Immigration Bill 2nd Reading House of Lords

[1963British]

Two interesting comments from the second reading yesterday.

Baroness Hanham;

We will also test by amendment the effect on existing migrants of these changes. In the White Paper, The Path to Citizenship, the Government acknowledge the importance of understanding the effects of the proposals now before us on those who are already in the system and say that they will continue to examine this before making any changes. Will the Minister tell us the result of that examination, particularly as the Bill is now here and there seems to be no operative date for the start of this scheme and, thereby, the effect of that on those who still have their applications under consideration? Many migrants currently will be progressing their way along the road to citizenship and will be concerned as to whether they will end up in a game of snakes and ladders, by which they may fall down and have to start the process all over again. The Government need to make it clear in the Bill that those who are already in the scheme will be able to enjoy its benefits as originally offered to them.

Lord Avebury;

Those who are already on ILR, as I understand it, will get permanent residence leave, or PRL, free of charge, I assume, but the details will be in the commencement order. It would be useful if an assurance could be given that no charge will be made when they are automatically transferred on commencement.

As the bill progresses I become more convinced that the effective date will be December 2010 as indicated in earlier Government Publications (or later/but not earlier), that ILR and possibly ILE will continue as a named catagory for a very long time and that there will be ample transition arrangements for those currently "on a path" who arrived on or before the Bill's first introduction.

Equally, those that arrive after the Bill gains Royal Ascent will be under the new regime and those that arrived after the Bill's introduction could logically have fewer transition arrangements.

I would say that anyone who is "on a Path" and/or the spouse, if the spouse is a BC, write their MP and express their concerns of being forced into a game of "snakes and laddres" as Baroness Hanham referred to it.

[rizwan_ali]

Two interesting comments from the second reading yesterday.

Baroness Hanham;

We will also test by amendment the effect on existing migrants of these changes. In the White Paper, The Path to Citizenship, the Government acknowledge the importance of understanding the effects of the proposals now before us on those who are already in the system and say that they will continue to examine this before making any changes. Will the Minister tell us the result of that examination, particularly as the Bill is now here and there seems to be no operative date for the start of this scheme and, thereby, the effect of that on those who still have their applications under consideration? Many migrants currently will be progressing their way along the road to citizenship and will be concerned as to whether they will end up in a game of snakes and ladders, by which they may fall down and have to start the process all over again. The Government need to make it clear in the Bill that those who are already in the scheme will be able to enjoy its benefits as originally offered to them.

Lord Avebury;

Those who are already on ILR, as I understand it, will get permanent residence leave, or PRL, free of charge, I assume, but the details will be in the commencement order. It would be useful if an assurance could be given that no charge will be made when they are automatically transferred on commencement.

.

some sort of relax who are already in the systme it means only person will effect who will applied after the bill will pass. other good things is who have already on ILR will be considered as a premanant resident.

[yhdyhd]

this is the reply to Baroness Hanham, does it means the government's intention is to apply the new bill to the people who are already here?

"The noble Baroness, Lady Hanham, asked about earned citizenship and the impact of the new system on access to benefits for migrants who are already here with leave. Under our proposals, the earliest that a person on the work route to citizenship will be able to qualify for full access to benefits will be six years. For those on the family route, it will be three years. We believe that it is right that full access to benefits should be withheld until a migrant has earned the right to British citizenship, which is what our proposals achieve."

[Casa]

But it's 3 years on the family route now...??? Ah...just noticed the word
earliest which would suggest the 'charity/voluntary work' reducing by 1 year.
Fully awake now...assume refers to access to benefits which would normally be allowed after 2 years on spouse visa...now 3 years. God...I'm confused!