This week saw the release of several important publications detailing migration data in the UK. These reports offer valuable insights into the state of immigration across various categories including asylum, employment, and leave to remain to name a few.
As per the data reported, over 1.3 million foreign nationals were granted permission to live in the UK last year, indicating a continued rise in legal immigration. The number of work visas issued increased 63% to 538,887, while study visas were up 34% to 657,208. Family-related visas more than doubled to 75,717 compared to the previous year. An additional 28,986 permits were granted to family members of EU nationals with settled status.
The surge in work visas reported reflects growing foreign interest in UK employment opportunities. According to jobs platform Indeed, the share of UK job searches by non-UK individuals rose 146% from April 2021 to June 2023. While this remains above pre-pandemic levels, the latest data from the Entrepreneurs Network shows the percentage of the UK’s fastest-growing companies founded by immigrants has fallen from 49% in 2019 to 39% in 2023. This highlights the need to enhance visa programs that attract global talent and high-potential individuals to drive business growth.
However, the problem of fraudulent job offers under the skilled worker system persists. One Nigerian woman reported paying £10,000 to an “agent” for a skilled worker visa but was left destitute with no job upon arriving in Britain. The Guardian is currently seeking testimonials from non-EU immigrants who have recently obtained UK work visas about their experiences.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s recent intervention with three immigration firms also underscores the importance of ongoing education and expertise maintenance. Their report examines solicitor competence and the role of law firms in guaranteeing attorney skills. It provides guidance to ensure immigration lawyers stay up-to-date on an evolving landscape.
In summary, while legal immigration continues rising, more work is needed to attract talent that drives growth while combating fraud and ensuring lawyer expertise. Immigration policies must balance economic needs, social integration, and public confidence in the system. Targeted reforms informed by the latest data can help achieve this balance.
Below the list of stories
NEWS
UK asylum backlog hits record high as over 175,000 await decision – The Guardian
More than 175,000 asylum seekers are waiting for an initial decision on their application, a record high, newly released Home Office statistics have shown. Data on asylum cases for the year to the end of June showed that while the number of people given a decision rose against the year before, this was more than cancelled out by a bigger increase in applications.
For full report, click here
Call for evidence: An inspection of the immigration system as it relates to the social care sector – Home Office
The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration invites anyone with knowledge and experience of the interaction between the UK immigration system and the social care sector to submit evidence to inform an inspection in this area.
For full report, click here
Immigration figures: Over 1.3m foreign nationals granted permission to stay in UK last year in latest rise – iNews
More than 1.3m foreign nationals were granted permission to come and live in the UK last year marking another rise in legal immigration, official figures show.
The number of work visas granted rose by 63 per cent in the year to June to 538,887, while the number of study visas was up 34 per cent to 657,208.
There were more than double the number of family-related visas granted (75,717) in the previous year, while 28,986 permits were issued to family members of EU nationals with settled status, the Home Office figures show.
For full report, click here
Rishi Sunak’s policies will add to UK asylum backlog, think-tank warns – Financial Times
Tens of thousands of people crossing into the UK via the Channel will be cast into “limbo” in need of government support, as a result of the newly passed Illegal Migration Act, according to a leading think-tank.
The legislation could lead to escalating costs of between £5.64bn and £6.38bn a year to the Treasury within five years, according to a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research released on Monday.
The government has struggled to get a grip of its migration policy after more than 45,000 people crossed into the UK via the Channel last year and a backlog in processing asylum claims hit a new high with 172,000 people awaiting an initial decision on their case in March.
For full report, click here
Immigration: How people are paying thousands for skilled worker visas for jobs that don’t exist – SKY News
One woman from Nigeria said she paid £10,000 to an “agent” for a skilled worker visa, before becoming destitute despite being promised a job in Britain.
To view the full news story, click here
Foreign workers’ interest in UK roles doubles – Personnel Today
Foreign interest in UK jobs has doubled since the government launched its post-Brexit immigration regime, according to data from jobs platform Indeed.
The share of UK job searches by non-UK workers rose by 146% from a pandemic low point of 2.2% in April 2021, to 5.5% in June 2023. Foreign searches also remain well above the 2017-2019 average of 3.5%, Indeed found.
For full report, click here
Non-EU UK immigrants: have you recently been granted a work visa? – The Guardian
The Guardian has reached out to hear from non-EU immigrants who have recently been granted work visas for the UK. This applies to those who are already in the UK or intend to come and work in the UK in the near future, the Guardian.
For full report, click here
UK may relax work visa rules for Indians as part of FTA – The Economic Times
The United Kingdom may consider easing working visa rules for professionals under its Free Trade Agreement with India. The UK is willing to relax some visa rules for Indian professionals, Indian officials told Bloomberg, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private.
However, a British official indicated any visa relaxations are likely to be limited, with immigration being a politically sensitive subject in the UK. The UK has so far refused any concessions to its visa and immigration rules under the FTA with India.
For full report, click here
Security Minister visits Iraq to strengthen security partnership – Home Office
The Security Minister Tom Tugendhat visited Iraq from 21st to 23rd August to strengthen the security of the UK, Iraq and the wider region, and build on the existing relationship between our 2 countries.
During his visit, the minister made progress on negotiating a new agreement with the government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government that will strengthen our efforts to tackle serious organised crime, including organised immigration crime, human trafficking and narcotics. Both nations are preparing to sign a statement of intent to tackle shared organised crime threats in the coming weeks.
For full report, click here
INDEPENDENT REPORTS
Job Creators 2023:The foreign-born founders building our fastest-growing businesses – The Entrepreneurs Network
The latest Job Creators report examines the impact of immigrant entrepreneurs on UK business growth. In 2019, nearly half of the country’s 100 fastest-growing companies had an immigrant founder. That figure has now fallen to 39% in 2023. While this may suggest improvements among native-born entrepreneurs, it also indicates the UK is attracting fewer global talents critical to economic expansion. To reverse this trend, the report recommends enhancing visa programs for high-potential individuals, global talent, and youth mobility. It also suggests streamlining immigration for extraordinary talents granted 0-1 visas in the US, providing them automatic entry to the UK.
To download the full report, click here
Annual assessment of continuing competence 2023 – Solicitors Regulation Authority
A recent report from the Legal Services Board emphasizes the need for legal regulators to ensure the competence of practicing lawyers. The review examines how individual solicitors maintain their legal skills and knowledge. It also looks at the role of law firms in guaranteeing the expertise of their attorneys across various practice areas. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of continuing education and professional development so that regulators can be confident in the abilities of the lawyers they oversee. The report aims to provide guidance to help ensure solicitors provide clients with competent legal services.
To download the full report, click here
HOME OFFICE GUIDANCE & POLICY DOCUMENT UPDATES
- Transparency data: Migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats has been updated on 24th August 2023. To download the latest data, click here
- Transparency data : Afghan Resettlement Programme, operational data has been updated on 24th August 2023. To download the latest data, click here
- Transparency data Home Office data – Q2 2023 has been published on 24th August 2023. To download the latest data, click here
- Transparency data HM Passport Office data – Q2 2023 has been published on 24th August 2023. To download the latest data, click here
- Transparency data Immigration Enforcement data – Q2 2023 2023 has been published on 24th August 2023. To download the latest data, click here
- Transparency data Visas and citizenship data – Q2 2023 has been published on 24th August 2023. To download the latest data, click here
- RASI (Resettlement, Asylum Support and Integration) data: Q2 2023 has been updated on 24th August 2023. To download the latest data, click here
- Transparency data Border Force transparency data: Q2 2023 has been updated on 24th August 2023. To download the latest data, click here
- Collection Immigration system statistics quarterly release has been published on 24th To view the full collection, click here
- Collection EU Settlement Scheme statistics has been updated on 24th August 2023. To download the data, click here to view the user guide, click here
- Home Office immigration system statistics: user guide has been updated on 24 August 2023. To view the Guidance, click here
- Guidance Policy and legislative changes affecting migration to the UK – timeline has been updated on 24 August 2023. To view the Guidance, click here
- Collection Irregular migration to the UK statistics has been updated on 24th August 2023. To view the Collection, click here to view the detailed datasets and summary tables, click here
- Returns summary: previous data tables have been published on 24th August 2023. To view the Guidance, click here
- Ukraine visa schemes summary: previous data tables has been published on 24th August 2023. To view the data, click here
- Asylum and resettlement summary: previous data tables have been published on 24th August 2023. To view the data, click here
- Official Statistics – Irregular migration to the UK, year ending June 2023 has been published on 24th August 2023. To view the data, click here
- Statistical data set : Returns and detention datasets has been published on 24th August 2023. To view the data, click here
- Statistical data set Asylum and resettlement datasets has been updated on 24th August 2023. To view the latest dataset, click here
- EU Settlement Scheme: caseworker guidance has been updated on 23rd August 2023. To view the updated Guidance, click here
- Guidance Streamlined asylum processing has been updated on 22nd August 2023. To view the updated Guidance, click here
- Guidance: Bridging accommodation exit plans for resettled Afghans has been updated on 21st August 2023. To view the updated Guidance, click here
- Guidance: Border Force privacy information notice has been updated on 17th August 2023. To view the updated Guidance, click here
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