When will the government regularise the status of overstayer

[Hernancortes]

Surely, if the UK followed the example of Zapatero's government in Spain and regularised the status of overstayers, 'failed' refugees, etc; it would be beneficial to the country. The socialist gov't in Spain had the balls to regularise the status of 700,000 people. I know the right wing press and the far right would disapprove of any similar measure, but the Spanish exchequer was one of the few beneficiaries from the amnesty.

It is also the only way to undermine unscrupulous employers who don't abide by minimum wage laws, health and safety laws etc.

[Hernancortes]

What's wrong with the HO website? It never seems to work.

[John]

It is also the only way to undermine unscrupulous employers who don't abide by minimum wage laws, health and safety laws etc.

A difficult issue given that there is a school of thought that says that giving such an amnesty would just encourage more to come, hoping for similar treatment in the future.

But the "unscrupulous employers" you mention. When the Government starts handing out £2000 each Fixed Penalty Notices to employers employing people with no right to work in the UK .... let's just say it will apply the mind of quite a few people.

Anyway, in the UK, the Government does allow those resident, legally or illegally, to apply for ILR ... after 14 years. There is no chance the Government will reduce that, IMHO.

[Hernancortes]

Anyway, in the UK, the Government does allow those resident, legally or illegally, to apply for ILR ... after 14 years. There is no chance the Government will reduce that, IMHO.


True, but, there gov't has targets to remove thousands of people every year. How many thousands of people will have to wait 14 yrs in order to surface from the underground? Regularisation is the only way forward, the gov't should stop burying its head in the sand and announce one. After all, they have already won last year's election.

[tvt]

But the "unscrupulous employers" you mention. When the Government starts handing out £2000 each Fixed Penalty Notices to employers employing people with no right to work in the UK .... let's just say it will apply the mind of quite a few people.

These "unscrupulous employers" will not really care. Anyway they don't pay their taxes so another penalty notice to pay won't have much effect. Have you ever tried penalising a shadow?

[Hernancortes]

I suppose i and thousands of others just have to wait 3 years before regularisation.

[Chess]

I suppose i and thousands of others just have to wait 3 years before regularisation.

keep the faith and the documentary evidence - there is definately light at the end of the tunnel

[JAJ]

[
Anyway, in the UK, the Government does allow those resident, legally or illegally, to apply for ILR ... after 14 years. There is no chance the Government will reduce that, IMHO.

It's more likely that the government - or a future government - will do away with the 14 year rule and start looking at such applications for "regularisation" on a case-by-case basis, which would leave little hope for those without a British citizen spouse or dependent child.

[sywahu]

It is also the only way to undermine unscrupulous employers who don't abide by minimum wage laws, health and safety laws etc.

The Govt. could do a LOT more that what its doing now to wrap up these "unscrupulous employers". As one of the Chinese cocklers who fortuantely escaped from the tragic incident a while ago said.."As long as I could earn more in one month than I could in one year in China, I would do this job....even if it means risking my life".

There are thousands in this situation and I think the "unscrupulous employers" realise and capitalise on this....they wouldn't really care about human lives....let alone fines!