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Home Secretary asks independent migration experts to advise on future salary thresholds

Home Secretary asks independent migration experts to advise on future salary thresholds

The Home Secretary Sajid Javid has asked the Migration Advisory Committee to review and advise on salary thresholds for the future immigration system.

The Home Secretary Sajid Javid has today (Monday 24 June) asked the Migration Advisory Committee to review and advise on salary thresholds for the future immigration system, which will start to take effect from 2021.

The Migration Advisory Committee previously recommended that the government should retain the existing minimum salary thresholds in the future immigration system, which includes paying experienced workers at least £30,000, and new entrants (including recent graduates) at least £20,800.

The Home Secretary has asked the Migration Advisory Committee to consider how future salary thresholds should be calculated, the levels of salary thr..

News story

Government publishes details of immigration advisory groups

Government publishes details of immigration advisory groups

The Home Office is undertaking a year-long engagement programme around the future skills-based immigration system.

The Home Office has today (Monday 17 June) published membership details of 5 advisory groups, established to deepen engagement between government and industry as the future skills-based immigration system is developed.

The department is undertaking a year-long engagement programme to hear the views of communities and gather expertise from businesses across the UK.

Over 100 events have been held since the start of the year, reaching almost 1,500 stakeholders.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said:

I’ve already met hundreds of people and businesses to make sure our future immigration system works for every part of the UK.

Our advisory groups will provide invaluable expertise and representing the views of businesses, employers and..

News story

Minister visits Bristol business incubator to discuss immigration

Minister visits Bristol business incubator to discuss immigration

Caroline Nokes met with entrepreneurs and academics as part of the government’s engagement on the future immigration system.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes today (Monday 3 June) visited a business hub in Bristol to hear from tech companies, social innovators and academics on plans for the new skills-based immigration system.

The minister visited Engine Shed – which plays host to SETsquared Partnership, a globally-recognised business incubator – before sitting down with local industry leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss how the new immigration system will benefit companies based across the South West.

The visit was part of a year-long engagement programme across the UK on the future immigration system. The Home Office has already held more than 90 events and met with over 1,300 stakeholders this year.

Immigration Minister Carolin..

News story

New framework to improve integration support

New framework to improve integration support

New report which looks to improve integration strategies to better support refugees in the UK has been launched by the Immigration Minister today.

The Indicators of Integration framework is a resource for local authorities, charities and those working with groups in society at risk of poor integration.

The framework has been produced by the Home Office in collaboration with a group of leading academics and with input from local authorities, charities and from refugees themselves. It provides practical ways to understand and measure the integration of refugees and migrants.

Local authorities, charities and academics will come together today at a launch event in London to explore how best to use the framework and accompanying toolkit.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said:

The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those that need it and we are committed to supp..

News story

Home Secretary: EU Settlement Scheme is performing well

Home Secretary: EU Settlement Scheme is performing well

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed that more than 750,000 applications have now been received for the EU Settlement Scheme.

The EU Settlement Scheme is designed to make it straightforward for EU citizens and their family members to stay after the UK leaves the EU.

EU citizens and their families only need to complete 3 key steps – prove their identity, show that they live in the UK, and declare any criminal convictions. Deal or no deal, EU citizens will have until at least 31 December 2020 to apply.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said:

EU citizens are our friends, neighbours and colleagues who contribute so much to this country. Whatever the outcome of Brexit we want them to stay.

Our free and straightforward EU Settlement Scheme has already seen 750,000 applications – which is immensely encouraging. I hope this early success continues in the coming m..

News story

Government expands use of ePassport gates to 7 more countries

Government expands use of ePassport gates to 7 more countries

Eligible travellers from 7 non-EU countries can now use ePassport gates to enter the UK quickly and securely in changes being made to the border.

From today (Monday 20 May), visitors from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States will be able to use ePassport gates at ports across the UK and juxtaposed controls in a move designed to speed up border controls for low-risk countries.

There were over 10 million arrivals in the UK by nationals from these countries in 2017.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said:

Our new global immigration and border system will improve security and fluidity for passengers coming to visit or work in the UK.

Expanding the use of ePassport gates is a key part of this and allows us to improve the passenger experience of those arriving in the UK while keeping our border secure.

Th..

News story

Home Secretary hears from Scottish businesses on skills-based immigration

Home Secretary hears from Scottish businesses on skills-based immigration

Sajid Javid met business leaders in Aberdeen to listen to their views on the future immigration system.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid today (Friday 3 May) met with local business leaders in Aberdeen to seek their views on the UK government’s plan to introduce a new skills-based immigration system from 2021.

The Home Office is conducting a year-long engagement programme across the UK to listen to the views of
businesses and communities.

Representatives from the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association, VisitAberdeenshire, Chrysaor, Thistle Seafoods and other organisations were all present at the talks.

A skills-based immigration system will follow the end to freedom of movement and will favour experience and talent over nationality. It will help employers access the skills they need while..

News story

Funding awarded to support vulnerable EU citizens apply for settled status

Funding awarded to support vulnerable EU citizens apply for settled status

57 organisations throughout the UK have been awarded funding from £9 million available, supporting an estimated 200,000 vulnerable or hard to reach EU citizens.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has today (Wednesday 10 April 2019) announced that 57 organisations across the UK will receive funding to provide practical support to vulnerable or at-risk people applying to the EU Settlement Scheme.

The Home Office has made up to £9 million available in funding which will be used to help organisations both inform vulnerable individuals about the need to apply for settled status and support them to complete their applications to protect their status as the UK exits the EU.

The successful organisations, including disability and homeless charities and a wide-range of community organisations will provide support to an estimated 200,000..

Examples of how EU citizens can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and the status they will get.

After the UK leaves the EU, your residence status in the UK will depend on how long you have lived in the UK and whether you arrive by the end of the planned implementation period on 31 December 2020.

More details about the EU Settlement Scheme for EU citizens and their families.

Lordana

Polish citizen, UK resident for 8 years
lives in London
works as a NHS nurse
holds a permanent residence document

Lordana works as a nurse and has lived in the UK for 8 years. She is eligible for settled status, subject to criminality and security checks. This means she can remain in the UK permanently. She has a valid permanent residence document.

Lordana holds a valid passport and can use her Android smartphone to confirm her identity and nationality using the EU Exit: ID Document Check app, as well as complete the rest of her EU Settlement Scheme application.

Patrik

German citizen, UK residen..

Oral statement to Parliament

Windrush Compensation Scheme

Windrush Compensation Scheme

Home Secretary's oral statement on the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

Copies of the response to the consultation on the Windrush Compensation Scheme are available from the Vote Office.

The United Kingdom has a proud history of welcoming arrivals from around the world.

We have long held open the door to those who want to come and help build a better country – including, my parents for example or indeed the parents of the shadow Home Secretary.

And we have all benefited as a result, with the UK emerging as a stronger, broader, more vibrant and successful nation.

We would not be the country that we are today without the men and the women who crossed oceans to come here legally, to make their homes, to work hard, to pay taxes, to raise their families.

And we all know it.

Which is why the w..

News story

Home Secretary launches Windrush Compensation Scheme

Home Secretary launches Windrush Compensation Scheme

The Home Secretary today opened a scheme to compensate members of the Windrush generation who were unable to prove their right to live in the UK.

The Windrush Compensation Scheme, which was designed in consultation with those affected and will have independent oversight, is the latest step in the government’s commitment to right the wrongs experienced by the Windrush generation.

It will provide payments to eligible individuals who did not have the right documentation to prove their status in the UK and suffered adverse effects on their life as a result. These could range from a loss of employment or access to housing, education or NHS healthcare to emotional distress or a deterioration in mental and physical health.

Last April, the Home Secretary established the Windrush Taskforce that has helped over 3,600 people secure British citizenship. An independent lesso..

News story

Over 50,000 applications to the EU Settlement Scheme on opening weekend

Over 50,000 applications to the EU Settlement Scheme on opening weekend

Over 50,000 applications to the EU Settlement Scheme were received on the opening weekend of the scheme going live, the Home Office has today confirmed.

The EU Settlement Scheme was launched on Saturday 30 March following both private and public testing of the application process which began in August 2018.

During the testing phases of the scheme there were over 230,000 applications, of which 210,000 cases have already been concluded. Since the scheme went fully live on Saturday, over 50,000 further applications have been received. This brings the total number of applications to over 280,000.

EU citizens applying to the scheme only need to complete three key steps – prove their identity, show that they live in the UK, and declare any criminal convictions. Applicants can use any laptop, tablet or mobile device to apply.

For ..