The game is over. The open door policy that lead to flood of immigrants to United Kingdom is coming to end this Monday. According to Reuters, The Conservative - Liberal coalition government is going to announce a temporary cap for this year at mere 4,100 numbers. From April 2011 annual caps will be announced that would restrict Non-EU immigrants coming to United Kingdom. This would not be more than 25,000 based on the current years figures. The imminent announcement coming next week shows the seriousness of the Government to restrict the numbers.
Immigration is a serious issue both for the Government and for the citizens. People migrate from their motherland for various reasons. And, most of the times - the reasons for the migration and the contribution such immigrants to rich countries mixed up during the discussions / debates.
First category immigrants are highly skilled and educated professionals like doctors or scientists who made huge contributions to all countries in Europe, US or Australia. The second category are students who wanted to go West on the pretext of higher education and then change their mind to settle in those countries. Western countries for some time believed that this is a good category and benefit their economies because they end up paying taxes and being young, cost less to their governments. The next category are, illegal immigrants who wanted to run way (or get in) at any cost paying smugglers or fooling the laws and immigration officials. The final category is, asylum seekers. In most of the cases, the illegal immigrants try to picture themselves asylum seekers and gain the foot hold in the foreign soils for favourable welcome.
Britain failed to understand the differences between the four categories. When they opened the doors in mid / late 1990's the immigration system became so loose that all categories had near open doors. As a result, a doctor coming into NHS as a Consultant and an illegal immigrant landing in London East end to live illegally [or on state benefits] got into system. Many times, direct route proved more challenging than illegal route. The citizens were confused and immigrants were equally surprised the ease with they could get into the country [for example on a tourist visa] and then get lost into the system. There is no counting of those coming in then going out.
By the time Government and citizens realised the laxity, it was too late. London boroughs [and many cities] have been shared by dominant immigrants than the natives. Some of the boroughs have effectively become [UK] white minorities. Most of those 3rd and 4th categories and many of the 2nd categories [in the recent years] ended into low paid jobs or those clever with no jobs to live illegally (no taxes, no identities). Host of immigration solicitors are ready in east London to take care of them by reading in between lines of the law to extend their stay. As a result, even the first category immigrants - many of them went on to become rich citizens are not differentiated from the rest.
The net result is the caps [limiting the numbers]. The bottom line is - immigrants are not welcome. Britain probably gained lot from immigration. But due to poor immigration management, the problems out numbered gains. Now that the story is going other way, is it really worth looking at Britain as an option?
Like most of the Europe, British economy is suffering. The governments are cutting their budgets and raising taxes. Citizens are demotivated to work. People are loosing jobs. Unemployment figures are terrifying between 8% [short term] to 26% [long term] depending on the reading. With a quarter or one third of Brits out of the jobs, government is looking vulnerable.
What is the motivation to take pains to go to United Kingdom as unwelcome guest?
In coming months we will see many key decisions as well. Of them, the student visa abuse would be on top priority. If this happens, many students won't even get entry. Secondly, they may restrict dependents right to work [unlike in US, if spouse is having a work permit you do not need a separate work permit]. Right now, if married couple go to UK, they are potentially looking at two jobs - but not one.
Britain is going back to 1970's and it will be many more years before it will become a welcome destination for the top and talents individuals. This might not happen until economic fortunes return for good. Perhaps it is long way away!
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