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oh, FFS! can't they make up their minds?
Mar. 22nd, 2011 03:36 pmThree completely different answers sent out by the Home Office in the space of a week.
First, PSW not to be changed.
Next, PSW to be eliminated.
Now "The Post Study Work route will be closed in 2012, but graduates who have an offer of a skilled job from a sponsoring employer with a salary in excess of £20,000 will be permitted to remain." (A further summary policy document linked to says that "The normal Tier 2 requirements will apply, except for the Resident Labour Market Test.") My emphases.
What the hell is going on
First, PSW not to be changed.
Next, PSW to be eliminated.
Now "The Post Study Work route will be closed in 2012, but graduates who have an offer of a skilled job from a sponsoring employer with a salary in excess of £20,000 will be permitted to remain." (A further summary policy document linked to says that "The normal Tier 2 requirements will apply, except for the Resident Labour Market Test.") My emphases.
What the hell is going on
(no subject)
Feb. 28th, 2011 12:29 pmI am utterly, utterly astonished.
Proposed fee increases to immigration and nationality applications
Proposed fee increases to immigration and nationality applications
28 February 2011: Today, immigration Minister Damian Green has issued a Written Ministerial Statement (PDF 91KB opens in a new window) that proposes to increase immigration and nationality application fees for all those applying to study, visit, work or stay in the UK.
The new proposed fees (PDF 229KB opens in a new window) will be laid in Parliament in two separate regulations. These fees will not come into force untill they have been debated and approved in Parliament, but are due to take effect from 6 April 2011.
now we wait
Jan. 31st, 2011 01:16 pmThe comment period ended today on the UK governments' latest demented plan for cutting the country's immigration rate by 90%. This set of plans targets students, and includes stricter controls on programs of study, higher standards of English fluency, elimination of any work-study other than on-campus employment, denial of any extension of stay (including, presumably, changing from a master's program to a doctoral one), and elimination of the post-work study visa that allowed those obtaining university degrees to work in the UK for two years after.
Informed observers suggest that responses to comments and a final policy decision should be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
Informed observers suggest that responses to comments and a final policy decision should be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
I was so focused on Tier 4 (student) visa issues that I hadn't followed the late 2010 developments in Tier 1 (skilled migrant) visas.
In November it was announced that Tier 1 General visa (the replacement for the old Highly Skilled Migrant Program) is being closed. From now on, Tier 1 will ONLY be open to those with large amounts of money ("entrepreneurs" and "investors") and those "who have won international recognition in scientific and cultural fields, or who show sufficient exceptional promise to be awarded such recognition in the future". Additional restrictions are being place on the Tier 2 (work permit) route and on settlement.
Before, my only chance for settlement was getting a post-study work visa and then somehow changing to Tier 1, in the unlikely even I earned enough after two years. That possibility is now closed, which makes me feel better about my choice; there is now no possibility that I could stay longer.
The drawbridge is cranking up even faster...
ETA: Looks like they are laying the ground work to close off PSW visas too... My congratulations to those of my non-UK friends who have managed to gain residency--you may be the last of a dying breed.
In November it was announced that Tier 1 General visa (the replacement for the old Highly Skilled Migrant Program) is being closed. From now on, Tier 1 will ONLY be open to those with large amounts of money ("entrepreneurs" and "investors") and those "who have won international recognition in scientific and cultural fields, or who show sufficient exceptional promise to be awarded such recognition in the future". Additional restrictions are being place on the Tier 2 (work permit) route and on settlement.
Before, my only chance for settlement was getting a post-study work visa and then somehow changing to Tier 1, in the unlikely even I earned enough after two years. That possibility is now closed, which makes me feel better about my choice; there is now no possibility that I could stay longer.
The drawbridge is cranking up even faster...
ETA: Looks like they are laying the ground work to close off PSW visas too... My congratulations to those of my non-UK friends who have managed to gain residency--you may be the last of a dying breed.
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.
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.
(no subject)
Apr. 2nd, 2010 10:34 amInteresting point of note:
A CAS [Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies--a confirmation from a recognised educational institution that they have issued an invitation to study] should only be issued for full-time study in the United Kingdom.
from UK Visas application guidance
I have no problem with that, but I had been wondering if there were such a requirement or if one could come and study part-time. It's nice to be able to find it right there up front.
A CAS [Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies--a confirmation from a recognised educational institution that they have issued an invitation to study] should only be issued for full-time study in the United Kingdom.
from UK Visas application guidance
I have no problem with that, but I had been wondering if there were such a requirement or if one could come and study part-time. It's nice to be able to find it right there up front.
Added: The UK Government have decided I am not worthy of moving to the UK.
IMPORTANT CHANGES APRIL 1, 2009
Please note that the UK Government has announced tougher criteria for Tier 1 (General) applicants which will take effect on April 1, 2009. The qualification and salary required to be eligible for Tier 1 (General) will be raised to a Master's degree and minimum annual salary of £20,000.
Sodding Home Office.
ETA (my emphasis):
Changes for the T1 (General) and T1 (Post-Study Work) categories will come into effect for all applications submitted on or after 31 March 2009.
The Tier 1 (General) changes will apply to migrants who are applying for permission to enter the United Kingdom in this category for the first time, or who are applying to switch into the Tier 1 (General) category from another category. Anyone applying for an extension of their permission to stay under Tier 1 (General) will not be affected by the changes.
Once again demonstrating that I have no one to blame but myself for not doing it as soon as possible. If I had not waited when HSMP was in force AND I HAD A LETTER APPROVING ME, I would have missed the requirement to requalify via earnings upon renewal. If I has not waited when they announced the Tier 1 scheme, I would have missed having this latest requirement apply to me.
Well, better buckle down and finish the rest of the courses for my MA. Because otherwise I can't apply.
EFTA: Oh, this gets better and better. You can still claim a BA for 30 points for an extension. You just can't claim it for an initial application now. Oh, $%*$##&* ^*%$#$^!
God. Damn. It.
Edited Finally: Well, that does it. I checked the degree I would receive for the master's program I'm enrolled in, and for whatever reason (not explained), I get 0 points for it.
So unless I start an entirely new master's degree that meets whatever their mysterious qualifications are and complete it, I'm not eligible to apply for a Tier 1 visa. And I can't get in any other way.
And I've tried applying for master's programs at most of the local colleges and universities, and they won't accept me. Because I nearly failed an advanced calculus class and a computer science class I took in 1984. When I was getting a degree (with honours) in history and political science.
So I'm fucked.
visa appointments
Dec. 5th, 2007 08:35 amOK, we've gotten most of the paperwork done for our marriage visas. Of course, nothing with the Home Office goes smoothly. The passport photo specifications on the British Consulate website are different from the specifications on the printed visa application (since the latter are smaller, we're sending the larger, on the assumption that they can cut it down if needed). The online application says that you need to schedule a visa application appointment, which seemed odd, since (a) they have stopped accepting in-person visa applications and (b) we had already paid by that point for postal application. But, when we actually made the appointment, it became clear that this was just for the biometric scans that are now required for UK visas, and that we would then *post* our applications afterwards. We get scanned on Saturday and can then send the papers of (I HATE things that require you to mail them your passport...) Then it's on to the marriage license...
It's snowing here, but it looks to be about to tail off after giving us maybe 1/4"...
It's snowing here, but it looks to be about to tail off after giving us maybe 1/4"...
I missed this last monnth:
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne, today unveiled the timetable for introducing the UK’s tough new Australian-style points based system for migration, during a fact finding visit to Sydney.
I hope it doesn't mean it will be harder to get a visa the next time I try. :-(
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne, today unveiled the timetable for introducing the UK’s tough new Australian-style points based system for migration, during a fact finding visit to Sydney.
I hope it doesn't mean it will be harder to get a visa the next time I try. :-(
