Released on: March 31, 2008, 4:01 am

Press Release Author: Liam Clifford

Industry: Law

Press Release Summary: Any delay in the recruitment process for many small
businesses will be disaterous. With a record low unemplyment rate in the UK finding
the right candidates is harder than ever and this new blow is an unwelcome addition
to any HR teams day.

Press Release Body: London, UK, March 31, 2008 -- In the UK from this Autum UK
Immigration Authorities are scrapping the Work Permit Scheme which has been in place
since the 1970's in favour of the Tier 2 Visa scheme which requires employers to
register and obtain a licence before being allowed to employ any new overseas
nationals or continue to employ those who require their work permit to be extended.

In a recent surevey conducted by www.globalvisas.com of 3,000 businesses contacted
within the UK less than 10% were aware of the new UK Immigration sponsorship
requirements and were completely shocked to discover what it means to them and how
it will impact on their business. Just the amount of work required to qualify for a
licence will place a real burden on many small businesses. While larger organisation
may require hundreds of licences to cover all their separate regions and
departments.

However, to make the issue a lot worse www.globalvisas.com have learned from a Home
Office B.I.A. insider the B.I.A. do not have the resources to run the new system.
Their plan (so far) is to limit the issuing of licences to the first 60,000
organisations who apply. This will clearly have a massive impact on the majorities
of companies in the UK.

With only 60,000 sponsorship licences on offer that will mean many hundreds of
thousands of employers will be unable to employ overseas nationals critical to their
opperations. Liam Clifford the Director of www.globalvisas.com has been reliably
informed by an insider in the Boarder and Immigration Agency that they have decided
to "Stock pile all applications after the first 60,000 to work through them as and
when they can as they don't have the resources to conduct that many site visits and
vet all the applications sufficeiently." When asked what the average time frame for
sponsorship licence to be granted would be they could only say "No idea and to be
frank no one in B.I.A really knows until the applications start or stop flooding
in!"

Any delay in the recruitment process for many small businesses will be disaterous.
With a record low unemplyment rate in the UK finding the right candidates is harder
than ever and this new blow is an unwelcome addition to any HR teams day. The last
time www.globalvisas.com went public with information provided by a Home Office
insiders regarding the "Amnesty" on over 400,000 Refugees who's cases were never
resolved for years was again due to the B.I.A lack of resources. At the time the
Home Office denied the "Amnesty" but now it is clear now the policy in place and
active in all but name.

This latest blow to the UK will see organisations up and down the country prevent
from employing those skills they need within a reasonable time frame. Work Permit
holder of Tier 2 applicatants are very often highly skilled individuals who are
essential to the UK Plc running effectively. To compound the problem the new rules
are clear that if a company were deemed to employ an overseas national without their
Immigration sponsorship licence in place the responsible person within the company
would be liable to a fine or upto six months in prison.

Today Liam Clifford from www.globalvisas.com said that he was concerned for those
employers who are still completely unaware of the problems they are about to face
and would like to see the Home Office do more to ensure applications for a licence
are dealt with in a timely manner and if the application can not be completed
employers must be allowed to continue to employ those they need while their case is
pending." Mr Clifford goes on to say "This will of course cause major issues if
their licence is subsiquently declined and the employee has to leave the UK, but
under the circumstance it seems to be the only option. Unless they postpone the
launch and role it out in stages."
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Contact:

Liam Clifford
Global Visas
London, UK
liam.clifford@globalvisas.com
http://www.globalvisas.com




Web Site: http://www.globalvisas.com

Contact Details: Liam Clifford
Global Visas
London, UK
liam.clifford@globalvisas.com
http://www.globalvisas.com