BORDERS,  CITIZENSHIP  AND  IMMIGRATION  ACT  2009

Here  is  the  summary  of  key  changes  introduced  by  the  Act:

Section 39  and  41  established  a  new  path  to  citizenship   for  refugees.  This  imposes  additional  periods   of  temporary  leave  as  probationary  citizens  before  they  get  a  permanent  right   to  stay

Implementation   Date:  July   2011.

Section  55  requires  all  immigration  staff  to  safeguard  and  promote  the  welfare  of  children  who  are   in  the  UK

Implementation  date:   By    order  of  the  Secretary  of  State   after  Consultation  on Guidance.  It  is  possible  that  it  will  take  eefect  by  the    beginning  of  2010.

Section 53  provides  for  some  Judicial  review  cases  that  would  have   been  considered  by  a  High  Court  judge  to  be  transferred  to  the  Upper  Tier  of  the   Tribunal  service

Implementation  date:  By  Order  Possibly  early  2010

Section25  Changes   the  definition  of  the  places  where  detainees  can  be  held  short  term  and  alllows  some   to  be  held  there  for  unspecified  periiods.

Section  39:   Acquisition  of  British  Citizenship  by  Naturalisation:  Application  requirements: 

This  section  specifies  the  conditions  which  need  to  be  satisfied  for  a  person   to be  eligible  for   British naturalisation.  It  does  so  by  amending  the  British  naturalisation  Act  1981.

Inparticular  Section  39(2)  says  that   applicants  must   fullfill  the  following;

• that   the  applicant  must  be  in  the  UK   at  the  beginning  of  a  qualifying  period;
• that  the  number of  days  on  which  they  were  absent  from the UK  in  each  year  of  the  qualifying  period  does  not  exceed  90;
• that  they   had  a  qualifying  immigration  status  for  the  whole   of  the  qualifying  period;
• that  on  the   date  of  the  application  they  have  probationary  citizenship leave;
• that  they  were  not  at  any  time   in  the   qualifying period    in  the  UK  in  breach  of  the  immigration laws.

Section  41   The  Qualifying  Period:

This  section   then  defines  the  qualifying period  as  the period  immediately  before  the  date  of  the  application  for  naturalisation.  In  the  case  of  the  main  applicant   this  is  eight   years (  five  if  you  are  applying  to  join    a  spouse)  if  you  do  not  meet   the  activity  condition.  This  is  reduced  to  six  years  (  three  if  you  are  joining  a  spouse)  if  you  do  meet  the  activity  condition.

The  activity  condition  is  defined  as  being  the  Secretary  of  State  is  satisfied   that  the  applicant;

a)  has  participated  otherwise  that  for  payment  in prescribed activities  or

b)  is  to  be  treated  as  having  so  participated.

The  Government  has  indicated  that  it  is  likely  that   the  qualify  people  will  have  to  do a  total  of  50  hours   of  activities  over  their  qualifying  period.  The  type  of  activities  to  be  approved  will  be  either  voluntary  work  or  civic  activity  on  behalf  of  other  or  of  the  environment.  The  Government  indicated  how  it  intends  to   approach  the  activity  condition  working  in  conjunction   with local  authorities,  in  a  document  called  The  Government's  Emerging  Thinking  on  Active  Citizenship  June  2009.

 For  more  information  please  visit   www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk   or  contact   WLAC  at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or  tel  02088081255

Changes to Tier 4 student visa applications from 3 March 2010

03 March 2010

New requirements for student applications under Tier 4 of the points-based system have come into effect today.

The new requirements are as follows:

• We have raised the minimum level of English language course that Tier 4 (General) students can study, to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Before you can apply to study an English language course in the UK, you will need to show that your English language skills are at CEFR level B1 or higher. (There are exceptions if you are a government-sponsored student or if you want to study a pre-sessional English course that meets certain requirements.)
• If you are applying under Tier 4 (General) to study a course that is below degree level and is not a foundation degree, we have reduced the amount of work that you can do during term time to 10 hours per week. (The maximum level used to be 20 hours per week).
• If you are applying under Tier 4 (Child) and you are 16 or 17 years old, we have reduced the amount of work that you can do during term time to 10 hours per week. (The maximum level used to be 20 hours per week).
• If you are applying to study a course under Tier 4 (General) for six months or less, you will no longer be able to bring your family members (known as 'dependants').
• If you are applying to study a course lower than degree level (excluding foundation degree courses) under Tier 4 (General), your dependants will no longer be able to work (unless they qualify to work in their own right under Tier 1 or Tier 2 of the points-based system).

If you have submitted and paid for your application before 3 March 2010, you will be considered against the rules that were in force at the time when you applied.

Please check the Tier 4 (General) and Tier 4 (Child) student guidance for full details of the new requirements. These are avilable in the Adult students and Child students sections of this website.

Further changes will be introduced from April 2010.

Source:  UK  Border  Agency  Website