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Friday, June 27, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Home Office Declares War On Colleges And Universit...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Home Office Declares War On Colleges And Universit...: Cynthia Barker writes...It's war on private colleges again, as the Home Office discovers thousands of fraudulent English certificates as...

Home Office War On Tier 4 Sponsor Colleges And Universities

Cynthia Barker writes...It's war on private colleges again, as the Home Office discovers thousands of fraudulent English certificates as students apparently working in the UK illegally under Tier 4 student visas.

Okay, the Home Office hasn't actually declared war on education providers, but with the government struggling to meet net migration targets by 2015, students and colleges are the next target.

Earlier this week, Immigration Minister James Brokenshire stood up in Parliament and announced an inquiry into abuse of the student visa system after finding evidence of criminal activity, and added that several colleges and universities had been suspended from sponsoring non-EU students.

The minister revealed that out of 48,000 English certificates used to extend leave in the UK, 29,000 were invalid and 19,000 were "questionable".

Mr Brokenshire is pointing the finger, not at the Home Office caseworker who accepted the fake certificates when issuing UK leave to remain, but at the universities and colleges who also took them at face value.

UK Border officers found evidence of "serious concern" at some university campuses, and the Home Office has downgraded Glyndwr University in north-east Wales from a "highly-trusted sponsor" of Tier 4 student visas.

The Home Office has suspended Tier 4 Sponsors licences of 57 private further education colleges, and two universities - the University of Bedfordshire and University of West London - are suspended from sponsoring new students pending further investigations.

The certificates were issued by rogue colleges who gave the answers to students sitting English tests. How would a college or university admissions officer know that the tests were fake?

He added that LSBF, a large private college in London, had hundreds of students who were working, even though their visas should not allow work. However, if the CAS was issued by a university using LSBF as a London campus, then work would be allowed.

LSBF has issued a strongly worded statement of protest to the Home Office, but will probably face a large legal bill as the lawyers rub their hands with glee!

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, June 25, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: 48,000 Bogus English Language Certificates Leaves ...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: 48,000 Bogus English Language Certificates Leaves ...: Cynthia Barker writes...Wow, as many as 48,000 immigrants have allegedly obtained bogus English language certificates even though they coul...

48,000 Bogus English Language Certificates Leaves Home Office In Crisis And Signals Another Crackdown On Student Visas

Cynthia Barker writes...Wow, as many as 48,000 immigrants have allegedly obtained bogus English language certificates even though they could not speak English, the Home Office said.

Home Office Immigration Minister James Brokenshire told Parliament that an inquiry into abuse of the student visa system had found evidence of criminal activity, which would now be investigated fully.

Incredibly, out of 48,000 certificates, 29,000 were invalid and 19,000 were "questionable", the minister said.
Mr Brokenshire continued: "It is likely that the true totals will be higher."

"The government is not prepared to tolerate this abuse," he said.

"Since the start of February immigration enforcement officers, with the support of the National Crime Agency, together with officials from UK Visas and Immigration, have been conducting a detailed and wide-ranging investigation into actions by organised criminals to falsify English language tests for student visa applicants.

"They've also investigated a number of colleges and universities for their failure to ensure that their students meet the criteria set out in immigration rules."

The Home Office investigation was prompted by a BBC Panorama investigation earlier this year, which shows secretly filmed evidence of bogus colleges issuing fraudulent English certificates used to falsely obtain further leave to remain in the UK.

UK Border officers have also uncovered evidence of "serious concern" at some university campuses, and the Home Office has downgraded Glyndwr University in north-east Wales from its status as a "highly-trusted sponsor" of Tier 4 student visas.

The Home Office has also suspended Tier 4 Sponsors licences of 57 private further education colleges, Mr Brokenshire said.

In a rare move, two universities - the University of Bedfordshire and University of West London - are no longer allowed to sponsor new students pending further investigations.

The suspensions of student visa licences for state owned universities will be highly embarrassing for the UK government.

Immigration border enforcement officers had started work to identify migrants who were in the country illegally as a result of the falsified language tests so they could be removed or deported from the UK, the minister promised.

"The steps I have outlined today shows we will not hesitate to take firm action against those - students, colleges and universities - who do not abide by their legal responsibilities and resolutely pursue organised criminality to bring those responsible to justice," the minister concluded. Source: BBC.

The news of a few crooked colleges trying to buck the system will almost certainly result in yet another crackdown on foreign students and private colleges - worth billions to the UK economy. Let's hope that the Home Office will not allow a few rotten eggs to cause the government to throw the baby out with the bath water.

In a separate story, illegal immigrants recently had over £2000 confiscated by Home Office border officers during an immigration raid in Leicester. 

The overstaying Indian nationals were deported, but their money - deemed to have been earned through illegal working – was kept by the government under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Interestingly, the courts upheld the decision. With the new Immigration Act making it harder, if not impossible, for a visa overstaying illegal immigrant to open a bank account, there could be a lot more cash seized by the Home Office during deportation raids.

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: Appeal Cases Keeping Me Busy As Home Office Refuse...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Appeal Cases Keeping Me Busy As Home Office Refuse...: Cynthia Barker writes...Another manic day, saw three sets of clients and 10 people today! Home Office appeal cases are keeping us soooo busy...

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Appeal Cases Keeping Me Busy As Home Office Refuse Leave To Remain

Cynthia Barker writes...Another manic day, saw three sets of clients and 10 people today! Home Office appeal cases are keeping us soooo busy, but I wish clients would come to me with their visa refusals a little earlier than 24 hours before the deadline to lodge an appeal!

Some of the refusals by Home Office case workers for further leave to remain or partner visas are just plain daft!

In one case, a client was refused due to "inconsistencies in answers" during a Home Office interview for an EEA residence card for the non-EU wife of a Romanian national.

In the appeal evidence our appeal specialist actually refers to an old TV show called 'Mr and Mrs' in which married couples are secretly questioned about their partners habits and tastes.

The show was very popular and ran for decades because even couples who had been married for 50 years would give the wrong answers!

Back to our client's appeal. During the Home Office interview the wife was asked if her husband smoked. She said he had "given up".

But when the husband was questioned in another room he admitted to the Home Office officers (but not his wife!) that he still smoked.

Based on these minor inconsistencies, the wife was refused an EEA residence permit, and we are appealing the Home Office refusal decision.

The appeal tribunal will involve highly paid immigration judges, clerks, administrators, lawyers and a home Office representative to fight their case (assuming they turn up), all of which will cost the British taxpayer a lot of money. They should have been granted the EEA residence card in the first place, without the need for an interview.

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

Monday, June 23, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Wimbledon Starts

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Wimbledon Starts: Cynthia Barker writes...Today is the start of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, one of the great British summer traditions, and the sun is sh...

Wimbledon Starts Today With The Help Of Migrant Workers

Cynthia Barker writes...Today is the start of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, one of the great British summer traditions, and the sun is shining! Let's hope it's a good omen for Andy Murray who is defending his Grand Slam title - tennis fans have been queuing for Centre Court tickets since Saturday!

Crowds of up to 40,000 a day will pack the All England Club during the Wimbledon fortnight and many will no doubt want to sample the delights of strawberries and cream washed down with a glass of champagne.

But who will be serving the food, pouring the wine and clearing up the tons of rubbish every day? You can bet there will be a high proportion of migrant workers, especially from Eastern European countries such as Poland, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Non-EU migrants have not been able to obtain work permits or UK visas for low skilled jobs for some time and students at private colleges are barred from working to support their studies.

Wimbledon is a prime example of a great world class British institution which would not function without willing migrant workers. Another is the NHS, which is now recruiting overseas to fill nurse job vacancies in UK hospitals.

Hey, Andy Murray has just won his first match in straight sets! Come on Andy!

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: How 2 Come to the UK Video

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: How 2 Come to the UK Video: This video was shot in the Philippines during the launch of my book (co-written with Charles Kelly): How 2 Come to the UK to Live, Work, ...

Friday, June 20, 2014

How 2 Come to the UK Video




This video was shot in the Philippines during the launch of my book (co-written with Charles Kelly): How 2 Come to the UK to Live, Work, Study or Visit.

The book went on to help thousands of people learn how apply to live in the UK, study in the UK or find a job in the UK.

Since the book was published there have been many changes to the UK Home Office immigration Rules, which is why we are working on a revised and fully updated version of the book!

Nurses (RGN/RMN) are once again in short supply in the UK. Right now, there are 20,000 nurse job vacancies in the UK NHS! Nurses and doctors are in short supply in UK hospitals and care homes, which is why LPP Framework agencies like Concept Care are recruiting nurses from overseas for the NHS this year in a number of countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, India, China, Finland, Latvia, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and the Philippines.


Diary of an Immigration Adviser: NHS Free Healthcare A Great British Invention But ...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: NHS Free Healthcare A Great British Invention But ...: Cynthia Barker writes...Disappointing England performance who lost 2-1 to Uruguay in the World Cup! I feel for the country, which is a big f...

Thursday, June 19, 2014

NHS Free Healthcare A Great British Invention But Nurses Are Needed Now

Cynthia Barker writes...Disappointing England performance who lost 2-1 to Uruguay in the World Cup! I feel for the country, which is a big footballing nation - after all, they invented the game along with Cricket and Rugby!

The British are an ingenious and inventive race. Just take a look at the long list of British Inventions on Wikipedia. In fact you wouldn't even be reading this if Londoner Tim Berners-Lee had not invented the World Wide Web, that's right, www!

Another British innovation was the National Health Service or NHS as it's known. Unless you have lived in a country with no free national health service, like my native Philippines for instance, you cannot appreciate just how precious the NHS is!

Even in wealthy countries like America, families can go broke if they suffer a long term illness or they simply die because they have no insurance.

In the UK, if you get sick you visit your GP which is free. If you go into hospital, that's free too. The system is not perfect, so many people moan about waiting times, but in general the NHS works and saves thousands of lives every day.

In fact, an international panel of experts recently declared the NHS as the "best health service in the world"!

The NHS is the UK's largest employer and always needs staff, especially nurses and doctors. Right now, there are 20,000 nurse job vacancies in the NHS!

Qualified nurses and doctors are in short supply in UK hospitals and care homes, which is why

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, June 18, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: London Tourists Bring In £19 Billion But More Skil...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: London Tourists Bring In £19 Billion But More Skil...: Cynthia Barker writes...In an interview with Jeremy Paxman (on his last BBC Newsnight show) today, Mayor Boris Johnson said that tourists vi...

London Tourists Bring In £19 Billion But More Skilled Immigration Needed To Boost Economy

Cynthia Barker writes...Hey, in an interview with Jeremy Paxman (on his last BBC Newsnight show) today, Mayor Boris Johnson said that tourists visiting London brings in £19 billion!

There's no doubt that the great city of London attracts UK tourists in their millions and is a major contributor to the British economy.

This week, the Home Office extended a scheme to make it easier to obtain a UK tourist visa for the highest spending visitors: the Chinese!

But the boss of Harrods wants the Home Office to go further and make it easier and quicker for all Chinese visitors to obtain UK tourist visas.

Other leaders including New York's Mayor Bloomberg and our own London Mayor believe that the UK needs more than just short term tourists to boost it growth and economy.

Boris has called for an amnesty for UK visa overstayers in the capital, a move which he claims will add billions to the economy in tax revenue, as well as legalising millions of illegal immigrants living on the fringe of British society.

Businesses wants more skilled and highly skilled immigration to fill UK job vacancies and give the country the people and brains it needs to fuel growth and create jobs. But the government has imposed a cap on non-EU immigration and wants employers to recruit from within the EU or EEA - not as easy as it sounds when other countries, such as Germany and Norway, are also competing for skilled labour including nurses and doctors.

Skilled nurses and doctors are desperately needed to keep our hospitals and care homes staffed and safe for patient care, which is why companies like Concept Care are recruiting nurses from overseas for the NHS this year in countries like: Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, India, China, Finland, Latvia, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and the Philippines.

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, June 17, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: NHS Hospitals Recruiting Non-EU Nurses For UK Job ...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: NHS Hospitals Recruiting Non-EU Nurses For UK Job ...: Cynthia Barker writes...Phew, what a long day! I'm exhausted but feel great that I have achieved something worthwhile. Started the day...

NHS Hospitals Recruiting Non-EU Nurses For UK Job Vacancies

Cynthia Barker writes...Phew, what a long day! I'm exhausted but feel great that I have achieved something worthwhile.

Started the day with an early presentation with Concept Care's team at a London NHS Trust, which wants to recruit international nurses, midwives and AHP's (allied Health Professions). such as Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists.

Interestingly, the NHS Trust has tried recruiting from the EU (Spain, Portugal, Romania and Bulgaria), but need far medical more staff going forward and will look at employing non-EU nurses from countries such as India and the Philippines.

Many hospitals have tried Europe but failed to recruit the required number, as well as finding that the level of English was not quite up to scratch.

Other Trusts have gone further afield to the Philippines to recruit Filipino nurses.

Went straight from the NHS recruitment presentation to the Philippine Embassy in Trafalgar Square where I met with the Labor Attache and Consul to discuss the POEA requirements for hiring overseas Filipino workers (OFW's) for UK jobs.

We also discussed job opportunities for the thousands of qualified nurses already in the UK, for instance on student visas, who are presently working as carers, but would like to get back into nursing. Send us your CV!

The embassy was, as usual, packed with OFW's applying for various documents while networking and watch TFC - The Filipino Channel in the reception!

Was asked by several people about NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) requirements for nursing in the UK, as well as what to do if someone has overstayed their visa.

Anyone with a nursing degree and 1 year's clinical practice who wants to work as a nurse in the UK should check my previous blog on NMC requirements for overseas nurses.

You will need an English language level of IELTS 7.00 if you are a non-EU nurse. EU nurses have no English language requirement!

Visa overstayers should book a consultation with an OISC registered immigration adviser to look at their options for regularising their stay in the UK.

I was in sunny London very close to Buckingham Palace where the Chinese Premier was visiting the Queen and David Cameron to discuss a multi-billion pound investment into the UK in return for easier visas for Chinese visitors.

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: Cynthia Barker writes...Phew, what a long day! I'm...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Cynthia Barker writes...Phew, what a long day! I'm...: Cynthia Barker writes...Phew, what a long day! I'm exhausted but feel great that I have achieved something worthwhile. Started the day...

NHS Recruiting Non-EU Nurses For UK Job Vacancies

Cynthia Barker writes...Phew, what a long day! I'm exhausted but feel great that I have achieved something worthwhile.

Started the day with an early presentation with Concept Care's team at a London NHS Trust, which wants to recruit international nurses, midwives and AHP's (allied Health Professions). such as Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists.

Interestingly, the NHS Trust has tried recruiting from the EU, but need more staff going forward and will look at employing non-EU nurses from countries such as India and the Philippines.

Went straight from the NHS recruitment presentation to the Philippine Embassy in Trafalgar Square where I met with the Labor Attache and Consul to discuss the POEA requirements for hiring overseas Filipino workers (OFW's) for UK jobs.

The embassy was, as usual, packed with OFW's applying for various documents while networking and watch TFC - The Filipino Channel in the reception!

Was asked by several people about NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) requirements for nursing in the UK, as well as what to do if someone has overstayed their visa.

Anyone with a nursing degree and 1 year's clinical practice who wants to work as a nurse in the UK should check my previous blog on NMC requirements for overseas nurses.

You will need an English language level of IELTS 7.00 if you are a non-EU nurse. EU nurses have no English language requirement!

Visa overstayers should book a consultation with an adviser to look at their options for regularising their stay in the UK.

I was in sunny London very close to Buckingham Palace where the Chinese Premier was visiting the Queen and David Cameron to discuss a multi-billion pound investment into the UK.

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, June 16, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: New UK Visa Rules For Chinese Investors And Touris...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: New UK Visa Rules For Chinese Investors And Touris...: Cynthia Barker writes...Back to work on a cool cloudy Monday morning! Good news for Chinese visa applicants. The Home Office are expected to...

New UK Visa Rules For Chinese Investors And Tourists To Be Announced By The Home Office

Cynthia Barker writes...Back to work on a cool cloudy Monday morning! Good news for Chinese visa applicants. The Home Office are expected to announce a relaxation of the UK Immigration Rules this week to encourage more Chinese tourists and business people to invest in Britain, the Telegraph reports.

Strict rules and delays for Chinese citizens applying for UK tourists visas and business visitor visas have been openly slammed by the Chinese government who are demanding special treatment.

Despite Home Office efforts to fast track the UK visa system, Britain is outside the EU WIDE Schengen visa area. Having to apply and pay for a separate visitor visor is discouraging more wealthy Chinese tourists and investors from coming to the UK when travelling to Europe.

The reforms follow a number of campaigns, including one from the Telegraph’s for easier visa rules for Chinese visitors to boost UK economic growth.

Leading businesses, known as the UK China Visa Alliance, which includes Travelodge, Harrods and International Airlines Group, and which owns British Airways, has warned that Chinese tourists, who spend an average of £1,600 per visit, are shunning the UK in favour of other countries in Europe.

Having said that, top London stores, like Harrods and Selfridges, employ hundreds of Chinese-speaking sales assistants to sell high end luxury goods to tourists from China.

The UK also hosts hundreds of thousands of Chinese students on Tier 4 student visas.

There are also schemes for longer term Investor Visas for a short route to British Citizenship (cash for citizenship) and Tier 1 Entrepreneur visas to encourage investment into Britain.

However, the British Chambers of Commerce, the British Hospitality Association and the Institute of Directors all want more improvements to the UK visa system to help British businesses.

Last year, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that visa applications for some Chinese visitors entering the UK would be simplified.

Chinese tourists visiting the EU no longer need to submit separate UK tourist visa applications if they book with selected travel agents.

Home Office Ministers have also introduced a same day visa service for UK business visa visitors.

The Telegraph reports that further reforms will be announced when China’s premier, Li Keqiang, visits Britain for talks with the Prime Minister and tea with the Queen this week.

The Home Office are expected to drop the requirement for separate visa forms for all Chinese visitors who have applied under a European Union visa application, a major change from previously held views that the UK should have full control of its borders.

On Friday the Chinese Ambassador, Liu Xiaoming, said that progress on making it easier for Chinese people to visit Britain has been “far from enough”.

“We would like to see liberalisation of restrictions on visas on Chinese business people and Chinese tourists,” he said.

“I think there is many opportunities and much potential for cooperation with business, and with tourists. They’re not only coming here to enjoy sight-seeing, many of them are very good shoppers. I can see them anywhere and everywhere – Harrods, Oxford Street, you name it.”

Liu said that prominent Chinese businessmen are still being rejected when they apply for visas to come to the UK.

He said that many were rejected and unable to attend a recent business leaders’ summit but that he did not know the “real reason” their visa applications were turned down.

He added: “And also I receive complaints from businesses based here. They have difficulties to rotate their senior executives because of visa restrictions. That made their operations more difficult than they are in other European countries.

“So I think visa issues really erode British strength in terms of attracting more foreign businesses, attracting talented people. So I do wish more progress will be made on this issue.”

The relaxation of visa rules for the growing Chinese tourist market and rich investors will have positive benefits for the UK.

But let’s not forget that there are a large number of Chinese UK visa overstayers who are working without work permits in Britain. 

When Chinese illegal immigrants are caught during Home Office raids they normally claim to have "lost their passport" - a well known ploy to avoid immediate deportation from the UK.

The Chinese government will not take their citizens back without a passport and need 12 months to issue a replacement! This means the Home Office cannot afford to detain the overstayer for a year and are forced to release illegal immigrants into the community to work illegally, or in some cases fund lengthy appeals to prevent deportation.

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, June 12, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: 3 Tips When Submitting Documents To The Home Offic...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: 3 Tips When Submitting Documents To The Home Offic...: Cynthia Barker writes...Received a large brown Home Office envelope today. Unfortunately, not the usual type from Sheffield which you know c...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: World Cup Fever Hits London's Migrant Communities

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: World Cup Fever Hits London's Migrant Communities: Cynthia Barker writes...Hot and sunny in London, but this is the worst time of year for hay fever sufferers like me! But work must be done a...

World Cup Fever Hits London's Migrant Communities

Cynthia Barker writes...Hot and sunny in London, but this is the worst time of year for hay fever sufferers like me! But work must be done and the client comes first. Rain or shine, they just want their visa, indefinite leave to remain, UK citizenship or appeal against a refusal by the Home Office.

London is buzzing with another kind of fever...World Cup fever! With migrants from just about every country on earth living in the UK the pubs showing live matches will be heaving with fans supporting their team.

The UK has a large Brazilian population who will no doubt be watching the opening game against Croatia, our newest EU member state - there is 7 year restriction on Croatians who want to work in the UK, but they can study and work and apply for a yellow card permit (no relation to football yellow cards!).

England's opening game is against Italy on Saturday night. While I love Italy, I have to support my home side so...come on England!!!

If you need advice on any immigration matter, 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, June 11, 2014

3 Tips When Submitting Documents To The Home Office

Cynthia Barker writes...Received a large brown Home Office envelope today. Unfortunately, not the usual type from Sheffield which you know contains a visa approval, but a tatty envelope sealed with sellotape which had come open.

Inside the open envelope were three passports and a bio metric ID card, all loose and all sent in normal second class post. Thank God the contents were all intact and nothing had been lost or stolen (maybe if they had been British passports instead of Filipino passports it would have been a different story!).

I am always amazed at how casual people are when doing their own applications, not just in terms of common mistakes (e.g. not completing questions, not including correct documents) , but also in how they are sent.

Here are three tips when submitting immigration applications or letters to the Home Office.

Tip 1.  - When you send any documents or letters to the Home Office, ALWAYS use Special Delivery post, or at very least Recorded Delivery.

Tip 2.  - ALWAYS keep a photocopy of ALL documents sent, as from time to time documents do go astray.


Tip 3.  - Include a letter with a full list of documents submitted and keep a copy.

May seem obvious, yet surprisingly few people follow these simple steps when dealing with the UK Home Office, and some even withdraw applications just because they need a copy of their passport!

If you need advice on any immigration matter, 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, June 10, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: New Immigration Act Will Tighten Screws On Illegal...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: New Immigration Act Will Tighten Screws On Illegal...: Cynthia Barker writes...Just getting ready for a live interview with a Manila radio station which wants to know how the new Immigration Act...

New Immigration Act Will Tighten Screws On Illegal Immigrants And Cut Human Rights Appeals

Cynthia Barker writes...Just getting ready for a live interview with a Manila radio station which wants to know how the new Immigration Act will affect Filipinos in the UK.

For the vast majority of Filipino British residents who are here legally, for instance the many thousands of nurses and care assistants who work in the NHS, the new laws will have little effect - except perhaps those who want to marry or enter into a Civil Partnership.

However, the new Act, which received the 'Royal Assent' on 14th May, will make life tougher for illegal immigrants and visa overstayers in the UK, the Home Office hopes.

New laws will force landlords to check the immigration status of tenants and banks to check a database for immigration offenders before opening an account.

The million plus illegal immigrants said to be in Britain will also find it more difficult to obtain a driving licence, as links between the Home Office and other government departments are strengthened.

What next? Perhaps we will have to show our passport before we get on a bus or train? Or those previously dropped plans to introduce mandatory ID cards for everyone will make a comeback?

How about getting Tescos to scan your passport along with your Clubcard to stop visa overstayers eating?

The government also wants to clamp down on 'medical tourism' and abuse of the NHS by making temporary visa applicants, such as students make a contribution to the UK health service.

There is one government department which doesn't seem to mind whether or not you are legally in the UK: HM Revenue and Customs! HMRC will take your tax, no questions asked, even if you are working in the UK illegally. However, the employer could be fined £10,000 for employing an illegal worker.

Even us immigration advisers will be subject to stricter controls as the OISC regulator is given new powers to clamp down on advisers who submit 'no hope' further leave to remain applications to the Home Office, which according to the government clog up the system and waste public money.

The Home Office hopes the new Act will reduce Human Rights appeals and Article 8 'right to a family life' claims allowing foreign criminals to remain in the UK. Overstayers will be deported first and have to lodge their appeal in their own country. Immigration detainees will be prevented from lodging endless bail hearings once they have been refused.

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, June 9, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Immigration Needed In EU And UK Says Leading Think...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Immigration Needed In EU And UK Says Leading Think...: Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from 'hot' London, 24 degrees and no aircon! Just read that a leading think-tank has published a report ...

Immigration Needed In EU And UK Says Leading Think Tank

Cynthia Barker writes...Hi from 'hot' London, 24 degrees and no aircon! Just read that a leading think-tank has published a report confirming what we already knew: Europe and the UK need immigration to tackle the "millstone" an ageing population.

Wow, these guys must be clever! I only have to look around to see the amount of people on scooters and walking sticks to know that the British population mix is heading for the wrong side of 70.

In the past anyone over 70 was considered 'past it' or 'on his last legs'. Now 80 year old pensioners are playing gold, riding bikes and attending aerobic classes! Many will live to 100.

They are all drawing state pensions paid for directly from the taxes of younger working people like me - that's right, there is no pension 'fund'. Then we have to pay for the sick, unemployable and long term mentally or physically disabled - from our taxes deducted from our working salaries.

Even London Mayor Boris Johnson agrees, going against his Conservative party line, that Britain needs more workers,

Dr Robin Niblett, a leading expert in international relations and director of think-tank Chatham House, said that significant net migration is necessary to keep worker-dependency ratios across the EU at their 2020 levels.

Unlike other parts of the world such as Asia and Africa, almost half of the EU population (48.5%) will be aged 50 or over by 2050, according to Eurostat.

To merely maintain the workforce at 2010 levels, Europe needs immigration of 25 million by 2020.
The UK is already suffering from a labour shortage in the NHS and care industry. The government funded National Health Service (NHS) needs 20,000 nurses to fill advertised vacancies and they are not going to all come from the EU!


Only countries like The Philippines, India and China have a sufficient surplus of qualified specialist nurses to satisfy the demand for nurse job vacancies in the UK.

Concept Care Solutions has this week been appointed onto the LPP 'Lot 5 Framework' suppliers list to recruit international nurses for NHS Trusts, which means Concepts will be recruiting overseas nurses this year.

Hospitals are all running off to sunny Portugal, Greece and Spain to recruit nurses, but eventually they will have to sponsor non-EU nurses to fill those UK job vacancies. 

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, June 6, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Report Says Yarl’s Wood Immigration Detention Cent...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Report Says Yarl’s Wood Immigration Detention Cent...: Cynthia Barker Writes...A new damning report on Yarlswood claims the immigration detention and removal centre is 'not fulfilling its bas...

Report Says Yarl’s Wood Immigration Detention Centre Held Women For 3 Years, But Is It Their Fault?

Cynthia Barker Writes...Good day, just got another Home Office approval - UK visitor visa to indefinite leave, despite bad previous advice. A new damning report on Yarlswood claims the immigration detention and removal centre is 'not fulfilling its basic function' and that some women have been detained migrant overstaying women for long periods without deportation or release.

According to data from the Independent Monitoring Board, one immigration detainee was held at for three and a half years before bailed on temporary release at the centre designed for temporary stays prior to removal or deportation from the UK.

The Yarl’s Wood website shows a customer friendly picture of a smiling Centre Manager making the following reassuring statement:

“Caring and supporting those held in Detention at Yarl’s Wood is at the forefront of all our policies, procedures and actions” Norman Abusin, Centre Manager, Yarl’s Wood.

The IMB’s Annual Report for 2013 revealed that, whilst the majority of women were held for 30 days or less, a worrying number were detained for much longer periods.

Migrants can be detained for extended periods whilst their cases are being considered by the Home Office or awaiting Tribunal appeals or appeals to higher courts.

Yarl’s Wood is effectively a type of prison run by a private company, SERCO, for the Home Office.

Like any prison, the management has no influence over the outcome of an overstaying migrant’s appeal against a visa refusal or Home Office decision, so if people are detained for any length of time it is the immigration system that is failing.

The complaint put forward in the report is as ludicrous as the governor of a prison deciding to release a few convicts because they have been detained for a long time!

The reports said that at least six female detainees were held for more than a year and three for more than eighteen months. Again, the detention of a migrant, in most cases for overstaying a visa, would have been pending the outcome of an appeal to remain in the UK – at the end of the day, people are free to leave the UK at any time.

Bedfordshire News reports that last month a UN special rapporteur claimed she was 'blocked' from visiting the immigration detention centre on a recent trip to the UK. 

Rashida Manjoo began her investigation on 31 March, the day after Jamaican Christine Case, 40, died inside Yarl's Wood. At the time a high-profile campaign failed to prevent teenage student Yashika Bageerathi being deported from the UK to Mauritius days later.

Once again, deportation decisions are made by the Secretary of State or Home Office and the outcome or a legal challenge or appeal against removal from the UK by the courts, not Yarl’s Wood or SERCO.

We have dealt with many appeals for overstayers, who have normally been detained after being picked up by immigration officers, and the cases are very sad. Families and partners are often torn apart and people who just want to work are deported while violent convicted criminals are allowed by appeal judges to stay in the UK and given indefinite leave to remain. 

To end on a happier note, in one appeal case, our student client - who was in a relationship with an EEA national - was literally taken off a deportation flight to Nigeria minutes before take off! That was far too close for comfort! Anyway, must dash...just off to take a friend's Daughter to Wembley to see One Direction! Wish me luck.

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, June 5, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Worked Until Midnight On UK Settlement Forms With ...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Worked Until Midnight On UK Settlement Forms With ...: Cynthia Barker writes...Worked until midnight last night re-writing four 75 page forms, thanks to a last minute change of SET-O forms by the...

Worked Until Midnight On UK Settlement Forms With Conflicting Information On Knowledge Of Language And Life In The UK

Cynthia Barker writes...Worked until midnight last night re-writing four 75 page forms, thanks to a last minute change of SET-O forms by the Home Office.

But these things are part of the job of an immigration adviser, where our biggest 'competitor' is not another firm, but the Home Office! 

Immigration Rules are constantly being changed, rarely to the migrant's benefit, websites disappearing, fees increasing and of course visa forms changing every five minutes with little no and NO grace period to use the previous version.

One reason why the Home Office have to keep ‘updating’ their forms is that they are so poorly drafted.
For instance, on page 62 of the settlement (SET-0) forms under the heading ‘Knowledge of language and life in the UK’, the question is written as follows:

“If you have to complete section 4 and you and/or a partner applying with you are aged 18-64, you must provide one of the following for each of you:”

Note the word “one”, because it then goes on to say:

“A Life in the UK test pass notification letter; and

“A relevant speaking and listening qualification, as described in the guidance on our website..." (which takes you to -https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/285139/KoLL_v14.0EXT.pdf a ridiculously long link leading to a guidance document for Knowledge of language and life in the UK) - and so it goes round and round!

If the Home Office are asking for one of the following, should the form not state “or” rather than “and”?

In other parts of the form they ask for both language and Life in the UK, and the guidance is also confusing.

Despite all this, the client comes first and they are not really interested that the forms have changed or the Home Office website is down. Frankly, they just want their visa, indefinite leave to remain, UK citizenship or successful appeal against a refusal. That's why they are paying for our services, to get results!

If you need advice on any immigration matter, 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, June 4, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Human Rights Appeal Saves Baby Killer From Deporta...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Human Rights Appeal Saves Baby Killer From Deporta...: Cynthia Barker writes...This week I read that a foreign nurse who force-fed her baby to death has successfully appealed against her deportat...

Human Rights Appeal Saves Baby Killer From Deportation

Cynthia Barker writes...This week I read that a foreign nurse who force-fed her baby to death has successfully appealed against her deportation on 'Article 8' grounds that it would breach her right to a family life.

The Daily Mail reported that the Ghanaian woman won her appeal to stay in Britain under human rights laws which puts the rights of her children (family life) before the Home Office right to deport a convicted foreign criminal.

The 33-year-old former nurse had been jailed for causing the baby’s death, yet has now been granted anonymity by the Judge.

The Home Office said the ruling was ‘disappointing’ and are considering appealing against the decision in the higher Court of Appeal.

Here’s her story. After serving her three-year prison sentence, she was released in April last year to look after her three surviving children.

The Home Secretary Theresa May has made several attempts to remove the woman, who can be referred to only as GHA.

This case, the latest in a long line of successful appeals by convicted foreign criminals, will raise protests about the use of the European Convention on Human Rights to avoid deportation.

The African nurse came to the UK on a student visa in 2000 and remained in the UK. During her trial it was revealed that she used a small milk jug to tip baby rice African corn porridge and chicken soup into her child’s mouth.

Conservative MP and Lawyer Dominic Raab called for the reining-in of human rights laws, and said: ‘Many people will look at this case, a mother jailed for force-feeding her baby and feel it reflects the warped nature of our human rights laws today.

‘The argument is that she is being separated from her kids but not only was she separated from them in prison but there were also care proceedings brought against her. 

'The children have also spent periods of time in Ghana so the arguments for not deporting her fall away. It shows how the judges have expanded and shifted the goalposts from human rights in a way that is pretty arbitrary and perverse.

‘It does not reflect anything written into the ECHR and certainly not anything Parliament has agreed to.
‘Article 8 is being used by convicted, jailed criminals to stay in this country. This isn’t the only case. I actually think the article can be a threat to family life, in particular vulnerable children and partners.’

"Crazy" human rights laws

Raab pointed out that around 90 per cent of successful deportation appeals, up to 400 appeal cases each year,  are using ‘Article 8’: ‘Article 8 is the single biggest problem for deporting a serious foreign criminal and this is something that has only really developed in the last seven years. What will it be like in another seven? It could be almost impossible to deport someone.’

Another MP Peter Bone described the use of human rights law to protect the nurse ‘crazy’. He added: ‘The ECHR was never intended to protect people who carry out terrible crimes from being sent back to their own country.’ 

The three-year sentence handed to GHA at the trial in 2011 meant that under Home Office rules she should have been up for automatic deportation. 

However, attempts to deport her following her release from prison were rejected after she appealed and won her case at a lower immigration tribunal in February.

When the Home Office lodged an appeal to overturn the decision at the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber last month, the earlier decision was upheld. 

Unbelievably, a social services report deemed her children were under ‘no significant risk of harm’ form the child killer and described the family as a ‘close, committed unit with strong cultural and religious beliefs’. Her partner was granted custody of the three children following care proceedings in 2010 and the family has lived in a three-bed London home since GHA’s release. 

The Mail added that in her trial it emerged that GHA, who had already applied for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK when her child died, had paid ‘little attention’ to social services who had been involved with the family.

It added: ‘Through the recently passed Immigration Act, we are making it easier to remove people from the UK and harder for individuals to prolong their stay with spurious appeals, by cutting the number of appeal rights from 17 to four.

‘It will also ensure that judges deal with Article 8 claims in the right way — making clear the right to a family life is not regarded as absolute and unqualified.’ Source: Daily Mail.

Judges are often criticized for their human rights appeal judgments, but at the end of the day they are only upholding the law. If her children, who may now be British Citizens, have grown up in the UK it would be difficult to see how a judge could rule that she should be deported under the current Immigration Rules and Human Rights laws.

If you need advice on any immigration matter, 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, June 3, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Dear Home Office, Why Change SET-O Forms Again - A...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Dear Home Office, Why Change SET-O Forms Again - A...: Cynthia Barker writes...You won't believe this, the SET-O Home Office forms I completed last week are version April 2014 and literally, ...

Dear Home Office, Why Change SET-O Forms Again - After 2 Months And With No Warning?

Cynthia Barker writes...You won't believe this, the SET-O Home Office forms I completed last week are version April 2014 and literally, this minute, I saw another newer version to be used after 2 June - I will now have to redo 4 X 75-page forms arghhh!

OPEN LETTER TO HOME OFFICE FORM CHANGING TEAM:

Dear Home Office, it is extremely frustrating that the you change your forms far too often, for a minor alteration and with little or no notice to your customers. 

For example, the SET-O UK settlement form was only just changed in April, when you also increased Home Office immigration fees from 6th April. 

My worry is that a large number of applicants, and some OISC Immigration Advisers, will get caught out by this unexpected 'immediate' change, resulting in a refusal several months down the line. In some cases, visas will have expired, removal notices will be issued resulting in costly appeals being lodged against visa refusals - all because of a minor change.

Can you please be more flexible and allow migrants customers more time to adjust to the changes, or try to limit changes to immigration forms.

Thanking you in advance.

Signed, 

Frustrated Immigration Adviser taking time out to re-complete four 75 page Home Office SET-0 forms!

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.
Concept Care Solutions will be at the Filipino Barrio Fiesta Hounslow 5 and 6 July 2014

Monday, June 2, 2014

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Concept Care Prepares For Filipino Barrio Fiesta H...

Diary of an Immigration Adviser: Concept Care Prepares For Filipino Barrio Fiesta H...: Cynthia Barker writes...Busy preparing for the July Barrio Fiesta being held in Lampton Park, Hounslow. Concept Care Solutions will have a s...

Concept Care Prepares For Filipino Barrio Fiesta Hounslow 5 and 6 July 2014

Cynthia Barker writes...Busy preparing for the July Barrio Fiesta being held in Lampton Park, Hounslow. Concept Care Solutions will have a stand at the Filipino European event of the year!

Come and visit the team - we have nursing and care jobs, free care courses, free apprenticeships and of course my own immigration advice.

It should be a great day, with food stalls, music and dance and fun for all the family.

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.
Concept Care Solutions will be at the Filipino Barrio Fiesta Hounslow 5 and 6 July 2014