The Home Office wish to encourage both asylum seekers and recognised refugees to take an active interest in the welfare of their own communities and the local community by undertaking voluntary activity while they are in the UK.
EU National from the new Accession States (i.e. Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Estonia) who have completed 12 months under the Workers Registration Scheme and who have continued to be employed during this period, are now entitled to apply for an EU Residence Permit. Furthermore, any dependent spouses, partners or children and in some circumstances other dependent relatives are also eligible to apply for EU Family Permits as dependents of the EU National.
Gherson and Co provides advice and assistance in connection with these applications.
Children born in the United Kingdom will not automatically acquire British citizenship by virtue of their birth in the United Kingdom if neither of their parents are British citizens or settled in the United Kingdom at the time of their birth(1).
Children born in the UK will only be British citizens if at the time of their birth, one of their parents is a British citizen or is settled in the UK. As the law currently stands(2) , a child born to parents who are married at their time of their birth or subsequently marry may trace their entitlement to British citizenship through either parent. If the parents are not married at the time of the child?s birth or subsequently marry, the child will only acquire British citizenship if his or her mother is a British citizen or settled in the United Kingdom(3).
On 17 March 2005 the Russian Government published on their official website their concept of passport and visa documents that will contain biometric information about the passport holder. President Putin has issued instructions that the specimen of the biometric passport must be ready by 1 January 2006, whilst the deadline for transferring all the Russian citizens to new documents is scheduled for 1 January 2007.
As reported in RIA Novosti, a spokesman for the Russian Interior Ministry announced that the biometric indicators for Russian passports will be limited to fingerprints and to a digital or scanned photograph.
On 21 February 2005 the government announced that its Airline Liaison Officer network which works with airlines to stop passengers who do not have genuine documents setting off for the UK is to be expanded by over 50 percent this year.
The Home Office is investing over £4 million into increasing the network of Airline Liaison Officers (ALOs) as part of its Five-Year Strategy to tighten control beyond the UK.
There is currently a permanent network of 27 ALOs based in 25 posts across Europe, Asia and Africa. The number of staff in the network will rise to a total of 42, beginning in the next two months.
On 7 February 2005 the government announced its new five-year strategy on immigration and migration entitled ?Controlling our borders: making migration work for Britain'. The key points of the plan are set out below:
On migration
A points system for those coming in to work or study that will consist of four new tiers: highly skilled, skilled, low skilled and student/specialist.
Financial bonds for specific categories where there has been evidence of abuse, to guarantee that migrants return home.
An end to chain migration - no immediate or automatic right for relatives to bring in more relatives.
On the 8 January 2005 the Home Office announced that India is to be added to the list of 'safe' countries. When a person applies for asylum from a designated 'safe' country, the decision making process on the application is fast-tracked. Applications that are refused are then considered by caseworkers for certification as clearly unfounded. Applicants whose claims are certified have no right of appeal in the UK, although the applicant can seek permission to judicially review the certificate.
Home Office Minister Des Browne, announcing the addition of India to the list, stated that for the time being enforced removals of failed asylum seekers to the southern coast of India have been suspended, in line with the Home Office?s policy on areas affected by the Tsunami.
Nationals of those countries that participate in the Working Holiday Maker Scheme and who qualify to enter the UK under the provisions of the scheme, will face new restrictions. These pertain mainly to the period for which the Working Holiday Maker may work while in the UK in that capacity and to children of Working Holiday Makers. These restrictions became effective on 8 February 2005.
Biroul Central(Ambasada/Consulatul) a publicat instructiunile pentru angajatii biroului cu privire la aplicatiile pentru prelungirea cu trei ani a sederii si pentru sedere pe o perioada nedeterminata pentru cazurile ECAA ale cetatenilor romani si bulgari.
Yes. If you are a Russian National and wish to enter Switzerland or Liechtenstein for the purpose of tourism, business trips and visits you will need to obtain a valid visa. You do not, however, require a visa if you hold a UK residence permit or a UK temporary residence permit. The permit must be endorsed in the passport and both the passport and the permit must be valid beyond the date of departure from Switzerland.