UK Sees Drop in Foreign Work Visas and Student Entries Amid Immigration Policy Changes
Recent statistics reveal a significant decline in the number of foreign nationals seeking work in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and social care sectors. Official data shows that the Conservative government issued 286,382 work visas in the year leading up to June 2024, a decrease of 11% from the previous year.
Notably, the Home Office data indicates a sharp drop in visas for the health and care sectors, with only 89,085 visas granted in the same period—an 80% reduction compared to the previous year’s figures. This decline follows the former Conservative government’s introduction of tighter immigration restrictions aimed at reducing overall net migration.
In December 2023, former Home Secretary James Cleverly implemented new rules that included minimum salary requirements for both workers and their families, as part of efforts to address record-high net migration levels.
The statistics also reveal a decrease in student visas, with 432,000 granted to foreign students for the year ending June 2024—a 13% drop from the previous year. Additionally, the number of visas issued to students’ family members plummeted by 81% in the first half of 2024.
Dr. Ben Brindle of the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory noted that these trends could lead to a reduction in net migration, though exact figures will be available later. He suggested that while the decline in health and care visas might slow if trends reverse, the Labour government is likely to meet its commitment to lower net migration levels.
Ahead of the general election earlier this year, the Labour Party pledged to decrease net migration without setting a specific target. Labour aims to reduce reliance on foreign labor through enhanced workforce training in critical sectors like health and construction.
Seema Malhotra, the new immigration minister, criticized the previous Conservative government’s handling of skills shortages and pledged to continue some of their measures, including restrictions on the number of dependents allowed to join relatives in the UK. However, she also indicated a plan to address the asylum system’s backlog.
Asylum applications also saw a decline, with 97,000 seeking refuge in the UK to June 2024, an 8% decrease from the previous year. This figure includes 38,784 irregular arrivals, with 80% arriving by small boats across the English Channel. The number of pending asylum cases stands at 118,882, a backlog exacerbated by the previous government’s halt in processing most asylum applications as part of its controversial Rwanda deportation plan.
The Labour government has directed officials to address this backlog and assess which applicants qualify as genuine refugees. Malhotra described the asylum system as being in “utter chaos,” while Cleverly criticized Labour’s reversal of the Rwanda policy, questioning the government’s plans for rejected asylum seekers from countries like Afghanistan, Syria, and Iran.
As the new administration works to address these issues, the future of the UK’s immigration and asylum policies remains a critical concern.
The UK government has announced a £10.5 million funding package to support major transport hubs in preparing for the new EU border checks set to be implemented this autumn. The funding will be directed towards the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone, and Eurostar at St Pancras to help reduce potential delays and queues for travelers.
Starting this autumn, travelers from the UK and other non-EU countries will be required to undergo a new digital border system known as the Entry/Exit System (EES), introduced by the European Union. This system will involve capturing travelers’ photographs and fingerprints as part of the border crossing process.
The government funding will be used to equip these key ports and transport hubs with the necessary technology to facilitate these biometric checks. Under the new system, individuals entering an EU country from non-EU nations—including the UK—will need to register their fingerprints and photograph along with their passport details. This information will be recorded every time travelers enter or exit participating European countries, and the registration will be valid for three years, requiring validation at each border crossing. This system will replace traditional passport stamping.
The biometric data collection technology to be used at these ports has not yet been finalized, though it was previously suggested that devices similar to tablets could be employed to capture fingerprints. The EES was originally scheduled to be implemented in 2022 but has faced several delays. It was rescheduled to May 2023, then the end of 2023, and is now expected to be enforced in November 2024.
Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, emphasized the importance of minimizing queue times at the ports. “Nobody wants to see excessive queues at our ports, which is why we’re providing this funding to ensure our borders are as prepared as possible for the upcoming change—despite EES being an EU initiative,” she said.
Emma Ward, Chief Operations Officer for the Port of Dover, assured that the port is working diligently to prepare facilities for French border officials who will operate the new system. Similarly, Getlink, the company managing Eurotunnel, has been preparing for the EES for two years, focusing on enhancing customer satisfaction and border experience.
Yann Leriche, CEO of Getlink, noted that the funding would be used to train staff, upgrade technology, and possibly add more kiosks as needed. Each port is set to receive £3.5 million as part of this funding initiative, marking the first major effort to address potential delays related to the EES implementation.
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North Korean soldiers have clashed with Ukrainian troops for the first time, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the incident in an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS, stating that a “small group” of North Korean soldiers had been involved in a confrontation with Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the lack of response from the West, calling the clash the beginning of a “new chapter of instability” in the world. He warned that these first battles with North Korea could have far-reaching consequences for global security. However, South Korea’s government has played down the severity of the incident, with Seoul officials stating they do not believe that direct combat took place. Instead, they described the event as an “incident” involving a small number of North Korean troops near the frontline. Despite this, tensions are rising, as Ukraine claims that up to 11,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in the Kursk border region, where Ukrainian forces have a presence. Reports from South Korean, U.S., and NATO intelligence agencies over the past few weeks have pointed to the involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. While Moscow and Pyongyang have not directly addressed these allegations, the situation has raised concerns internationally. The first reports of North Korean military involvement came from Andriy Kovalenko, Ukraine’s top counter-disinformation official, who posted on Telegram that North Korean units had come under fire in the Kursk region. Umerov confirmed these reports, stating that while the encounters so far have been minor, a “significant number” of North Korean troops are expected to be deployed in combat in the future. He noted that many of the troops are still undergoing training in Russia and are being integrated into Russian military units. According to Umerov, the North Korean soldiers, who are reportedly wearing Russian uniforms, are being trained in tactics and deployed under Russian command on the front lines. He mentioned that about five units, each consisting of roughly 3,000 soldiers, are expected to be involved in operations. Although no casualties have been reported, the involvement of North Korean troops is raising alarm both in Ukraine and internationally. In a daily video address, Zelensky called on Ukraine and its allies to ensure that this “Russian step toward expanding the war” would fail for both Russia and North Korea. The situation has also sparked diplomatic tensions, with South Korea having summoned Russia’s ambassador last month to demand the withdrawal of North Korean troops. In addition, Seoul has warned that it may consider directly supplying arms to Ukraine in response to this growing involvement. Analysts suggest that Pyongyang could be compensated for its support with Russian military technology or other incentives. On Wednesday, Russian lawmakers are set to vote on a mutual defense treaty with North Korea, further solidifying the alliance between the two countries.
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