A quick overview of some changes or simply news in the world of migration July 2011

Overseas artists 'poorly treated' by visa system

The letter in the Daily Telegraph, signed by nearly 100 names from the arts world, says non-European artists are "poorly treated." The group says the points system, introduced in 2008, is "needlessly bureaucratic and intrusive". A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said: "Creative artists from across the world are welcome to come and perform in the UK. As part of our commitment to the industry, we work with organisers of international events to ensure they are aware of the application process and are able to help facilitate urgent cases. However, as with any visitors to the UK, we expect individuals to meet our entry requirements."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13927454 

Unveiling the Truth: Why 32 Muslim Women Wear the Full-Face Veil in France

As you may know, a new law which bans the burqa has been introduced in France. As a result, Open Society have done a research which gathered 32 Muslim women. Have a read through their impressions!
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/home/articles_publications/publications/unveiling-the-truth-20110411

Man 'denied French citizenship over degrading views'

An inquiry showed the man did not respect the principle of equality between the sexes, Europe 1 radio quotes a French official as saying. An inquiry showed the man did not respect the principle of equality between the sexes, Europe 1 radio quotes a French official as saying. It adds the unprecedented decision signals tough new requirement for obtaining nationality. The unnamed man is said to have been married to a French citizen for years. An interior ministry official quoted by Europe 1 insisted the rejection was justified. The man's behaviour, the official said, had been "incompatible with the basic values of the French community and the principle of equality between men and women".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13722542

Migration settlement rights to be cut says Home Office

In future, only a "tightly controlled minority" from outside the European Union will be allowed to stay for more than five years. Ministers say they are also considering stopping wealthy business people staying on after five years. The move is part of the government's pledge to cut net migration to tens of thousands by the end of the Parliament. Ministers have already announced an immigration cap affecting skilled workers from outside the European Union and plans to restrict students. The government also says dependants of visa applicants may have to pass an English test. In a written parliamentary statement, Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "We intend to break the automatic link between coming to the UK to work and settling here permanently. "In 1997, there were fewer than 10,000 employment-related grants of settlement; by 2010, that number had risen to over 84,000. "We need to be more selective about who we allow to stay." The key proposals in the 12-week consultation include only allowing temporary residence for skilled workers, ending the assumption that anyone who comes to the UK can ask to stay after five years. Turfing out valuable migrant workers who are turned down for settlement would be incredibly disruptive to companies of all sizes”. Dr Adam Marshall, British Chambers of Commerce However, ministers say they could make exceptions for workers earning more than £150,000 or if they were in eocnomically important jobs. Another proposal is to ban non-EU domestic workers - people who work in private homes in jobs including cooks and nannies.The government is also considering limiting the rights of wealthy entrepreneurs or highly-qualified business people to settle.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13714028

French Minister claims two-thirds of children of non-European immigrants are school-dropout 

On 22nd May 2011, Mr GUÉANT made his controversial remarks, insinuating that children of non-European immigrants were somehow less capable than others. “Contrary to what people say”, affirmed Mr GUÉANT, “integration is not going that well: a quarter of foreigners who are not of European origin are unemployed and children of immigrants are responsible for two-thirds of school dropouts”. “This new provocation which stigmatises children is despicable”, added Christian CHEVALIER, Secretary General of SE-UNSA.
For its part, the Federation of Parents of Public School Students (FCPE – one of the main federations of parents of pupils in France) denounced the Minister’s remarks as “inconceivable” and asked where he had obtained such “crazy statistics”. According to a spokesman of Mr GUÉANT’s ministry, the figures come from the 2010 annual report of the High Council for Integration (HCI) on the challenges of integration in school.
http://www.migrationnewssheet.eu/?page_id=2737

Author: Claudia Paraschivescu claudia.paraschivescu@gmail.com