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Saturday, May 31, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Bhaktivedanti Manor, A Haven Of Peace And Tranquil...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Bhaktivedanti Manor, A Haven Of Peace And Tranquil...: Cynthia Barker writes...Working on urgent UK immigration Home Office cases again this weekend, but took some time out today to visit Bhaktiv...

Bhaktivedanti Manor, A Haven Of Peace And Tranquility, And Escape From Immigration Work!

Cynthia Barker writes...Working on urgent UK immigration Home Office cases again this weekend, but took some time out today to visit Bhaktivedanti Manor in and listen to the wonderful Borehamwood Community choir perform.

The house and grounds now known as Bhaktivedanti Manor was donated to the Hare Krishna movement by late Beatles member George Harrison in 1973. A beautiful commemorative George Harrison garden was opened last year by his former wife Olivia Harrison.

The manor and temple, located in Aldenham, Herts, is well worth a visit. The people are so warm and welcoming and create a special haven of peace and tranquility. I have been there many times and always leave feeling recharged and at peace.

The manor is part of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKON, which feeds millions of poor children in India every day.

Talking to some of the volunteers, who were serving home made vegetarian Samosas and Marsala tea to the guests (including the Mayor of Hertsmere, Mayor Pat Strack of Elstree and Borehamwood and Cllr Charles Kelly), I discovered that in their 'day jobs' they are mostly highly educated professionals working in medicine, law, banking or public relations.

The devotees and volunteers who run the temple are mostly of Indian origin, joined by a growing number of British followers, have retained a high work ethic typical among migrant families as well as a spiritual life. Looking at some of the cars parked in the manor car park - Mercedes, Range Rovers, Jags and even a Rolls Royce - it seems that the disciplines practiced in their religious lives don't do them any harm in their working lives!

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.
Cynthia Barker writes...Working on urgent UK immigration cases again this weekend, but took some time out today to visit Bhaktivedanti Manor in and listen to the wonderful Borehamwood Community choir perform.

The house and grounds now known as Bhaktivedanti Manor was donated to the Hare Krishna movement by late Beatles member George Harrison in 1973. A beautiful commemorative George Harrison garden was opened last year by his former wife Olivia Harrison.

The manor and temple, located in Aldenham, Herts, is well worth a visit. The people are so warm and welcoming and create a special haven of peace and tranquility. I have been there many times and always leave feeling recharged and at peace.

The manor is part of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKON, which feeds millions of poor children in India every day.

Talking to some of the volunteers, who were serving home made vegetarian Samosas and Marsala tea to the guests (including the Mayor of Hertsmere, Mayor Pat Strack of Elstree and Borehamwood and Cllr Charles Kelly), I discovered that in their 'day jobs' they are mostly highly educated professionals working in medicine, law, banking or public relations.

The devotees and volunteers who run the temple are mostly of Indian origin, joined by a growing number of British followers, have retained a high work ethic typical among migrant families as well as a spiritual life. Looking at some of the cars parked in the manor car park - Mercedes, Range Rovers, Jags and even a Rolls Royce - it seems that the disciplines practiced in their religious lives don't do them any harm in their working lives!

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: EU Free Movement Rules And 'Cash For Citizenship' ...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: EU Free Movement Rules And 'Cash For Citizenship' ...: Cynthia Barker writes...Fridays are always manic, as there's always a deadline and the phones are non stop! I will get two cases off to ...

Friday, May 30, 2014

EU Free Movement Rules And 'Cash For Citizenship' Allow Wealthy Investors To Fast Track Visas

Cynthia Barker writes...Fridays are always manic, as there's always a deadline and the phones are non stop! I will get two cases off to the Home Office before close of business today: a spouse visa and an ILR or indefinite leave to remain application.

Had a call from a nurse in Malta today. Originally from Asia, he is now working in Malta as a general nurse, but would like to work in the UK.

Although Malta is a member of the European Union (EU) he cannot enjoy complete free movement within EEA countries as he is on a work permit and does not hold a Maltese passport.

Thousands of non-EU migrant workers live and work in EU countries for years without gaining citizenship. In the UK, if you are a migrant on a working visa can apply for ILR (permanent residency) after 5 years and British citizenship a year later. Workers in other EU countries are not treated so fairly.

For instance, I have met Filipino and Indian migrants who have worked in Italy, Greece and Cyprus for over 10 years who are still on temporary residence visas.

Whilst there are some common EU immigration policies, each member state still makes up there own national rules.

This year I hope to visit several EU countries to offer advice to migrant workers who may have the opportunity to gain citizenship or petition their families under EEA regulations or apply under specific judgments such as Zambrano, Chen and Surinder Singh.

As with most things in life, money talks. EU countries such as the UK, Malta, Latvia and Bulgaria are offering immediate residence to investors and, depending on how much cash you have, a fast track to citizenship - otherwise know as "cash for citizenship"!

The UK has higher limits and stricter rules on how long you need to stay in the country to qualify for a 'red' passport, but other countries are far more flexible because they need your money!

If you have 500,000 Euros to invest (normally put into government bonds) you could get an immediate 'investor visa' with residency and a EU member state passport allowing you free movement in any EU country within 3 years. Interested? Email me.

You may ask why a wealthy African, Russian or Chinese investor would want an EU passport when he or she can travel pretty much anywhere they like and live a life of luxury in their own countries? There are a number of reasons why an EU country passport offers security for them and of course their children. For example, not all countries have the same human rights protection, rule of law or fair justice in the legal system, as a few Russian billionaires have found to their cost.

Some wealthy individuals plan years ahead and want to set their children up with a more secure life in the west, while others want shelter their assets in the London property market. 

As for our nurse in Malta, he should register with the NMC and obtain a decision letter, as the UK NHS needs overseas nurses to fill 20,000 nurse job vacancies right now. Concept Care is recruiting qualified specialist nurses for the NHS and will be holding open recruitment events this year in Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Portugal, China and the Philippines. In fact, wherever there are qualified English speaking nurses, Concept Care will be there! 

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Student To Spouse Visa In 6 Weeks, WOW!

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Student To Spouse Visa In 6 Weeks, WOW!: Cynthia Barker writes...I was surprised when the official brown Home Office envelop arrived so quickly, and initially thought it might be a ...

Student To Spouse Visa In 6 Weeks, WOW!

Cynthia Barker writes...I was surprised when the official brown Home Office envelop arrived so quickly, and initially thought it might be a visa refusal. However, I was delighted when the spouse visa popped out and the student, who had just switched from Tier 4 to marriage visa in-country, was over the moon and screaming down the phone!

Well done to the Home Office who are not always congratulated when they get it right.

More care job orders came in today, this time from an upmarket nursing home group who need care assistants in the Northampton area. They pay between £6.45 and £7.00 per hour, which is not too bad outside of London where rents are much lower than in the capital. The employer will also help with accommodation if you need to relocate.

Carers must have some experience and the right to work in the UK, which means within EU or EEA only folks. The company has had very good experience with Romanian and Bulgarian workers, but sadly no luck with local advertising or apprenticeships in care. Overseas workers are still needed, just like they were 15 years ago when I started in this industry! Tier 2 work permit rules should be changed to allow care workers from outside the EU - that would solve the care and NHS staffing crisis.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

See also: Home-office-wins-appeal-on-spouse-visa

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Overseas Nurses who want to work in the UK check N...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Overseas Nurses who want to work in the UK check N...: Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from rainy London! Sorry, I have been soooo busy the last few days that I have hardly had time to look at my blog...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from rainy London! Sorr...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from rainy London! Sorr...: Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from rainy London! Sorry, I have been soooo busy the last few days that I have hardly had time to look at my blog...

Overseas Nurses who want to work in the UK check NMC Website

Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from rainy London! Sorry, I have been soooo busy the last few days that I have hardly had time to look at my blog. My phone never stops with immigration and appeal enquirers due to high refusal rates and botched DIY applications I guess.

I am also getting a lot of calls from overseas nurses who want to work in the UK.

My advice is to firstly check the NMC website to see if you qualify for UK registration and a nurse job in the UK - IELTS 7.00, clinical experience and obviously a nursing board passer in your own country.

Secondly, if you think you have what it takes, email your CV to Charles Kelly ckelly@londonccs.com.

Finally, stay away from illegal recruiters, fixers and middlemen who will charge you for doing nothing.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: UK Needs Migrant Workers

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: UK Needs Migrant Workers: Cynthia Barker writes...It's bank holiday weekend in the UK, so no work on Monday, even for a busy immigration adviser! Mind you, I have...

UK Needs Migrant Workers

Cynthia Barker writes...It's bank holiday weekend in the UK, so no work on Monday, even for a busy immigration adviser! Mind you, I have taken a few cases home to work on over the weekend!

The local election results in England on Thursday showed a rise in popularity for the United Kingdom Independence Party, UKIP. The party wants a freeze on UK immigration and withdrawal from the European Union, which would mean an end to free movement for millions of EU, EEA and UK citizens.

Whilst UKIP are extremely unlikely to win a general election, Prime Minister David Cameron has promised an in-out referendum on whether or not the UK stays in the EU.

ONS figures released last week show a 43,000 rise in EU immigration, including 23,000 from Romania and Bulgaria.

But with British employers such as the NHS desperately short of nurses, blocking immigration and leaving the EU will not help fill the 20,000 UK nurse job vacancies - not to mention many other medical jobs, catering, cleaning, domestic work, IT and so on...

The NHS are recruiting international nurses again by the way. They have created an LPP 'framework' or preferred suppliers list of 20 agencies to partner with - to keep out the sharks! Concept Care are on the list and are looking for qualified nurses - 2 years experience in hospitals - with NMC registration and IELTS 7.00 right now!

Britain would grind to a halt without the thousands of migrant workers, including those working in the UK illegally, who do the jobs the British workers do not want to do. Without immigrants, the hospitals would not have enough nurses and doctors to care for us, nursing homes would close, restaurants and cafes would run out out of chefs and waiters and the captains of industry would have nobody to run their domestic households.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Filipino Domestic Workers Still Abused But Visa Co...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Filipino Domestic Workers Still Abused But Visa Co...: Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from a cloudy but warm London. Tony Blair's government introduced the 1998 Domestic Workers   Visa   concess...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Requirements For Overseas Nurses Who Want To Work ...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Requirements For Overseas Nurses Who Want To Work ...: Cynthia Barker writes...Last week I told you about the  good news for overseas nurses  following Concept Care's approval for the LPP &#3...

Filipino Domestic Workers Still Abused But Visa Concession Protection Removed By Home Office

Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from a cloudy but warm London. Tony Blair's government introduced the 1998 Domestic Workers Visa concession to protect victims of abuse from employers. The immigration concession allowed domestic workers, many of whom were Filipino, who escaped from abusive employers to switch their visa to another employer and eventually obtain ILR (indefinite leave to remain - UK permanent residency) in Britain.

The humane safety net has been pulled, and workers now enter the UK on temporary visas tied to their employers. This means the worker is at the mercy of the family and they can no longer switch visas whilst in the UK - even if they are abused.

In a new report, 'Hidden Away Abuses Against Migrant Domestic Workers In The UK', published by Human Rights Watch, the UK government has been slammed for not doing more to protect abused domestic workers. Many domestic worker still come from the Philippines and are brought into the UK on temporary visas by their foreign employers often from the Middle East or Hong Kong.

I have personally helped many runaway victims extend their domestic worker visas with decent employers. Even though they are now British Citizens, most of them still work for the same employer. This is because the employer is paying them very well and they live in some of London's most exclusive addresses!

Some of the workers brought in by overseas employers were either paid a salary they would have received back home, and in some cases nothing at all - despite the fact that their employers were billionaires.

Liz Hurley's billionaire Indian ex-husband brought in a worker under the old system and paid her the same salary as in India.

UK workers must be paid at least the minimum wage or preferably the ‘living’ wage and they have the same rights as British workers. Unfortunately, under the current temporary visa system we have no way of enforcing these regulations or protecting the migrant worker.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Requirements For Overseas Nurses Who Want To Work ...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Requirements For Overseas Nurses Who Want To Work ...: Cynthia Barker writes...Last week I told you about the  good news for overseas nurses  following Concept Care's approval for the LPP &#3...

Requirements For Overseas Nurses Who Want To Work In The UK

Cynthia Barker writes...Last week I told you about the good news for overseas nurses following Concept Care's approval for the LPP 'Framework' to recruit international nurses for NHS hospitals.

The NHS are short of nurses and the quickest way to fill nurse job vacancies is to recruit from overseas. Although not on the official Shortage Occupations list used by the Home Office when awarding points for Tier 2 working visas, it doesn't take a genius to work out that there is a massive staffing crisis and shortage of nurses, as well as Healthcare Assistants (HCA), in both the NHS and the less well paid private nursing home sector.

Here are some statistics from a survey commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union:

20,000 nurse job vacancies in nationally

55,000 community nurses in 2012 said that 43% of them are 50+ and will retire within 10 years

23,000 nurses are needed just to cope with retirements

Source: RCN.

I will be going through the requirements for working as a nurse in the UK in more detail as new nurse job vacancies are published. In the meantime, check out the NMC website, which lists the conditions under which an overseas nurse can practice or work in the UK as a Registered General Nurse (RGN).

RGN's need an NMC PIN or licence to work in the UK. Most EU nurses will qualify automatically, unlike the majority of non-EU nurses (e.g. from India or The Philippines) who will need to go through  a period of adaptation training (Overseas Nurses Programme or ONP) in order to practice.

If you have trained as a nurse outside the UK the NMC will assess your qualifications for a fee of £140.

You can register online, but check the requirements first to avoid wasting your money. You will need at least 1 year of clinical experience to qualify and an English language level of IELTS 7.00.

Graduates of overseas universities can have any qualification compared with UK qualifications through a NARIC assessment with UK NARIC.

Finally, watch out for scam artists and fake or illegal recruiters who will steal your dreams as well your hard earned cash. NHS hospitals normally only deal with reputable agencies who are on a framework or preferred suppliers list. They will NOT use your local travel agent or visa fixer to recruit nurses! Never send money (especially via Western Union who will take no responsibility for internet scammers helped by them to transfer your money) to these internet based "recruiters" - with no office or land line - who promise you heaven on earth but deliver hell. In most countries recruitment firms are regulated (e.g. by the POEA in The Philippines), so if you deal with an illegal, unregulated agency you have no protection.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Immigration Bill Will Cut Human Rights Appeals

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Immigration Bill Will Cut Human Rights Appeals: Cynthia Barker writes...Good morning from sunny London during local and European election week! UKIP leader Nigel Farrage has been 'Roma...

Immigration Bill Will Cut Human Rights Appeals

Cynthia Barker writes...Good morning from sunny London during local and European election week! UKIP leader Nigel Farage has been 'Romanian bashing' again, as part of his campaign to leave the EU and regain control of our borders.

Many Brits are fed up with EU and EEA regulations, which among other things override UK Home Office Immigration Rules, which is why Prime Minister David Cameron has promised an '"in out" referendum on European Union membership if he wins the next general election in 2015.

Britain has little control over how many Europeans can move here, however, it works both ways with millions of UK citizens living and working in France, Spain and other EU nations.

But Mr Farage is not bothered about French or Germans coming to live in the UK - his wife is German. It's those less well off migrants from much poorer countries like Romania and Bulgaria that he wants to stop, as he claims they are "taking all our jobs" and driving down wages for British citizens.

Employers, like Concept Care Solutions, would argue that Romanians and Bulgarians are needed to fill thousands of UK job vacancies for nurses and care workers and have no choice but to recruit from overseas.

The Immigration Bill passed through the House of Lords last week and will receive the Royal Accent before becoming law or an Act of Parliament and enshrined into the Immigration Rules.

The latest Immigration Bill promises tougher measures on immigration appeals - by removing 17 grounds on which a person can appeal, for instance when facing deportation by the Home Office - and powers to remove revoke British Citizenship from foreign-born terror suspects.

Many people associate immigration appeals and tribunal decisions to allow foreign criminals indefinite leave to remain on Article 8 or right to a family life grounds with the European Union.

It is common misconception that the European Court of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) are EU institutions when in fact they are entirely separate bodies.

Leaving the EU will not change the UK Human Rights Act or membership of the European Convention of Human Rights. The convention was formed in 1959 and has passed 17,000 judgments, half of which concerned 5 countries: Turkey, Italy, The Russian Federation, Poland and Romania - the UK accounted for just over 2% of judgments. Source ECHR website.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Concept Care Solutions Awarded Contract Place On N...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Concept Care Solutions Awarded Contract Place On N...: Cynthia Barker writes...Great news for overseas nurses! Following my blog 'job opportunities for Filipino nurses', Concept Care Solu...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Concept Care Solutions Awarded Contract To Supply ...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Concept Care Solutions Awarded Contract To Supply ...: Cynthia Barker writes...Great news for overseas nurses! Following my blog 'job opportunities for Filipino nurses', Concept Care Solu...

Concept Care Solutions Awarded Contract Place On NHS Framework To Supply International Nurses

Cynthia Barker writes...Great news for overseas nurses! Following my blog last week: 'job opportunities for Filipino nurses', Concept Care Solutions has this week been appointed onto the LPP 'Lot 5 Framework' suppliers list to recruit international nurses for NHS Trusts.

LPP, or London Procurement Partnership, is the official body which handles the international nurse recruitment tendering process for multi-region NHS hospitals.

Commenting on the award of the new national framework agreement for the provision of nursing and nursing related staff to the NHS, the heads of four leading NHS procurement organisations said:

“We are pleased to confirm the establishment of a new framework agreement for the provision of nursing and nursing related staff, for use by NHS organisations located across England. The agreement came into effect from 14th May 2014. The agreement is the output of a ground-breaking joint collaborative initiative undertaken by four NHS procurement organisations: NHS London Procurement Partnership (LPP), North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC), NHS Commercial Solutions and East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub. We believe that by working together, and combining national buying power with our strong regional and local engagement, we have been able to deliver a highly competitive agreement that really meets the needs of the NHS. We look forward to working with the appointed supplier organisations to ensure the cost effective delivery of these services to the NHS.”      

The LPP was formed by NHS Trusts to centrally maximize its multi-billion pound purchasing power and ensure that suppliers are fully vetted and meet UK government standards.

Marketing Director, Charles Kelly, was delighted with the new contract and congratulated Concept Care team for all their hard work during the tendering process:

"This is fantastic news and well done to all the staff at Concept Care Solutions for the outstanding work in winning another contract to supply international nurses to the NHS.

"In particular, our Director Edith Fongho, has spent endless hours and sleepless nights working on the Lot LPP Framework bid for international recruitment.

"This means that as an approved supplier the Concept Care has been thoroughly vetted can help NHS Trusts all over the country recruit nurses from EU countries, such as Spain or Romania, as well as non-EU countries like the Philippines and India where there is an abundance of highly qualified nurses waiting for a chance to work abroad."

In a former life, I started a company in 1998 which went on to recruit thousands of nurses and senior carers from all over the world including: The Philippines, India, Africa, Middle East, China, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain and many others.

Like now, the NHS were desperately short of nurses and care assistants and the only way to fill those vacancies quickly, and ensure patient safety, was to recruit from overseas.

Within a few years thousands of nurses were boarding flights to work in the UK, with their NMC Decision Letters, Work Permits and dreams of a better life in the west.

The bonanza eventually came to an end around 2007, when the government started to restrict immigration from non-EU countries following mass immigration from Eastern European countries such as Poland and Romania.

But everything comes in cycles and once again the NHS and care homes will be recruiting qualified nurses from abroad to help fill nurse job vacancies in UK hospitals.

I will be going through the requirements for working as a nurse in the UK next week, so keep reading Diary of an Immigration Adviser and check out Concept's website for job opportunities in care.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Job Opportunities For Filipino Nurses

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Job Opportunities For Filipino Nurses: Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from sunny London! Off to meet the Labor Attache at the Philippine Embassy today to discuss NHS jobs for Filipino...

Job Opportunities For Filipino Nurses

Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from sunny London! Off to meet the Labor Attache at the Philippine Embassy today to discuss NHS jobs for Filipino Nurses.

The NHS is desperately short of nursing and care staff and the only way to avoid costly temporary agency staffing costs is to recruit from overseas - EU and non-EU countries such as India and The Philippines.

Don't send your CV yet though! It is still early days. In the meantime, beware of any job scams out there and, if you in the Philippines, ONLY deal with POEA regulated agencies and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER send money to illegal recruiters for so-called jobs abroad.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Foreign Criminal Wins Human Rights Appeal To Remai...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Foreign Criminal Wins Human Rights Appeal To Remai...: Cynthia Barker writes...Yet another convicted foreign killer has successfully appealed to win the right to remain in the UK indefinitely on...

Foreign Criminal Wins Human Rights Appeal To Remain In UK Indefinitely As Immigration Judge Stops Deportation

Cynthia Barker writes...Yet another convicted foreign killer has successfully appealed to win the right to remain in the UK indefinitely on the basis that human rights under Article 8 would be breached if he was deported and separated from his extended family in Britain, Immigration Judges have ruled against the Home Office.

The Immigration Judges also granted the Somali man anonymity and he can only be identified by the initials MAI. The man had been sentenced to a five year stretch in Prison for manslaughter and also has a string of other violent criminal convictions.

At the Upper Tribunal last month, Immigration Judges ruled that MAI’s rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which preserves the right to "private and family life", would be breached if the Home Office deported him back to Somalia.

His immigration lawyers also claimed he would be attacked in his homeland by relatives of the man he killed, a further breach of human rights laws since his life would be in danger.

Doesn't the victim also have relatives here in the UK? And perhaps he should have thought about the dangers of revenge killing before he took his victims life?

Following a series of convictions including Home Secretary Theresa May attempted to deport MAI in August 2012 on the grounds that it would be “conducive to the public good” because of his violent history.

MAI appealed to the lower tier tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber, which overturned the Home Office deportation order on Article 8 grounds.

MAI said would be the target of a “blood feud” by the family of the FA, who he killed in Cardiff in 1997, who was a member of the Somali Habr Awal tribe.

The Home Office appealed against the lower tier tribunal’s judgment arguing the court had “attributed insufficient weight to the public interest” and that MAI was a “persistent offender”.

At the upper tribunal in April, Judge Nicholas Renton upheld the earlier ruling, blocking MAI deportation from the UK.

The ruling stated:

“The panel found that the appellant had a family life in the UK with his mother, his adult siblings, and his niece, nephew and cousins.

“The appellant also had a private life. The panel concluded that the interference with that family and private life as a consequence of the appellant’s deportation was not proportionate.

“In reaching that decision the panel found compelling and therefore exceptional factors in the appellant’s favour being the fact that excluding the time spent in prison, the appellant had lived in the UK for over 20 years.”
Home Office spokesman said they would appeal against the decision.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We firmly believe foreign nationals who break the law should be deported and we are appealing the tribunal’s decision.

“Under our Immigration Bill, those with no right to be here will not be able to prevent deportation simply by dragging out the appeals process.


“The Bill will reduce 17 rights of appeal to four, and give the full force of law to our policy that foreign criminals should be deported despite their claim to a family life.” 

Whilst this type of human rights judgment in not uncommon, in the case the man is unmarried and has no children. MAI, aged 38, claimed he should not be deported by the Home Office as it would breach his human rights to be separated from his mother, adult siblings, and other family.

I have seen Tier 4 students deported for overstaying their visas even though they had British parents and extended family in the UK. In some cases the students, often from Filipino families, were unwilling to appeal or fight their removal orders from the Home Office.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: London Tops Billionaire Residents

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: London Tops Billionaire Residents: Cynthia Barker writes…Hey, maybe London’s streets really are paved with gold – we are home to more billionaires than any other city in the ...

London Tops Billionaire Residents

Cynthia Barker writes…Hey, maybe London’s streets really are paved with gold – we are home to more billionaires than any other city in the world.

The UK has become the billionaires’ choice of residence, with more than 100 of the word’s super rich living here. The 104 billionaires who live in the UK have a combined wealth of £301billion, according to claims the Sunday Times Rich List.

Not surprisingly, property prices in London are literally going through the roof, with 72 billionaires living right in the centre of the capital, ahead of Moscow, with 48 billionaire citizens, and New York City in third, with 43.

To get into the Top 50 wealthiest UK residents you need a fortune of £1.5billion - almost $2billion dollars.

Migrants have again come out top of the pile, with Indian-born siblings Sri and Gopi Hinduja (who famously obtained British passports with the help of the 'friend of the rich' former Labour Minister Peter Mandelson) heading the list of Britain’s wealthiest billionaires with a fortune of £11.9billion.

The businessmen own the global conglomerate Hinduja Group which helped their wealth soar by £1.3billion in the last year.

The richest Briton, the Duke of Westminster, only just reached the top ten with his fortune – he owns most of Belgravia which houses my favourite store, Harrods - rose to £8.5billion! How can you even put a value his land, which the family will never sell since they have been passing in down through the generations for hundreds of years?

The UK is favoured by the rich for it's steady, growing economy, rule of Law, world class schools and universities, shopping and a safe environment.

Britain is also the second most popular destination for overseas students after the U.S.

The Rich List is based on published details of the wealthy, but nobody really knows how many millionaires and billionaires live in the UK. You only have to walk around Kensington and Chelsea, or Mayfair to count the thousands of multi-million pound properties to realise that London is loaded with money - and UK jobs for migrant and local workers.

So boys and girls, if you want to meet a billionaire, London is the place…but don’t put that on your tourist visa application or you will definitely be refused by the Home Office! Ha ha!

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Booming London Creates Thousands of Jobs For Migra...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Booming London Creates Thousands of Jobs For Migra...: Cynthia Barker writes…Wow, London is really booming. An Eastern European buyer is said to have paid £140 million for a penthouse apartment ...

Booming London Creates Thousands of Jobs For Migrants

Cynthia Barker writes…Wow, London is really booming. An Eastern European buyer is said to have paid £140 million for a penthouse apartment in Knightsbridge – walking distance to my favourite store, Harrods!

The huge 16,000 sq ft apartment, around 10 times the size of a typical London three-bedroom home, is part of the exclusive One Hyde Park scheme backing onto the famous park and right opposite Harvey Nichols.
Christian Candy one of the brothers who own CPC Group said it had used “global professional valuation companies” to value the property at £160 million to £175 million when it is fully furnished.

This values the apartment at £10,000 per square foot, setting a new benchmark for London! The Candy brothers have certainly changed the London property market, although some commentators are predicting that the boom in trophy homes in London could be coming to an end.

Obviously, the vast majority of Londoners could not dream of living in such a home or living in glamorous addresses in Knightsbridge, Mayfair or Chelsea. However, the billionaire owners of such properties do create thousands of well paid UK jobs, especially for migrant workers. The hospitality sector is one of the UK's biggest employers and attracts billions of pounds to the British economy.

Live-in Nannys, carers, chauffeurs, cooks and domestic workers in central London can expect to earn in excess of £400 per week after tax, often with free food and accommodation in the best parts of the greatest city in the world. It is not unusual for domestic workers to become wealthy while working for the rich and famous. Even Prime Minister David Cameron employs a foreign Nanny!

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: New Care Certificate For Care Workers By 2015

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: New Care Certificate For Care Workers By 2015: Cynthia Barker writes...Hi, from a cloudy, rainy day in London. The UK government will introduce a new care qualification, the Care Certific...

New Care Certificate For Care Workers By 2015

Cynthia Barker writes...Hi, from a cloudy, rainy day in London. The UK government will introduce a new care qualification, the Care Certificate, to improve standards and training in the industry.

The latest training scheme will start in March 2015 in England for care workers staff including health care assistants (HCA’s) in hospitals, care homes and domiciliary carers who look after people in their own homes.

The new care training, which will include infection control, dementia care and patient dignity, will have a bearing on migrant workers who are helping to keep the staff-strapped service going.

Those who work in the private care sector are already trained in care: Common Induction, Mandatory CPD as well as the recently revamped NVQ now called QCF courses, which lead to an award, certificate or diploma in health and social care. 

Students can also do a fully funded, free, Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care and be paid whilst studying - 'earn while you learn!

The government's reaction follows an independent review, in the wake of the NHS Stafford Hospital Scandal, which highlighted inconsistencies in training. Unlike the private sector, the NHS has never had to implement compulsory NVQ training for its care worker.

Care minister Norman Lamb said it was "essential that we drive up standards", adding: "There's lots of great care out there but there are too many cases of care falling down."

Last week we saw the shocking report of elderly patients being physically and verbally abused by carers. The government wants to be seen to be clamping down on such abuse, even if such incidents are rare in an industry which employs hundreds of thousands of care workers.

Care agencies, such as Concept Care Solutions and Dolphin Care are recruiting nurses and care workers to fill vacancies. 

Right now they need health care assistants for NHS jobs paying up to £18 per hour, care workers for learning disability homes, RGN nurses and allied health professionals - email your CV to info@londonccs.com.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Ethnic Minorities will make up 30% of UK populatio...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Ethnic Minorities will make up 30% of UK populatio...: Cynthia Barker writes...Good morning, I'm off to Trafalgar Square in central London to visit the Philippine Embassy! Always a pleasure t...

Ethnic Minorities will make up 30% of UK population by 2050

Cynthia Barker writes...Good morning, I'm off to Trafalgar Square in central London to visit the Philippine Embassy! Always a pleasure to meet the dedicated staff who do so much to help the Filipino community in Britain.

I read today that that black and minority ethnic (BME) communities will make up to 30% of the UK's population by 2050, according to research by the Policy Exchange - A Portrait Of Modern Britain. 

The UK would not run without immigrants, who work extremely hard and also do many of the jobs the locals do not want to do -care work for instance.

Speaking of care, the BBC reports today that care agencies must ensure that care worker recruits speak English before placing them in vulnerable people's homes, a government adviser has warned.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 today, Dr Shereen Hussein, scientific adviser to the Department of Health, said that poor language skills could lead to bad care and abuse.

According to King's College London, 20% of carers are migrant workers, which in my experience is probably a conservative estimate - care homes and domiciliary care providers are run by migrant workers from countries such as The Philippines, Romania and Africa

Care minister Norman Lamb said communication skills would be required for the new Care Certificate which is being introduced to improve standards of professionalism in the care industry.

Care agencies, such as Concept Care Solutions and Dolphin Care cannot recruit enough workers to fill vacancies and are always advertising for staff. 

Right now they need health care assistants for NHS jobs paying up to £18 per hour, care workers for learning disability homes, RGN nurses and allied health professionals - email your CV to info@londonccs.com.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Home Office Increases Fees But Not Spending On Imm...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Home Office Increases Fees But Not Spending On Imm...: Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from London, hope you had a great 'May Day' weekend! Monday was a public holiday in England, but holidays...

Home Office Increases Visa Fees But Not Spending On Immigration Website

Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from London, hope you had a great 'May Day' weekend! Monday was a public holiday in England, but holidays can't last forever, so back to work today with a long appointment for family settlement applications for an old and dear client. I really feel appreciated when a client comes back to me to help with an immigration matter such as: Indefinite Leave to Remain, Dependant Visa or UK Citizenship.

What has happened to the Home Office or UK Border Agency website? Someone has revamped it, in the process completely wrecking the site to the point where information on Immigration Rules are almost impossible to find!

The new Home Office fee increases, for visa and immigration applications, have obviously not been spent on improving the website! Whole sections have disappeared.

Ok, lunch over, must get back to preparing that important immigration application. Have a great day.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: UK Visitors Faced Long Queues At London Heathrow A...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: UK Visitors Faced Long Queues At London Heathrow A...: Cynthia Barker writes…Thank god it’s Friday! Public holiday on Monday, so looking forward to a long weekend, yippee! Not so great for holid...

UK Visitors Faced Long Queues At London Heathrow After Border Force Computers Fail

Cynthia Barker writes…Thank god it’s Friday! Public holiday on Monday, so looking forward to a long weekend, yippee! Not so great for holiday travellers and UK visitors who faced long queues at London Heathrow Airport following a fault on UK Border Force computers today.

International passengers arriving at a number of British airports have reportedly been told they may have to wait of up to four hours to get their passports stamped. Wow, almost as long as USA immigration!

A Home Office spokesman said: "We are currently experiencing temporary IT problems which may add to the time taken to conduct passport checks.

"We are working to rectify this issue and are providing extra staff to get passengers through the controls as quickly as possible. Our priority remains security of the border.

"We apologise for any additional time this adds to passengers' journeys."

Passengers, most non-EU, reported problems at passport border control desks, largely affecting those trying to enter the country. The non-EU line for immigration control is always jammed full of people waiting to enter the UK and this extra delay will make things even worse.

Hundreds of thousands of passengers go through Heathrow every day and this bank holiday weekend will be crazy. Hopefully things will get sorted out soon.

I have spent many hours waiting for migrant nurses, care workers and students to arrive at Heathrow Terminal 3 and 4. The flights from the Philippines nearly always arrived at 6am! And British Airways always landed early. 

Although I hated getting up in the middle of the night to go to the airport I knew that those arriving on early flights usually faced fewer hassles, such as medical examinations, and were less likely to be detained.

I dreaded having to pick up that dirty yellow phone on the wall to speak to an immigration officer. Still, we won most of our appeals and none of our nurses got deported back onto the flight home.  

Visitors on UK visit visas are not always so lucky. Classic cases are those who arrive on a UK tourist visa from a visa national country, such as the Philippines, Nigeria or India, carrying their CV's and job applications! 

Obviously, the immigration border officer will not believe you are a genuine tourist if your real intention is to work illegally or try and switch visas once you are in the UK.

Other problems occur when visitors fail to declare a relationship in the UK, for instance a Fiance, which will also arouse suspicion when the immigration control office searches your luggage only to find a love letter!

Have a great weekend if you are flying off to somewhere nice...if not, have a boring one at home! Ha ha!

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Boris Johnson Calls For Illegal Immigrant Overstay...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Boris Johnson Calls For Illegal Immigrant Overstay...: Cynthia Barker writes...Hi, from a rainy London (back to normal weather) where our famous Mayor, Boris Johnson, has again called for a Home ...

Boris Johnson Calls For Illegal Immigrant Overstayer Amnesty

Cynthia Barker writes...Hi, from a rainy London (back to normal weather) where our famous Mayor, Boris Johnson, has again called for a Home Office amnesty for the hundreds of thousands of visa overstayers and illegal migrants living in the capital.

Going against his party's immigration crackdown policies, which he described as "crazy", the outspoken Conservative Mayor told the Total Politics magazine that people in the UK illegally should be 'legalised' and offered British Citizenship so they can become a part of normal society and pay taxes.

The Home Office fees alone on 500,000 applicants would pay off a sizable chunk of the national debt, especially of they charged a special premium rate.

Boris correctly pointed out that hundreds of thousands of visa overstayers are living in London in a black market job world where they have no papers and pay no taxes to the UK economy:

"The alternative is to continue in a situation in which half a million people or maybe 750,000 people in Britain, most of them in London, not registered, with no papers, contributing to the London economy, making money, but not paying tax," he said.

"Not paying for the NHS, not paying for social services, not paying for all the benefits that they are in many ways consuming. I think that is in the end crazy."

This is not the first time the London Mayor has spoken out against Home Office immigration policies, which he has previously said are not helping growth in the economy because employers cannot hire the right people for skilled job vacancies.

The official Home Office and government line has always been that an amnesty for overstaying migrants would simply encourage more illegal immigration, as it has done in Spain for instance.

I know many Filipinos who have been granted residency after living in Spain or Italy illegally, and some 'TNT's' (a Tagalog term for overstayers) who benefited from a previous amnesty in the UK. Many are holding on for an amnesty, or 'concession'as it is usually called, because they have not had professional advice on their chances of legalising their status in the UK.

But as Boris says, what is the alternative? Leading think tank ippr estimated that it will take 20 years and £5 billion to deport 500,000 illegal immigrants, assuming you could even find them! After 20 years an illegal overstayer would qualify for 'long stay' indefinite leave to remain anyway. Most would have put down 'family life' roots, making if difficult to remove them whilst human rights 'Article 8' applies, especially if they have children who would have already qualified to apply for British citizenship.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, including overstaying your visa, EU or UK immigration law, or want to appeal against a refusal, call Cynthia Barker on 07850 307687 or 0208 731 5972 or email her your details to immigration@londonccs.com. Cynthia Barker is a qualified OISC Registered Immigration Adviser, with 15 years experience in immigration matters, with a team of Level 3 Immigration Law Practitioners, Concept Care Solutions, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7UU.