who are interested in protest against changes of 4-5

[sowhat]

Dear All,



I now have a confirmed conference meeting for all who are interested in helping us to campaign against the government plans to change the current qualifying period for settlement from 4 years to 5 years.



I am very concerned about the new 5 year qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. I feel it is unfair to all those who are existing employment related category visa holders since they were under the impression that they were eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 4 years. They have planned the lives and their family’s lives around this and as a result they are anxious about the changes and its effects on them. Naturally they are very confused and upset. I genuinely feel that the new law should not be applied retrospectively but rather that the old rules should apply to this category of people instead.



If anyone should have the same concerns please come to our conference where we will address the issue in more detail and will explain the course of action we propose to take.



Please pass the message on to anyone else who is interested.



Saturday 8th April – 2pm

Oriental City

Cultural Room, 2nd Floor

299 Edgware Road

NW9 0JJ



Yours sincerely,

this is event is going to be host by Christine Lee & Co. is the largest ethnic Chinese law firm in the UK with international reputation.
if you want to know more about her please visit http://www.christine-lee.co.uk/index.htm

i'll see you all there..... together we won't be defeated.

should we register for this meeting or can just drop in?

[timefactor]

I feel she should represent all immigrants rather than chinese.

[quote="sowhat]
should we register for this meeting or can just drop in?[/quote]

[supertiger]

[quote="timefactor"]I feel she should represent all immigrants rather than chinese.

[quote="sowhat]
should we register for this meeting or can just drop in?[/quote][/quote]


I agree that Ms Lee should represent all immigrants of all nationalities rather than Chinese only, it provides a better ground to argue, this affects all ethinic communities... But she may have other reasons?

[sowhat]

I guess I asked a wrong question. Anyway I meant if I have to send a message to Ms Lee, telling her that I will attend it or I can just can come without any notice? I am still not sure if I can make it.

[Kavik]

Is the meeting for only Chinese?

Do we need to register or can we just walk-in?

[sowhat]

Is the meeting for only Chinese?

Do we need to register or can we just walk-in?

I am trying to ask the same question

[Smit]

I think the more relevant question should be is the meeting by invitation only or are there any pre meeting registration formalities.

It would be facial discrimination (read unlawful) to limit the meeting to people of Chinese origin only and I am sure that's not what is intended.

[supertiger]

I believe it is not only for Chinese to attend. CHecked their website is bi-lingual so i guess they are particular specialised in chinese immigration issues and many existing clients are chinese... The meeting notice is posted here so I am sure they welcome all nationalities and it is time to include everyone...

[morerightsformigrants]

the meeting is not only for chinese, it's for everyone affected by this new law
if you have any questions please send her an email or call her.

she sent me the e-mail confirming the meeting but didn't mention anything about needing to register so i supposed you just walk in.

on th e-mail that she sent me it says pass on the message to everyone.

this is the e-mail once more:

Dear All,



I now have a confirmed conference meeting for all who are interested in helping us to campaign against the government plans to change the current qualifying period for settlement from 4 years to 5 years.



I am very concerned about the new 5 year qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. I feel it is unfair to all those who are existing employment related category visa holders since they were under the impression that they were eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 4 years. They have planned the lives and their family’s lives around this and as a result they are anxious about the changes and its effects on them. Naturally they are very confused and upset. I genuinely feel that the new law should not be applied retrospectively but rather that the old rules should apply to this category of people instead.



If anyone should have the same concerns please come to our conference where we will address the issue in more detail and will explain the course of action we propose to take.



Please pass the message on to anyone else who is interested.



Saturday 8th April – 2pm

Oriental City

Cultural Room, 2nd Floor

299 Edgware Road

NW9 0JJ



Yours sincerely,



Christine Lee

[morerightsformigrants]

here it's another interesting posting:

Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:18 pm Post subject: The real reason behind the increase in ILR qualifying period Reply with quote

I had an interesting conversation today with a leading immigration lawyer. I asked him to explain the real reason behind the recent change. According to him the real reason has nothing to do with the official reason - adopting European norms. The UK has persistently chosen to opt out of the European directive regarding the status of long term residents. This directive deals, inter-alia, with the requirements for acquiring permanent resident status in the EU. So in fact the UK has always replied ‘No thank you’ when it was asked to adopt EU norms in this context.

He has also opined that the motive is not financially (collecting more application fees) driven. The real reason is that the Home Office wants to “clean the desk” until it introduces the new point based immigration system. There will therefore be a one-year ‘cooling off’ period until April 2007, throughout which no economic based settlement applications will be considered.

Next year in April 2007 the point based system will already be in place; dealing with settlement applications will be renewed. However, these applications will now be considered against much stringent criteria than before 3/4/06. For all economic based migration routes, there will be no automatic right to settle in the UK. As a result, not all work permit / HSMP based ILR applications will be approved - only the ones that will bring an enduring benefit to the UK. To qualify, applicants will also have to pass English language tests and a softer version of Life in the UK test.
_________________
-----------------------------------
<<<N. N. - G. N.>>>

Last edited by tvt on Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:09 am; edited 1 time in total

[Papafaith]

Include my name.

[aj77]

Include my name too please

[morerightsformigrants]

guys if you can't make it to the meeting please fill this up and post it to them. remenber this is for everyone affected by this law not only chinese.


To Whom It May Concern,

I hereby declare my objection towards the new Immigration Rules on Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) which changes the length of time required to obtain ILR for UK work permit holders from 4 years to 5 years. I am opposed to the retrospective impact of the 5 year rule on permit holders who had applied before 3rd April 2006.
我特此聲明: 本人反對新移民法案中勞工紙持有人四年改五年後才可申請長期居留的修改。本人反對新法例追溯影響到2006年4月3日前申請勞工紙的人士。

I believe the rule has a negative impact on the existing employment related category visa
holders since we were under the impression that I was eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 4 years. I have planned my life and my family’s lives around this and as a result we are anxious about the changes and its effects on us.
本人相信此條例對現時所有勞工居留的有關人士有負面的影響，因為我們覺得四年後有資格申請長期居留。我和我的家人已經計劃好在英國未來的生活，因此我們對此修改及其對我和我家人的影響感到焦慮。

Signature: ___________________________ Date: __________
簽名: 日期:

Name: ______________________________
姓名:

Address: __________________________________________________
地址:
__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________


Comments:_______________________________________________________________
意見:
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
If you support the above objection, please kindly sign above and return to:
如閣下支持以上的反對書, 請簽名并填妥有關資料, 寄回李貞駒律師行的以下地址:

Christine Lee & Co (Solicitors) Ltd
Unit 3
Colindale Business Centre
126 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5HD

Thank you very much for your support.
非常感謝閣下的支持。

[/img]

[Papafaith]

My MP has replied me, he is taking the issue up in the house of commons.

[Globetrotter]

guys if you can't make it to the meeting please fill this up and post it to them. remenber this is for everyone affected by this law not only chinese.


To Whom It May Concern,

I hereby declare my objection towards the new Immigration Rules on Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) which changes the length of time required to obtain ILR for UK work permit holders from 4 years to 5 years. I am opposed to the retrospective impact of the 5 year rule on permit holders who had applied before 3rd April 2006.
我特此聲明: 本人反對新移民法案中勞工紙持有人四年改五年後才可申請長期居留的修改。本人反對新法例追溯影響到2006年4月3日前申請勞工紙的人士。

I believe the rule has a negative impact on the existing employment related category visa
holders since we were under the impression that I was eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 4 years. I have planned my life and my family’s lives around this and as a result we are anxious about the changes and its effects on us.
本人相信此條例對現時所有勞工居留的有關人士有負面的影響，因為我們覺得四年後有資格申請長期居留。我和我的家人已經計劃好在英國未來的生活，因此我們對此修改及其對我和我家人的影響感到焦慮。

Signature: ___________________________ Date: __________
簽名: 日期:

Name: ______________________________
姓名:

Address: __________________________________________________
地址:
__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________


Comments:_______________________________________________________________
意見:
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
If you support the above objection, please kindly sign above and return to:
如閣下支持以上的反對書, 請簽名并填妥有關資料, 寄回李貞駒律師行的以下地址:

Christine Lee & Co (Solicitors) Ltd
Unit 3
Colindale Business Centre
126 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5HD

Thank you very much for your support.
非常感謝閣下的支持。

[/img]

>>I believe the rule has a negative impact on the existing employment related category visa holders since we were under the impression that I was eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 4 years. I have planned my life and my family’s lives around this and as a result we are anxious about the changes and its effects on us. <<

It should read either

I believe the rule has a negative impact on the existing employment related category visa holders since I was under the impression that I was eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 4 years. I have planned my life and my family’s lives around this and as a result we are anxious about the changes and its effects on us.


or

I believe the rule has a negative impact on the existing employment related category visa holders since we were under the impression that we were eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 4 years. I have planned my life and my family’s lives around this and as a result we are anxious about the changes and its effects on us.

Take your pick, the original does not sound quite right.

Cheers,

GT

[RedSpeed]

I missed it out for 28/29 (My 3 year 11 months : 1-2 May)days and i am still trying to come out of the shock. I had
My future plans are ruin , and i feel gutted. I am in. I am going to meet my MP soon.

RedSpeed

[Papafaith]

Morerights, how do we fill the protest form you are talking about.

[timefactor]

Please do it manually and send via post. I guess the same exercise will do in meeting as well to gather the detials of people who protest

Morerights, how do we fill the protest form you are talking about.

[Papafaith]

Tanx timefactor, will do so.

[sowhat]

I missed it out for 28/29 (My 3 year 11 months : 1-2 May)days and i am still trying to come out of the shock. I had
My future plans are ruin , and i feel gutted. I am in. I am going to meet my MP soon.

RedSpeed

same here. I spoke to my lawyer yesterday and she said that I've got no chance to get ILR now unless someone, who got rejected, would bring this case to the High Court and win the case. The problem is that it may take months and the cost would be very high.

[KSL]

Dear all,

The conference on Saturday is not for Chinese only. ANYBODY CAN COME!! And there are no fees or registration of any kind.

The venue is still at Oriental City, 399 Edgware Rd, Colindale but is now on the ground floor at the centre stage.

We must unite together to be able to pressurise the government into listening to our concerns.

See you all there!

A

[likewise]

guys if you can't make it to the meeting please fill this up and post it to them. remenber this is for everyone affected by this law not only chinese.


To Whom It May Concern,

I hereby declare my objection towards the new Immigration Rules on Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) which changes the length of time required to obtain ILR for UK work permit holders from 4 years to 5 years. I am opposed to the retrospective impact of the 5 year rule on permit holders who had applied before 3rd April 2006.
我特此聲明: 本人反對新移民法案中勞工紙持有人四年改五年後才可申請長期居留的修改。本人反對新法例追溯影響到2006年4月3日前申請勞工紙的人士。

I believe the rule has a negative impact on the existing employment related category visa
holders since we were under the impression that I was eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 4 years. I have planned my life and my family’s lives around this and as a result we are anxious about the changes and its effects on us.
本人相信此條例對現時所有勞工居留的有關人士有負面的影響，因為我們覺得四年後有資格申請長期居留。我和我的家人已經計劃好在英國未來的生活，因此我們對此修改及其對我和我家人的影響感到焦慮。

Signature: ___________________________ Date: __________
簽名: 日期:

Name: ______________________________
姓名:

Address: __________________________________________________
地址:
__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________


Comments:_______________________________________________________________
意見:
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
If you support the above objection, please kindly sign above and return to:
如閣下支持以上的反對書, 請簽名并填妥有關資料, 寄回李貞駒律師行的以下地址:

Christine Lee & Co (Solicitors) Ltd
Unit 3
Colindale Business Centre
126 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5HD

Thank you very much for your support.
非常感謝閣下的支持。

[/img]

I think we should clearly focus on these points when arguing:
the retrospectiveness of the rule
the suddenness of the implementation

plus:
the new rule put unnecessary pressure onto current wp/hsmp holder thus affects their current work/life siginificantly,and potentially damage their career and the businesses that employ them

with the retrospective effect, people will simply start questioning the credibility of the government's policy in the future, not only on immigration issues, but also on other areas such as business, investment, which is against the interest of the country.

[arts99]

Please include my name as well.

This is totally unfair to apply it retrospectively, specially for HSMP cases.(I am not saying specially HSMP scheme because I am under it but because of the fact that many of us under HSMP left our good jobs and careers in our countries thinking that in 4 years we will get to settle permanently in the fourth largest economy of the world.)

I am sure most of the people like us planned our lives accordingly. Its like moving the goal post, if this unjust action is not challenged then after a year or two they can say ILR will be given after 7 years and apply that retrospectively as well.

[khandelwal]

I feel it is a unfair decision to change 4 to 5 years for the people who are already in UK on WP or HSMP. I have written to PM and my MP but no response so far. I do not know the next step? Any one can advice what should be next step?

[supertiger]

khandelwal, there's a meeting this afternoon organised by a solicitor Christine Lee and her colleagues in north London I didn;t attend but am sure the meeting minutes will be posted very soon... meanwhile there's an online petition in case u don;t know: http://www.petitiononline.com/ILR45/