U.K.: Immigration Updates- Including Employer Guide

1.)  Immigration Minister Damian Green recently announced the implementation of a mandatory,pre-entry tuberculosis (TB) screening program for migrants from 67 countrieswho wish to enter the UK for more than six months. The new program will be phased in over the next 18 months for all UK visa applicants from any of the countries on the list (which all have a high incidence of TB), regardless of their nationality.

2.)  On June 11, 2012 the Government also announced controversial changes to the Immigration Rules for non-European Economic Area (non-EEA) nationalsapplying to enter or remain in the UK on the family migration route. Among the changes are increased minimum income thresholds and extended probationary periods for spouses/partners applying for permanent UK residency.

3.)  Summer 2012 interns (expected to be in large number with the upcoming Olympics) who wish to return to a graduate job with the same company are temporarily exempt from the “cooling-off/waiting period” introduced for Tier 2 migrants in April 2012.

4.)  The UKBA has published an important guide for employers: Preventing Illegal Working in the UK.