The UK government does as much as is possible to publish information about immigration. It tries to be transparent as a part of their commitment to freedom of information. However there are some pieces that are deemed sensitive and withheld. Mostly all information is freely available in original form on the web.
Immigration rules to the United Kingdom were amended and last updated in September 2010. There are many legal documents that are available online that will give potential applicants an idea of what binds them legally. The rules and laws are all laid down in the following categories:
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Two key acts have shaped the migration law greatly in the United Kingdom:
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The UK Borders Act 2007
The UK Borders Act of 2007 brought in by the Parliament of the United Kingdom focus on immigration and asylum. Apart from other things, it also brought into focus the compulsory biometric residence permits for all non-EU nationals. It also introduced greater powers for the immigration control. In specific, it equips immigration officers with many police like powers that include search, seizure, entry and detention. This act came into force on October 30, 2007.
The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009
The Borders, British Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2009 was an act enabled by the Parliament
of the United Kingdom. It received the Royal Assent on July 21, 2009. This act particularly
focused on residents who’ve been living in the United Kingdom for over five years.
Prior to this act, individuals who had been living in the UK for over five years
were eligible to apply for the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). However, with the
enactment of this act, any individuals who have resided in the United Kingdom for
over five years are not automatically considered for ‘probationary citizenship’.
They are then expected to earn points through volunteer work or civic activism.
Once they have enough points, they can then be eligible for full citizenship.