5th February, 2009

The release of the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill earlier this month spelled yet more change for UK immigration, most notably that of the path to citizenship.

Non-EU migrants wishing to settle in the UK will now face a set of tests in order to earn their citizenship and whereas currently anyone who has lived and worked in the UK for five years can apply for settlement, immigrants could have to wait up to ten years to become British citizens.

Under the new rules, immigrants will need to have lived and worked in the UK for at least five years and then undergo an additional ‘probationary period’ of at least one year in which they will need to prove their worth as a British citizen. Prospective citizens will have to demonstrate their ability to speak English, an involvement in the community, such as volunteering and provide a record of paying taxes. The more contributions made by an individual, the quicker they will gain citizenship. Those who carry out voluntary work will be “fast-tracked” and gain citizenship after only one additional probationary year.

During their probationary period, prospective citizens will be denied a number of benefits. They will be asked to pay an extra fee that will go into the “transitional fund”. This levy will be put on visa fees and is likely to be about £20 per individual. Public services that are struggling to cope with the impact of immigration, such as local authorities police, schools and hospitals, can apply for support through this fund.

Critics of the bill include MPs Frank Field and Nicholas Soames of the cross-party Balanced Migration group. They feel the immigration policy should serve two purposes: To tighten immigration controls so that the British unemployed are given the first crack at jobs and to control the UK’s population to ensure it doesn’t hit 70m by 2028. They believe this policy cannot do either of these things.

Tim Finch, head of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has different concerns. He believes that migrants are easy targets in times of economic difficulty and that introducing more tough measure could damage the UK’s prospects for an economic recovery: “As it stands, the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill could deter migrants who are in high demand and who are essential for our economy.”

Mr Finch also has concerns about the over-complicated process of “earned citizenship” and has urged the Government to make the process both more clear and fair.

The Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill is expected to be implemented from April this year. A second bill will follow later in the year to further simplify immigration law to create a single form of permission to be in the UK.