Immigration: Living and Working in the UK

Anne Patio Javier Rodrguez Andrs Romero

British Cultural Studies Universidad Industrial de Santander

Living in UK
OPENING TIMES BANK / PUBLIC HOLIDAYS SEASONS / WEATHER

OPENING TIMES
In the UK the usual opening times for banks, businesses, Post Offices and shops are: - Monday-Friday: 9:00am to 5:30pm - Saturday: Most retail shops will be open 9:00am to 5:30pm. However, only a small number of banks and Post Offices will be open. These are mainly in the city centers and will close around midday. - Sunday: Banks and Post Offices are not open on a Sunday. But some retail shops in city centers and shopping centers do open on a Sunday, usually between 10:00am and 4:00pm. If you live in a rural area you may find that the opening times are different.

BANK / PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

In England and Wales there are 8 public holidays (9 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland) known as Bank Holidays when most businesses, banks and shops are closed. Public transport often runs a reduced service on Bank Holidays. Although the dates of some of these Bank Holidays may change annually, they traditionally occur at the following times of year:

You can obtain the specific dates of Bank Holidays from your local Post Office.

SEASONS / WEATHER
The weather in the UK is often unpredictable; this makes it a great conversation starter! Generally, UK weather follows four distinct seasonal changes. Below is an indication of seasonal characteristics during the course of a year.

Accommodation in UK

ACCOMMODATION AGENCIES
To register with an agency you will normally be asked to give details of your job and income. You may also be asked to provide references from your employer, bank and previous landlord. This may be difficult if you have just arrived in the country.

TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION
Living with Your Employer Social Housing Homelessness

Living with Your Employer

Some employers may provide you with accommodation, but it is important to check the terms of your future rental agreement. If you do not stick to the terms of this agreement you could lose your home.

Why aren't you working?

But sir we are not at the office, we are at home!!

Social Housing
If you cannot afford to rent or buy a house on the open market, you may be eligible for social housing, provided by Registered Social Landlords. Before you apply for this you must check your immigration status as you may not qualify.

ABBEYFIELD ALMSHOUSE CO-OPERATIVE CO-OWNERSHIP HOSTEL LETTING/HOSTEL LETTING SALE OR LEASE STOCK TRANSFER YMCA/YWCA

Homelessness
If you are having housing problems it is important that you make your local council aware as soon as possible. They are committed to preventing you from becoming homeless and will do what they can to assist you. The earlier you discuss the problem, the easier and quicker it can be resolved because in most cases, homelessness is preventable.

Health and Care in UK

Registering with a Doctor When the Doctors Surgery Is Closed Serious Emergency Care NHS Direct

REGISTERING WITH A DOCTOR Doctors in the UK are often called General Practitioners or GPs. This refers to doctors working in a local surgery rather than a hospital. When you have found your nearest doctors surgery you will be asked to complete a registration form. You will be asked to provide information about your address, any previous or current medical conditions and a contact telephone number.
WHEN THE DOCTORS SURGERY IS CLOSED If you urgently need a General Practitioner outside of office hours and you cannot wait until the surgery opens, you can telephone your local General Practitioners out of hours service. If you need interpreting services during this phone call, just say which language you wish to speak when your call is answered.

SERIOUS EMERGENCY CARE

The telephone number for emergency services in the UK is 999 for Ambulance, Police and Fire Services. If you or your family are seriously ill and need urgent medical attention, then dial this number and ask for the ambulance service. You will be asked what the problem is and for your location. This call is free of charge. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE DIRECT If you are unsure about where to go for health services, advice about a minor injury or a general query about healthcare, you can phone NHS Direct. When your call is answered state what language you want to speak in and they will put you through to an interpreter if required. This telephone service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is staffed by nurses and professional advisors who will provide you with confidential advice.

Working in the UK

National Insurance Number

Everyone who wants to work in the UK must apply for a National Insurance (NI) number, this includes foreign nationals.

Finding work
The Jobseeker Direct Helpline Universal Jobmatch (former Jobcentre Plus) Recruitment agencies Advertisements in newspapers Advertisements in shop windows

Universal Jobmatch Service

It is part of the Department for Work and Pensions and helps with employment and benefits for people of working age. The legal working age in the UK is 16 - 65. Jobcentre Plus On-line

Jobcentre Plus Office

Jobcentre Plus Helpline

https://www.gov.uk/jobsearch

Qualifications
The qualifications which you achieved outside of the UK might not be recognised in this country. To have these qualifications compared to British ones you can contact the National Academic Recognition Information Centre.

Paternity Leave
If you are an employee and your partner is expecting a baby you are entitled to up to

two weeks paternity leave

but these must be taken in one block and within 56 days of the birth.

If you are entitled to paternity pay you will receive 123.06 a week or 90 per cent of your weekly income depending on which is the lowest.

Maternity Leave
Statutory Maternity Leave is 52 weeks. Its made up of: 26 weeks of Ordinary Maternity Leave 26 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave You dont have to take 52 weeks but you must take 2 weeks leave after your baby is born (or 4 weeks if you work in a factory).

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks. You get: 90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first 6 weeks 135.45 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks SMP is paid in the same way as your wages (eg monthly or weekly). Tax and National Insurance will be deducted.

Wages
All workers in the UK are legally entitled* to be paid the national minimum wage per hour for the work that they do. This table lists the minimum wage for each age group:

3.68 4.98 6.19

Deductions
Employers are legally allowed to make deductions from your wages for Income Tax, Pay as You Earn (PAYE) and National Insurance contributions. Any other deductions made such as contributions to pension schemes have to be agreed with you first.

Health and Safety

Wherever you work in the UK, and for however long, both you and your employer have rights and responsibilities regarding health and safety.

The Health and Safety Executive is a government organisation that works to protect the health, safety and welfare of workers by enforcing health and
safety law and offering advice and support.

Tax Credits
Tax credits are payments from the government. If you're responsible for at least one child or young person, you may qualify for Child Tax Credit. If you work, but are on a low income, you may qualify for Working Tax Credit. You can often get both types of tax credits. They aren't taxable.

Advice Services
The Citizens Advice service helps
people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice from 3,300 locations.

Immigration
Visa (working in the UK)
High-value migrants Investors, entrepreneurs and exceptionally talented people can apply to enter or stay in the UK without needing a job offer - but you will need to pass a pointsbased assessment. Skilled workers If you have been offered a skilled job in the UK and your prospective employer is willing to sponsor you, you can apply to come or remain here to do that job.

Temporary workers
If an employer in the UK is willing to sponsor you, or if you are a national of a country that participates in the youth mobility scheme, you may be eligible to come and work in the UK for a short period.

Visa (studying in the UK)

Tier 4 (Child) For children aged between 4 and 17 years old on a long course of study. Child visitor For children who want to study a short course in the UK and will not work while they are here. Tier 4 (General) For adults who want to come to the UK for their post-16 education. Student visitor For adults who want to study a short course in the UK and will not work while they are here.

Prospective student For people who need to finalise their arrangements for their Tier 4 course of study in the UK.

Visa (visiting in the UK) [max. 6 months]

Tourism and visiting friends If you want to visit the UK as a tourist or to stay with friends in the UK, you should apply to come here as a general visitor.

Visiting family If you want to visit members of your family in the UK, you can apply to come here as a family visitor.
Visiting to do business If you want to do business in the UK, you should apply to come here as a business visitor. Visiting as a sportsperson If you want to take part in any sporting events in the UK, you might be able to come here as a sports visitor or a visitor undertaking permitted paid engagements.

Becoming a British citizen (naturalisation)

You can apply for British citizenship if: - youre 18 or over - youre of good character - you will continue to live in the UK - youre able to communicate in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic - youve passed the Life in the UK Test or have completed an English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) course along with citizenship classes.

You must also have:

- lived in the UK for at least 5 years before the date of your application (unless your spouse or civil partner is a British citizen) - spent no more than 450 days outside the UK during those 5 years - spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months - been granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK - had indefinite leave to stay in the UK for the last 12 months (unless your spouse or civil partner is a British citizen) - not broken any immigration laws while in the UK

The Life in the UK Test

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002

is a computer-based test constituting one of the requirements for anyone seeking Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK or naturalisation as a British citizen The test includes questions about British traditions and customs, as well as proving that you can speak English. It consists of 24 questions covering topics such as British society, government, everyday life and employment. Time limit: 45 min.

Reasons
The home secretary, David Blunkett, said migrants fluent in English were 20% more likely to get work and that this would be encouraged by asking applicants for naturalisation to demonstrate certain standards of English.
Introduction of oath or "citizens pledge" for applicants to help them embrace British values, laws and customs. For trying to curb "sham marriages".

Criticism
Some people claim that the government is trying to foist British culture onto immigrants, potentially at the expense of their own cultures. Speculation in the British media about the fact that the handbook was not based on factual information (errors and inaccuracies in the material).

Citizenship ceremonials
If your application is successful and youre over 18, youll be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony. Youre usually allowed to take 2 guests with you and you must take your invitation with you when you go to your ceremony.

The ceremonies would be conducted by registration officers at register offices or other community centres or schools.

The oath
The oath retains a pledge of allegiance to the Queen and her heirs, but will add: "I will respect the rights and freedoms of the United Kingdom. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen."

Citizenship certificate
Youll be presented with your certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack.

History of Immigration in the UK

Aliens Act 1905
The Aliens Act 1905 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Act for the first time introduced immigration controls and registration, and gave the Home Secretary overall responsibility for immigration and nationality matters. The Act was designed to prevent paupers or criminals from entering the country and set up a mechanism to deport those who slipped through. One of its main objectives was to control Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe.

Since 1922
British Empire and Commonwealth
From the mid-eighteenth century until at least 1956, and longer in many areas, the British Empire covered a large proportion of the globe. The vast majority of immigrants to the UK were from either current or former colonies, most notably those in the Indian subcontinent and the Caribbean. Following the end of the Second World War, the British Nationality Act 1948 was passed to allow the 800 million subjects in the British Empire to live and work in the United Kingdom without needing a visa. Commonwealth immigration, made up largely of economic migrants, rose from 3,000 per year in 1953 to 46,800 in 1956 and 136,400 in 1961.

World War II
In the lead up to World War II, many people from Germany, particularly those belonging to minorities which were persecuted under Nazi rule, such as Jews, sought to emigrate to the United Kingdom, and it is estimated that as many as 50,000 may have been successful.

Post-war immigration (1945-1983)

Following the end of World War II, substantial groups of people from Soviet-controlled territories settled in Britain, particularly Poles and Ukrainians. The UK recruited displaced people as so-called European Volunteer Workers in order to provide labour to industries that were required in order to aim economic recovery after the war. Indians began arriving in the UK in large numbers shortly after their country gained independence in 1947. More than 60,000 arrived before 1955, many of whom drove buses, or worked in foundries or textile factories.
By 1972, only holders of work permits, or people with parents or grandparents born in the UK could gain entry significantly reducing primary immigration from Commonwealth countries.

Contemporary immigration (1983 onwards)

European Union
Since the expansion of the EU on 1 May 2004, the UK has accepted immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe, Malta and Cyprus.

Manage Migration
"Managed migration" is the term for all legal labour and student migration from outside of the European Union. Many of the immigrants who arrive under these schemes bring skills which are in short supply in the UK.

Points-based immigration system (UK Border Agency)

Tier 1 for highly skilled individuals, who can contribute to growth and productivity; Tier 2 for skilled workers with a job offer, to fill gaps in the United Kingdom workforce; Tier 3 for limited numbers of low-skilled workers needed to fill temporary labour shortages; Tier 4 for students; Tier 5 for temporary workers and young people covered by the Youth Mobility Scheme, who are allowed to work in the United Kingdom for a limited time to satisfy primarily noneconomic objectives.

Illegal Immigration
Illegal (sometimes termed irregular) immigrants in the UK include those who have: - entered the UK without authority - entered with false documents - overstayed their visas

Expulsions
Expulsions of immigrants who have committed crimes varied between 4000 5000 a year between 2007 and 2010.

ASYLUM

On the corner of Fournier Street and Brick Lane in the East End of London stands the Jamme Masjid mosque. The building has been used for over two and a half centuries as a place of worship for the peoples of Spitalfields, yet the communities assembling within its walls have changed with successive waves of immigration to London. In 1744, the building started its life as a Huguenot church and 50 years later became a Wesleyan chapel. From 1898 the building housed the Spitalfields Great Synagogue serving the Eastern European Jewish community until it was sold to the Bengali community in 1975. It remains a symbol of movement and fluidity which is so characteristic of Londons history and has witnessed individual and group histories that have shaped London and Britain, where many had sought sanctuary.

AN ICON

THE WORLDS ASYLUM

In 1867, Samuel Smiles referred to London as: the worlds asylum, the refuge of the persecuted of all landsone of the most composite populations found in the world
The Times editorial on the 19th of January 1858 declared that: every civilized people on the face of the earth must be fully aware that this country is the asylum of nations, and that it would defend the asylum to the last drop of its blood. There is no point on which we are prouder or more resolute [] We are a nation of refugees.

THE 1905 ALIENSACT

1894 Aliens Bill. 1902 the British brothers' league The 1905 Aliens Act was the first piece of legislation to enshrine the concept of asylum in British law [although neither this term nor refugee were stated in the statute], yet it marked the end of a liberal approach to immigration control that had been in place for most of the nineteenth century.

WARS
During The First World War, around 240,000 Belgian refugees entered Britain. The Spanish Civil War [1936-9] caused Republicans to seek refuge in Britain. During the Second World War, over 100,000 refugees entered Britain from Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and France after the fall of their countries to Hitler.

THE CONTEMPORARY PICTURE

In 2002, asylum applications in the UK reached a record high and the period saw a wave of immigration and asylum acts which consolidated measures of deterrence and exclusion from social security for asylum seekers.
The Asylum and Immigration Act 1999 introduced compulsory dispersal out of London and the South-East for asylum seekers claiming National Asylum Support Service [NASS] accommodation. The government has argued that such measures are necessary to ease the pressure on services in the South-East. A significant number however choose to remain in, or migrate back to London, and consequently forfeit their entitlement to NASS accommodation.

SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Racism Terrorism Hate crimes Domestic violence

RACISM
The United Kingdom, like most countries, has experienced and inflicted racism against various groups at various times in its history. In the Dark Ages, some historians believe that the Anglo-Saxon invaders lived segregated from the Celts who they ruled over. The British Empire exploited black Africans for the Transatlantic slave trade before abolishing it and pressuring other countries to do so. Since the end of the empire, the relations between non-white immigrant groups and indigenous Britons have resulted in cases of race riots and racist murder perpetrated by extremists of all races.

Terrorism in the United Kingdom, according to the Home Office, poses a significant threat to the state. 1834 people were arrested in the United Kingdom from September 2001 to December 2009 in connection with terrorism, of which 422 were charged with terrorism-related offences and 237 were convicted.

TERRORISM

TERRORIST ATTACKS 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot January 2007 June and July, 2007 Omagh attack, April 2011

HATE CRIMES
Hate crime is any criminal offence that is motivated by prejudice against you because of your race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. It could take the form of verbal abuse or physical assault, damage to your property, offensive phone calls/letters/posters or bullying.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Any incident of violent behaviour in a family or relationship counts as domestic violence. If you have been mentally or physically harmed by someone close to you, report it immediately. You can talk confidentially to a doctor, the police or a health visitor. They are all able to support and protect you.