"I have been but little in," said Ninian hastily...

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.

The UK immigration newsletter I subscribe to has this headline this month:

"In other immigration news, The UK Home Office has increased fees for its immigration and nationality services."

No, lads, you don't get it--"news" is something that's new and different. This is neither. :-)