New UK Border Agency - New citizenship rules in force

Well, the name's changed again. From the IND to BIA, the Home Office's immigration affairs have now been shifted into a new entity also responsible for customs and transborder crime: the UK Border Agency.

The article is the regular hoo-hah about this-and-that and such-and-such, but there is one interesting point of note on page 30:

Taking forward the proposals for a new, earned path to citizenship which we published for consultation in February 2008 with an aim for primary legislation to be introduced in December 2008 subject to the Parliamentary timetable. Earned citizenship proposals will be implemented, following consultation, in December 2010.

So there you go. Anyone hoping to apply for permanent residence or naturalisation after December 2010 will likely have to abide by the new rules.

If anyone else finds interesting items of note in this document, do post...

yes if they keep their promise than fine

otherwise go on sloging

They will not keep their promisses;
UK immigration rules are just like the consititution of my native country: They are both writen in pencil and can be changed at wim!

I have read the consultation document that came out in Feb 2008 but it is not clear on Page 30 of this particular document what primary legislation is and what earned citizenship is?
It is not clear what they will apply in December 2008 and what they will enforce in 2010. Any one can clarify?

As I understand that statement, primary legislation will be introduced in December 2008. This means that the first proposals will be tabled and that will be the first opportunity for Parliament to discuss and debate the possible new rules.

Nothing will happen until the Commons/Lords come to an agreement. However, the Home Office is guessing (from previous experience) that the debates will last some time, and that the new laws will be put into force only from December 2010.

The consultation document is still that, a consultation. No one can guess precisely what will appear in almost three years' time. If you want to see more of this forum's debate on this subject, I would suggest that you visit this thread.