average UK salaries in the GIS field are ~ £35,000 at last report, FWIW).

If they eliminate the post-study work visa, I'm canceling my study plans. Barring that, it's still worth it to get a couple of years' stay in the UK. In fact, it frees me up from trying to get a really high-paying job, as I know there's no way way I can earn enough to stay. I can spend the post-study period just enjoying being there.

But I did have to think for a bit and make the calculation. Is it really worth it? And I'm sure that's just what the government want--to make skilled, qualified people who would work hard and contribute to the UK think twice about moving there.

"Little England" just got a bit littler.

Comments

[schizokitty.livejournal.com]

Jeebus! Do they really have such a surfeit of well-educated, law-abiding, skilled people that they need to make it impossible for anyone to immigrate?

[winterbadger]

Apparently that's exactly who they don't want. If you're not a millionaire, stay home.

[dativesingular.livejournal.com]

I've already expressed my feelings on this :( but I've heard nothing about them getting rid of the PSWV, and the offer still stands.

[winterbadger]

Appreciated.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

They're busy screwing over those of us who live here, not fair to leave out hopefuls mad enough try and join us.. *sigh* I'm sorry they keep moving the goalposts..

[winterbadger]

Thanks! It's just so frustrating. And my own fault--if I'd moved when I had the chance, instead of staying here one more years so soccer_fox could get her master's...

[peaceful-fox.livejournal.com]

I am an immigrant in the UK and I am going to be getting my citizenship. Why? Do I want to become a citizen? Not really, but they are thinking about making non EU immigrants to the UK have their own insurance instead of being covered by the NHS. Even though I got here fair and square (married a Brit),have worked here for 5 years and pay taxes and I am considered a perm resident. We'll see how far they push us.

Oh yeah, Nick Clegg, what was that about not wanting to cap immigration? Hmmmmm?

[winterbadger]

I sense that all the LDP's fears about becoming a sock puppet are coming true.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I'm really feeling for you on that one. I do hope they retain the post-study visa.

(Please don't mention 'Little England' - I loathe that show!)

Little England

[winterbadger]

I was actually referring to this.

Re: Little England

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I hadn't actually come across that usage before, though I can see it has a long history. (and is presumably where the show took it's name from)

[cmlc.livejournal.com]

I think the way the south of England voters look at it is something like this: they're foreign, they're probably black and muslim to boot, so they can go right back to bongo-bongo land rather than coming here and scrounging off our taxes.
I wouldn't mind so much if it was just the south of England that was affected by this but I'm ashamed and frustrated to have Scotland dragged down into this counter-productive and deeply stupid filth too. Less immigration is the last thing we need.

[winterbadger]

I think the way the south of England voters look at it is something like this: they're foreign, they're probably black and muslim to boot, so they can go right back to bongo-bongo land rather than coming here and scrounging off our taxes.

Yeah, I think every single American I know there has told me stories of being party to conversations like that, and when they protest at the overt racism and general nasty tone, they're told "Oh, but *you* don't count--this isn't about you."

It's the same thing here; "illegal alien" means anyone brown and Spanish-speaking, whether they're an illegal immigrant, a legal immmigrant, or their family has been in this country longer than the speaker.

I wouldn't mind so much if it was just the south of England that was affected by this but I'm ashamed and frustrated to have Scotland dragged down into this counter-productive and deeply stupid filth too. Less immigration is the last thing we need.

Exactly. At least Labour *talked* about a carve-out that would have given special status to people who migrated to (and stayed in) Scotland (though they never actually did anything about it). I'm sure the Tories will never do that.