subject: Earned citizenship policy will no longer be introduced [print this page] Earned citizenship policy will no longer be introduced
In what is said to be the first major speech by the Home Secretary with regards to immigration, she has committed to changing the current government policy and amongst other things she aims to ensure that UK is only available to those who are seen as to be the brightest and the best. The Home Secretary spoke to an audience consisting of key immigration partners at London's Policy Exchange where she restated the government's commitment to reducing net migration to the tens of thousands by the end of this Parliament, clarifying that this cannot be done through the current points-based system alone.
She announced the government's approach to reforming the settlement rules including a formal decision not to pursue the so called "earned citizenship" policy.
This earned citizenship was planned to come into effectin July 2011 and concerned the path to settlement and British citizenship. However, it will no longer be introduced.
In the light of this, the UK Border Agency has said that further announcements and developments with regards to this issue will be announced in due course. Meanwhile, the existing rules and requirements for settlement and obtaining citizenship continue to remain in place.
Amongst many things, the Home Secretary has prioritised her focus points as follows:
- To encourage an increase in the number of entrepreneurs and investors to enter the UK
- Ending the abuse of the student route
- Shortening the link between applicants who enter the UK on a temporarily basis and permanent settlement
The Home Secretary clearly stated that the government is determined in increasing the number of high-value migrants who come to the UK, examples include investors and research scientists. Furthermore, employers must be encouraged to fill vacant jobs with those who are unemployed and already in the UK.
When concluding her speech, she admitted that it would be a difficult task to reduce the net migration from its current level of hundreds of thousands to that of the government's aim which is tens of thousands. 05.11.2010
