Migrants can enter Britain in 73 ways

Migrants can enter Britain in 73 ways
By Ben Leapman, Home Affairs Correspondent
04/11/2007

Immigrants can choose from a confusing range of 73 Government schemes allowing them to live and work in Britain. The full array of legal routes for non-European migrants can be revealed for the first time today in a list disclosed by the Home Office.

Its publication follows a bruising week for Labour, in which a minister had to apologise for getting his figures wrong and town hall chiefs complained that they were struggling to cope with a record influx.

David Cameron, the Conservative leader, renewed his call for a cap on immigration and was praised by Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, for trying to “deracialise” the immigration issue. Schemes on offer to migrants range from work permits - issued to more than 300,000 foreigners in the past three years, - to concessions aimed at particular groups, from MPs’ assistants to “non-pastoral religious workers”.

advertisementSome schemes, such as those for music students and riding school pupils, allow migrants to combine studying with part-time work. Among the 73 are special programmes for diplomats’ household servants; sportsmen and entertainers; and employees of the Jewish Agency. Students who need to resit exams or write up a thesis are specially provided for.

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