Since 1922, a lot of people coming from different countries, continents, and races, have moved to the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In fact, the number of people who have been moving usually come from Ireland and the other countries that used to be the colonies of the British Empire, namely, South Africa, the Caribbean, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh. Being former British colonies, they are provided with the British Nationality Law, which allows them to travel to the UK.
Some have gone to the UK as asylum seekers, as they seek for protection as refugees under the laws established during the 1951 Refugee Convention of the United Nations.
The reasons
Moreover, based on the studies conducted about the aforementioned issue, half of the population growth that occurred between 1991 and 2001 was due to the foreign-born immigration. Nearly five million were born abroad, which accounts for more than eight percent of the population during that time. Perhaps the lacking part of the study is that the census did not include any immigration status or how long they intend to stay in the United Kingdom.
Latest studies
According to the results of the latest studies, it was only in 2008 that five hundred ninety thousand individuals arrived in UK for living purposes, while around four hundred and twenty-seven thousand former residents left. This indicates that the net inward migration can be accounted for around one hundred and sixty-three thousand.
Furthermore, the total net immigration merely in 2007 was two hundred thirty-seven thousand, which increased a huge forty-six thousand individuals in only one year. It was just in 2006 that one hundred forty-nine thousand and thirty-five applications were submitted to the UK Government in order to acquire British citizenship, an amount that is thirty-two percent less during 2005.
However, the number of those who were allowed to be British citizens in 2006 was one hundred fifty-four thousand ninety-five, which is five percent less than the percentage in 2005. Furthermore, the biggest ethnicity group that was granted to become citizens of Great Britain came from the Philippines, Pakistan, Somalia, and India. Despite their legal entry to the UK, there were one hundred thirty-four thousand and four hundred thirty individuals who were granted permission to settle in the UK, a number that is twenty-five percent less than the number obtained back in 2005.
Migration to Eastern and Central Europe
It is a good thing that the migration processes from Eastern Europe and Central Europe has increased largely since the year 2003, along with the accession to the EU of the eight states of these parts of Europe because of the free movement of labor that is happening today.
Points-based system
Currently, the UK Government is phasing in a newer kind of system, particularly a points-based immigration system for the individuals who come from countries other than those included in the European Economic Area.
Entering UK illegally
Those who enter the United Kingdom without the proper authority will be termed as illegal or irregular immigrants. Aside from that, they will also be branded as illegal immigrants if they used false documents during they entry or if they overstayed past their Visa expiry.
Many people today might think that the Blue Card and the Green Card are the same thing, only that the blue one is used in Europe, while the green one is used in America.
However, they are actually very different from one another. In fact, they have more than ten differences between the two of them.
What is a Blue Card?
Blue Card, unlike its green counterpart in the United States of America, does not automatically provide its holder with permanent residency. It is considered valid up to two years. However, if they want to stay longer in Europe, for more than a couple of years, then they can easily renew their Blue Card.
It is through this Blue Card that foreign nationals are invited to enter the country as they are allowed, including their corresponding families, to reside, be employed, and travel all over Europe.
How to get a Blue Card?
If they feel attracted to Europe’s new Blue Card policy, they should just procure the enlisted requirements that they should complete first before they are provided with their very own Blue Card. They have to submit a recognized diploma that comes along with proof, stating that they have had professional experience in any given career for at least three years.
And, of course, they have to obtain a job contract, with one of the million of different companies in Europe, that runs for as long as one whole year. This job contract should indicate a salary of three times the regular minimum wage. Still, however, they must not think that the Blue Card ties to them to their job, because this card only attaches its benefits to the individual or the holder of the card.
And, although possession of a Blue Card does not automatically make that certain holder a European citizen, he or she will be granted permanent residency after five years, automatically. This is something definitely worth waiting for.
Today, the Blue Card is being actively talked about in various debate session. In fact, two issues have been raised up and are considered to be the most divisive. First is the regular definition of the terms highly skilled worker and also the destiny of the pre-existing nationwide schemes that are targeted at attracting and inviting foreign laborers who are qualified.
In fact, questions have been raised regarding how the level of income of a certain national from a third world country is enough for deciding what that worker’s value or benefits will be.
The target of the Commission in proposing the Blue Card is to harmonize the varying member state procedures, aside from providing migrants that are efficiently skilled. This Blue Card serves as their grant to move feely within the EU.
It is through the Blue Card that different countries within Europe will have more opportunities to define their quotas for foreign nationals who work in Europe. Examples of such countries are Austria and Germany, as they have consistently been implementing their restrictive quotas.
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