Immigration to the United Kingdom (1922-present day)

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Since the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1922[1] there has been substantial immigration from other parts of the world. In particular, migrants have arrived from Ireland and the former colonies of the British Empire - such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Caribbean, South Africa, Kenya and Hong Kong - under British nationality law. Others have come as asylum seekers, seeking protection as refugees under the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention, or from European Union (EU) member states, exercising one of the EU's Four Freedoms.

About half the population increase between the 1991 and 2001 censuses was due to foreign-born immigration. 4.9 million people[2] (8.3 percent of the population at the time) were born abroad, although the census gives no indication of their immigration status or intended length of stay.

In 2006, there were 149,035 applications for British citizenship, 32 percent fewer than in 2005. The number of people granted citizenship during 2006 was 154,095, 5 per cent fewer than in 2005. The largest groups of people granted British citizenship were from India, Pakistan, Somalia and the Philippines.[3] In 2006, 134,430 people were granted settlement in the UK, a drop of 25 per cent on 2005.[4] Meanwhile, migration from Central and Eastern Europe has increased since 2004 with the accession to the European Union of eight Central and Eastern European states, since there is free movement of labour within the EU. The UK government is currently phasing in a new points-based immigration system for people from outside of the European Economic Area.

Contents

[edit] British Empire & the Commonwealth

During the period 1814-1910 the British Empire covered a large proportion of the globe, at its peak over a third of the world's people lived under British rule. Both during this time, and following the granting of independence to most colonies after World War II, the vast majority of immigrants to the UK were from either current or former colonies, most notably those in the Caribbean and the Indian subcontinent. These people filled a gap in the UK labour market for unskilled jobs and many people were specifically brought to the UK on ships such as the Empire Windrush.

In 1962, the Commonwealth Immigrants Act was passed by the British government, restricting the freedom of passage into the UK from other parts of the Commonwealth. By 1972, only holders of work permits, or people with parents or grandparents born in the UK could gain entry - effectively stemming primary immigration from Commonwealth countries.

The Ireland Act 1949 has the unusual status of recognising the Republic of Ireland, but affirming that its citizens are not citizens of a foreign country. This was at a time when a republic was not allowed to be a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

[edit] World War II

See also: British Germans

In the lead up to the World War II, many Germans, 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. There were immigration caps on the number who could enter and, subsequently, some applicants were turned away. When the UK was forced to declare war on Germany, however, migration between the countries ceased.

[edit] Post-war immigration (1945-1983)

Until the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, all Commonwealth citizens could enter and stay in the United Kingdom without any restriction. The Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 made Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKCs) whose passports were not directly issued by the United Kingdom Government (i.e. passports issued by the Governor of a colony or by the Commander of a British protectorate) subject to immigration control.

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. Later arrivals opened corner shops or ran post offices. The flow of Indian immigrants peaked between 1965 and 1972, boosted in particular by Idi Amin's sudden decision to expel all 50,000 Gujarati Indians from Uganda. Around 30,000 Ugandan Asians migrated to the UK.[5]

By 1972, only holders of work permits, or people with parents or grandparents born in the UK could gain entry - effectively stemming primary immigration from Commonwealth countries.

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.[6] In the 1951 census, the Polish-born population of the UK numbered some 162,339, up from 44,642 in 1931.[7][8]

There was also an influx of refugees from Hungary, following the crushing of the 1956 Hungarian revolution, numbering 20,990.[9]

[edit] Contemporary immigration (1983 onwards)

The British Nationality Act 1981, which was enacted in 1983, distinguishes between British citizen or British Overseas Territories citizen. The former hold nationality by descent and the latter hold nationality other than by descent. Citizens by descent cannot automatically pass on British nationality to a child born outside the United Kingdom or its Overseas Territories (though in some situations the child can be registered as a citizen).

Immigration officers have to be satisfied about a person's nationality and identity and entry could be refused if they were not satisfied.[10]

Census data reveals the number of UK residents who were born abroad (1951-2001).     total foreign-born population                     percentage of total populationSource:Office for National Statistics
Census data reveals the number of UK residents who were born abroad (1951-2001).
     total foreign-born population                     percentage of total population
Source:Office for National Statistics[11]
Inflow migration (the top of the bars), outflow migration (the bottom of the bars) and net overall immigration (the bars themselves) increased between 1994 and 2004.Source:Office for National Statistics
Inflow migration (the top of the bars), outflow migration (the bottom of the bars) and net overall immigration (the bars themselves) increased between 1994 and 2004.
Source:Office for National Statistics[11]

[edit] European Union

One of the Four Freedoms of the European Union, of which the United Kingdom is a member, is the right to the free movement of people.

Since the expansion of the EU on 1 May 2004, the UK has accepted immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe, Malta and Cyprus, although the substantial Maltese and Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot communities were established earlier through their Commonwealth connection. There are restrictions on the benefits that members of eight of these accession countries can claim, which are covered by the Worker Registration Scheme.[12] Most of the other European Union member states have exercised their right for temporary immigration control (which must end by 2011[13]) over entrants from these accession states,[14] although some are now removing these restrictions.[15]

The Home Office publishes quarterly statistics on the number of applications to the Worker Registration Scheme. Figures published in August 2007 indicate that 682,940 people applied to the scheme between 1 May 2004 and 30 June 2007, of whom 656,395 were accepted.[16] Self-employed workers and people who are not working (including students) are not required to register under the scheme so this figure represents a lower limit on immigration inflow. These figures do not indicate the number of immigrants who have since returned home, but 56 per cent of applicants in the 12 months ending 30 June 2007 reported planning to stay for a maximum of three months. Figures for total immigration show that there was a net inflow of 64,000 people from the eight Central and Eastern European accession states in 2005.[17] An investigation by more4 found that Poles (who make up the majority of those registered with the WRS) currently represent a substantial proportion of the population of some UK cities.[18] Research suggests that a total of around 1 million people had moved from the new EU member states to the UK by April 2008, but that half this number have since returned home or moved on to a third country.[19][20]

The Government announced that the same rules would not apply to nationals of Romania and Bulgaria when those countries acceded to the EU in 2007. Instead, restrictions were put in place to limit migration to students, the self-employed, highly skilled migrants and food and agricultural workers.[21] Statistics released by the Home Office indicate that in the first three months of Romania and Bulgaria's EU membership, 7,120 people (including family members) from the two countries successfully registered on the various schemes.[22] Between April and June 2007, a further 9,335 Bulgarian and Romanian nationals had their applications granted. This includes those registering as self-employed and self-sufficient. An additional 3,980 were issued cards for the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS).[23]

[edit] Managed migration

"Managed migration" is the term used for all legal work permits and visas and this accounts for a substantial percentage of overall immigration figures for the UK. Many of the immigrants who arrive under these schemes bring skills which are in short supply in the UK. This area of immigration is managed by Work Permits (UK), a department within the Home Office. Applications are made at UK Embassies or Consulates or directly to Work Permits (UK), depending upon the type of visa or permit required.

Employer Sponsored Work Permits allow employers to sponsor an employee's entrance into the UK by demonstrating that they possess skills that cannot be found elsewhere. Immigrants who have education or experience in occupations which are listed on the Skills Shortage List[24] may apply for a work permit. This includes engineers, doctors, nurses, actuaries and teachers. Employers can also obtain work permits for occupations not on the Skills Shortage List by advertising the position and demonstrating that no suitable UK resident or EU worker can be found. Approvals for a work permit are usually based upon the suitability of the applicant to the role, by education and/or experience.

In addition there is a points-based system called the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) which allows a highly skilled migrant to enter the UK with the right to work without first having to find an offer of employment and without an employer needing to sponsor the visa. Points are awarded for education, work experience, past earnings, achievements in the field and achievements of the applicant's partner. There are also points for being aged under 28 and for doctors currently working in the UK.

Some people work in the UK under a Working holiday visa which allows 12 months of work within a 24 month period for those aged 17 to 30. UK Ancestry Entry Clearance allows a person to work in the UK for five years if they have a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man at any time; or a grandparent born in what is now the Republic of Ireland on or before March 31, 1922. After that they may apply for Indefinite leave to remain.

In April 2006 changes to the current Managed Migration system were proposed that would primarily create one points-based immigration system for the UK. The replacement for HSMP (Tier 1 in the new system) gives points for age and none for work experience. This points based system is being phased in over the course of 2008.[25][26]

For family relatives of European Economic Area nationals living in the UK, there is the EEA family permit which enables those family members to join their relatives already living and working in the UK.

[edit] Refugees and asylum seekers

Asylum applications rose then fell during the period 1993 to 2006.Source:Home Office
Asylum applications rose then fell during the period 1993 to 2006.
Source:Home Office[27][28]
Acquisition of British citizenship by previous nationality, 2006.Source:Home Office
Acquisition of British citizenship by previous nationality, 2006.
Source:Home Office[29]

The UK is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which means that it has a responsibility under international law not to return (or refoule) refugees to the place where they would face persecution.

Nonetheless the issue of immigration has been a controversial political issue since the late 1990s. Both the ruling Labour Party and the opposition Conservatives have suggested policies perceived as being "tough on asylum"[30] (although the Conservatives have dropped a previous pledge to limit the number of people who could claim asylum in the UK, which would likely have breached the UN Refugee Convention)[31] and the tabloid media frequently print headlines about an "immigration crisis".[32]

This is denounced by those seeking to ensure that the UK upholds its international obligations as disproportionate. Critics suggest that much of the opposition to high levels of immigration by refugees is based on racism. Concern is also raised about the treatment of those held in detention and the practice of dawn raiding families, and holding young children in immigration detention centres for long periods of time.

However, critics of the UK's asylum policy often point out the "safe third country rule" - the international agreement that asylum seekers must apply in the first free nation they reach, not go "asylum shopping" for the nation they prefer. EU courts have upheld this policy.[33]

In February 2003, Prime Minister Tony Blair promised on television to reduce the number of asylum seekers by half within 7 months,[34] apparently catching unawares the members of his own government with responsibility for immigration policy. David Blunkett, the then Home Secretary, called the promise an objective rather than a target.[35] It was met according to official figures,[36] despite increase world instability caused by the Iraq War. There is also a Public Performance Target to remove more asylum seekers who have been judged not to be refugees under the internation definition than new anticipated unfounded applications. This target was met early in 2006.[37]

Official figures for numbers of people claiming asylum in the UK were at a 13 year low by March 2006.[38] Opponents of the government's policies on asylum seekers and refugees, such as Migration Watch UK[39] and some newspapers are critical of the way official figures are calculated.

Human rights organisations such as Amnesty International have argued that the government's new policies, particularly those concerning detention centres, have detrimental effects on asylum applicants[40] and those facilities have seen a number of hunger strikes and suicides. Others have argued that recent government policies aimed at reducing 'bogus' asylum claims have had detrimental impacts on those genuinely in need of protection.[41]

[edit] 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

Although it is difficult to know how many people reside in the UK illegally, a Home Office study released in March 2005 estimated a population of between 310,000 and 570,000.[42] Migration Watch UK has criticised the Home Office figures for not including the UK-born dependent children of unauthorised migrants. They suggest the Home Office has underestimated the numbers of unauthorised migrants by between 15,000 and 85,000.[43] In the past the UK government has stated that the figures Migration Watch produces should be treated with considerable caution.[44]

A recent study into irregular immigration states that "most irregular migrants have committed administrative offences rather than a serious crime".[45]

Jack Dromey, Deputy General of the Transport and General Workers Union and Labour Party treasurer, suggested in May 2006 that there could be around 500,000 illegal workers. He called for a public debate on whether an amnesty should be considered.[46] David Blunkett has suggested that this might be done once the identity card scheme is rolled out.[47] London Citizens, a coalition of community organisations, is running a regularisation campaign called Strangers into Citizens, backed by figures including the leader of the Catholic church in England and Wales, the Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.[48].

In February 2008, the government introduced new £10,000 fines for employers found to be employing illegal immigrants where there is negligence on the part of the employer, with unlimited fines or jail sentences for employers acting knowingly[49]

[edit] Place of birth

The table below lists the places of birth of British people according to the 2001 UK Census.[50] Where available population figures including the following are also stated:

  • British born people with roots in that nation (i.e. people belonging to that ethnic group or nationality, e.g. British born people of Jamaican descent)
  • People born in nor the UK or the listed nation (e.g. Mexican Americans in the UK)
  • Most recent figures for the population of people born in that nation
Country/ Region of Birth Population (2001) Total Population (as stated above) Corresponding Wikipedia article(s)
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom total 53,923,642 N/A British people
Flag of England England 44,028,981 N/A English people
Flag of Scotland Scotland 5,246,136 N/A Scottish people
Flag of Wales Wales 2,818,093 N/A Welsh people
Flag of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland 1,829,648 N/A Northern Irish people
Flag of Ireland Republic of Ireland 533,901 14,000,000 [51] Irish British people
Flag of India India 467,634 1,600,000 [52] Indians British people
Flag of Pakistan Pakistan 321,167 1,000,000 [53] Pakistani British people
Flag of Germany Germany 266,136 N/A German British people
Flag of the United States United States 158,434 224,000 [54] American British people
Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh 154,362 500,000 [55] Bangladeshi British people
Flag of Jamaica Jamaica 146,401 420,000 [56] Jamaican British people
Flag of South Africa South Africa 141,405 N/A South African British people
Flag of Kenya Kenya 129,633 N/A Kenyan British people
Flag of Australia Australia 107,871 400,000 [57] Australian British people
Flag of Italy Italy 107,244 N/A Italian Brtish people
Flag of Hong Kong Hong Kong 96,445 145,000 [58] Hongkonger British people
Flag of France France 96,281 N/A French British people
Flag of Nigeria Nigeria 88,378 800,000 - 3,000,000 [59] Nigerian British people
Flag of Cyprus Cyprus 77,673 430,000 Cypriot British people
Flag of Canada Canada 72,518 N/A Canadian British people
Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 67,938 300,000 [60] Sri Lankan British people
Flag of Poland Poland 60,711 1,000,000 [61] Polish British people
Flag of New Zealand New Zealand 58,286 N/A New Zealander British people
Flag of Ghana Ghana 56,112 N/A Ghanaian British people
Flag of Uganda Uganda 55,213 N/A Ugandan British people
Flag of Spain Spain 54,482 N/A Spanish British people
Flag of Turkey Turkey 54,079 400,000 [62] Turkish British people
Flag of the People's Republic of China China (The People's Republic of.) 51,078 500,000 [63] Chinese British people
Flag of Malaysia Malaysia 49,886 N/A Malaysian British people
Flag of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 49,524 N/A Zimbabwean British people
Flag of Somalia Somalia 43,515 43,515[64] Somali British people
Flag of Iran Iran 42,494 250,000 - 300,000 [65] Iranian British people
Other/ Not Stated 42,216 N/A
Flag of Singapore Singapore 40,474 N/A Singaporean British people
Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands 40,438 N/A Dutch British people
Flag of the Philippines Philippines 40,118 200,000 [66] Filipino British people
Flag of Japan Japan 37,535 51,000 [67] Japanese British people
Flag of Portugal Portugal 36,555 N/A Portuguese British people
Flag of Greece Greece 35,169 400,000 Greek British people
Flag of Tanzania United Republic of Tanzania 32,630 N/A Tanzanian British people
Flag of Iraq Iraq 32,236 250,000 - 450,000 [68] Iraqi British people
Flag of Serbia and Montenegro Serbia and Montenegro 31,244 N/A Serbian British people
Flag of Malta Malta 30,178 N/A Maltese British people
Flag of Mauritius Mauritius 27,078 N/A Mauritian British people
Flag of Egypt Egypt 27,078 147,000 [69] Egyptian British people
Flag of Vietnam Vietnam 23,347 70,000 Vietnamese British people
Africa (Country not stated) 22,975 N/A
Flag of Sweden Sweden 22,525 N/A
Flag of Belgium Belgium 21,668 N/A
Flag of Barbados Barbados 21,601 61,000 Barbadian British people
Flag of Zambia Zambia 21,529 N/A
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 21,283 60,000 Trinidadian British people
Flag of Guyana Guyana 20,872 59,000 Guyanese British people
Flag of Austria Austria 19,503 N/A Austrian British people
Flag of Denmark Denmark 18,695 N/A
Flag of Sierra Leone Sierra Leone 17,048 N/A Sierra Leonean British people
Flag of Thailand Thailand 16,257 36,000 [70] Thai British people
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 16,010 N/A Swiss British people
Flag of Brazil Brazil 15,215 200,000 - 300,000 [71] Brazilian British people
Flag of Russia Russia 15,160 300,000 [72] Russian British people
Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan 14,875 200,000 [73] Afghan British people
Flag of Norway Norway 13,798 N/A
Flag of Hungary Hungary 13,159 N/A Hungarian British people
Flag of Yemen Yemen 12,508 30,000 - 40,000 [74] Yemeni British people
Flag of Morocco Morocco 12,348 74,000 [75] Moroccan British people
Flag of Malawi Malawi 12,340 N/A
Flag of Colombia Colombia 12,331 130,000 - 160,000 [76] Colombian British people
Flag of South Korea South Korea 12,310 41,195 [77] Korean British people
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 12,220 N/A Czech British people
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine 11,913 35,000 Ukrainian British people
Flag of Israel Israel 11,892 N/A Israeli British people
Flag of Gibraltar Gibraltar 11,830 N/A
Flag of Finland Finland 11,322 N/A
Flag of Sudan Sudan 10,671 N/A
Flag of Algeria Algeria 10,670 N/A
Flag of Lebanon Lebanon 10,459 80,000 - 100,000 Lebanese British people
Flag of Burma Burma (Myanmar) 9,924 N/A Burmese British people
Flag of Grenada Grenada 9,783 28,000 Grenadian British people
Flag of Libya Libya 9,141 N/A
Flag of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia 8,789 N/A
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo 8,569 N/A
Flag of Saint Lucia Saint Lucia 8,265 23,000 Saint Lucian British people
Flag of Montserrat Montserrat 7,983 23,000 Montserratian British people
Flag of Ethiopia Ethiopia 7,775 N/A
Flag of Romania Romania 7,631 50,000 Romanian British people
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7,091 20,000 Vincentian British people
Flag of Croatia Croatia 6,992 N/A Croatian British people
Flag of Argentina Argentina 6,796 N/A Argentinean British people
Flag of Dominica Dominica 6,739 19,000 Dominican British people
Flag of Indonesia Indonesia 6,711 N/A Indonesian British people
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia-Herzegovina 6,692 N/A
Flag of Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) 6,588 10,000 [78]
Flag of Eritrea Eritrea 6,561 N/A
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis 6,519 19,000 Saint Kitts and Nevisian British people
Flag of Nepal Nepal 5,943 N/A Nepali British people
Flag of Angola Angola 5,914 N/A
Flag of Kuwait Kuwait 5,882 N/A
Asia (Country not stated) 5,677 N/A
Flag of the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates 5,406 N/A
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria 5,351 N/A Bulgarian British people
Flag of Slovakia Slovak Republic 5,273 N/A
Flag of Chile Chile 5,131 N/A Chilean British people
Flag of Mexico Mexico 5,049 N/A Mexican British people
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania 4,363 200,000 [79]
Flag of Latvia Latvia 4,275 30,000 - 40,000 [80]
Flag of Bahrain Bahrain 4,185 N/A
Flag of Syria Syria 4,168 N/A
Flag of Peru Peru 4,066 45,000 - 65,000 [81] Peruvian British people
Flag of Venezuela Venezuela 3,996 N/A Venezuelan British people
Flag of The Gambia Gambia 3,924 N/A
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda 3,891 11,000 Antiguan British people
Flag of Fiji Fiji 3,464 N/A
Flag of Mozambique Mozambique 3,353 N/A
Flag of the Republic of the Congo Congo 3,266 N/A
Flag of Cameroon Cameroon 3,233 N/A
Flag of Jordan Jordan 3,115 N/A
Flag of Tunisia Tunisia 3,070 N/A
Flag of Ecuador Ecuador 3,035 70,000 - 90,000 [82] Ecuadorian British people
Flag of Bermuda Bermuda 2,986 N/A
Flag of the Seychelles Seychelles 2,905 N/A
Flag of Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) 2,794 N/A
Flag of Brunei Brunei 2,782 N/A
Palestinian flag West Bank (Palestinian territories) 2,483 N/A
Flag of Rwanda Rwanda 2,373 N/A
Flag of Saint Helena Saint Helena 2,355 N/A
Flag of Albania Albania 2,314 N/A
Flag of Botswana Botswana 2,051 N/A
Flag of Oman Oman 2,024 N/A
Flag of Burundi Burundi 2,022 N/A
Flag of Estonia Estonia 2,005 14,000 [83]
Flag of the Bahamas Bahamas 1,797 5,000 Bahamian British people
Flag of Liberia Liberia 1,583 N/A
Flag of Iceland Iceland 1,552 N/A
Flag of Macau Macau 1,490 N/A
South and Central America (Country not stated) 1,338 N/A
Flag of the Republic of Macedonia Macedonia 1,285 N/A
Flag of Belize Belize 1,233 N/A
Flag of Namibia Namibia 1,230 N/A
Flag of Slovenia Slovenia 1,228 N/A
Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg 1,222 N/A
Flag of Belarus Belarus 1,154 N/A
Flag of the Netherlands Antilles Netherlands Antilles 1,151 3,000
Flag of Bolivia Bolivia 1,143 N/A Bolivian British people
Flag of Cuba Cuba 1,083 N/A Cuban British people
Flag of Qatar Qatar 1,062 N/A
Flag of Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea 1,057 N/A
Flag of the Falkland Islands Falkland Islands 1,044 N/A
Flag of Uruguay Uruguay 963 N/A Uruguayan British people
Flag of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 871 N/A
Flag of Swaziland Swaziland 863 N/A
Flag of Madagascar Madagascar 789 N/A
Flag of Senegal Senegal 723 N/A
Flag of Cambodia Cambodia 706 N/A
Flag of El Salvador El Salvador 595 N/A
Flag of Armenia Armenia 589 N/A
Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan 561 N/A
Flag of Togo Togo 553 N/A
Flag of Georgia (country) Georgia 551 N/A Georgian British people
Flag of the Dominican Republic Dominican Republic 523 N/A Dominican British people
Flag of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan 521 N/A
Flag of Guatemala Guatemala 499 N/A
Flag of Anguilla Anguilla 498 1,000
Flag of Paraguay Paraguay 493 N/A
Flag of Panama Panama 492 N/A
Former USSR (Country not stated) 483 N/A
Flag of Laos Laos 464 N/A
Flag of Moldova Moldova 455 N/A
Flag of Honduras Honduras 420 N/A
Flag of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau 381 N/A
Flag of Costa Rica Costa Rica 376 N/A
Flag of Cayman Islands Cayman Islands 369 1,000
Flag of Lesotho Lesotho 331 N/A
Flag of Cape Verde Cape Verde 328 N/A Cape Verdean British people
Flag of the Central African Republic Central African Republic 312 N/A
Flag of the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands 309 N/A
Flag of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 306 N/A
Flag of Mongolia Mongolia 293 N/A
Europe (Country not stated) 269 N/A
Flag of Guinea Guinea 265 N/A
Flag of Suriname Suriname 264 N/A
Flag of Benin Benin 239 N/A
Flag of Djibouti Djibouti 237 N/A
Flag of Monaco Monaco 225 N/A
Flag of Nicaragua Nicaragua 223 N/A
Flag of the Maldives Maldives 200 N/A
Flag of Chad Chad 183 N/A
Flag of Kiribati Kiribati 179 N/A
Flag of Haiti Haiti 164 500
Flag of the British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands 163 500
Flag of Tonga Tonga 143 N/A
Flag of Gabon Gabon 135 N/A
Flag of Vanuatu Vanuatu 135 N/A
Flag of Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan 133 N/A
Flag of Samoa Samoa 125 N/A
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands United States Virgin Islands 124 400
Flag of Mali Mali 121 N/A
Oceania (Country not stated) 108 N/A
Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe Sao Tome and Principe 102 N/A
Flag of Tajikistan Tajikistan 101 N/A
Flag of Burkina Faso Burkina Faso 99 N/A
Flag of Turkmenistan Turkmenistan 99 N/A
Flag of Niger Niger 96 N/A
Flag of Bhutan Bhutan 86 N/A
Flag of the Comoros Comoros 62 N/A
Flag of Guam Guam 61 N/A
Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands Turks and Caicos Islands 56 200
Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea 51 N/A
Flag of the Cook Islands Cook Islands 37 N/A
Flag of Andorra Andorra 35 N/A
Flag of American Samoa American Samoa 30 N/A
Flag of Mauritania Mauritania 28 N/A
Flag of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein 23 N/A
Flag of North Korea North Korea 22 N/A
Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory British Indian Ocean Territory 19 N/A
Flag of Nauru Nauru 14 N/A
Flag of Tuvalu Tuvalu 10 N/A
Flag of San Marino San Marino 9 N/A
Norfolk Islands 4 N/A
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia Micronesia (Federated States of.) 3 N/A
Flag of Niue Niue 3 N/A
Flag of the Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands 3 N/A
Flag of Palau Palau 3 N/A
Flag of Aruba Aruba 0 N/A
Flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cocos (Keeling) Islands 0 N/A
Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands 0 N/A
Flag of Tokelau Tokelau 0 N/A
Flag of East Timor East Timor 0 N/A
Flag of the Vatican City Vatican City 0 N/A
  • Note: The African-Caribbean communities total populations are rough estimates based on the percentage of people born in that country against the total Afro-Caribbean community.

[edit] Outlook

The United Kingdom is set to become Europe’s most highly populated nation within two generations, driven by immigration.[84] Forecasts published by the European Commission suggest that UK will overtake Germany within 50 years as the population rises from 60.9 million today to 77 million.[85] Britain's immigrant population is likely to almost double to 9.1 million by 2030.[86]

[edit] Legal advice

Although the guidance notes and numerous online resources are available to help out people applying for immigration to United Kingdom, one can also seek legal advice for this matter. The guidelines to the immigration programmes states that immigration advisers should fulfil the requirements of good practice. An independent public body set up under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 named The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) maintains and publishes the register of advisers.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The name of the country was formally changed in 1927 from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act. However, the change had effectively taken place when the Anglo-Irish Treaty had established the Irish Free State in 1922, granting near-independence to 26 of the 32 counties of Ireland.
  2. ^ Foreign-born population National Statistics Online, 24 October 2006.
  3. ^ John Freelove Mensah, Persons Granted British Citizenship United Kingdom, 2006, Home Office Statistical Bulletin 08/07, 22 May 2007, accessed 21 September 2007
  4. ^ Home Office, Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2006, Norwich: TSO, August 2007, accessed 21 September 2007
  5. ^ "1972: Asians given 90 days to leave Uganda". BBC On This Day. Retrieved on 2008-05-17.
  6. ^ Diana Kay and Robert Miles (1998) Refugees or migrant workers? The case of the European Volunteer Workers in Britain (1946–1951), Journal of Refugee Studies 1(3-4), pp. 214-236
  7. ^ Colin Holmes (1988) John Bull's Island: Immigration and British Society 1871-1971, Basingstoke: Macmillan
  8. ^ Kathy Burrell (2002) Migrant memories, migrant lives: Polish national identity in Leicester since 1945, Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society 76, pp. 59-77
  9. ^ UNHCR (2006) 'A matter of the heart': How the Hungarian crisis changed the world of refugees, Refugees 114(3), pp. 4-11
  10. ^ Immigration staff can ask Muslim women to remove veils 24dash.com, 26 October 2006
  11. ^ a b Focus on People and Migration: 2005, National Statistics UK
  12. ^ The Worker Registration Scheme Home Office
  13. ^ Freedom of movement for workers after enlargement Europa
  14. ^ Barriers still exist in larger EU, BBC News, 1 May 2005
  15. ^ EU free movement of labour map, BBC News, 4 January 2007, accessed 26 August 2007
  16. ^ Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue & Customs and Communities and Local Government, Accession Monitoring Report: A8 Countries, May 2004-June 2007, 21 August 2007, accessed 26 August 2007.
  17. ^ 1,500 migrants arrive in UK daily, BBC News, 2 November 2006, accessed 2 November 2006
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  53. ^ STATEMENT SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF NUMBER OF OVERSEAS PAKISTANIS LIVING/WORKING/STUDYING IN DIFFERENT REGIONS/COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD AS ON 30-6-2004
  54. ^ Americans living abroad 2005
  55. ^ [ref name=NS]
  56. ^ [ref name=NS]
  57. ^ Australians in the UK
  58. ^ [ref name=NS]
  59. ^ Between 800,000 and 3 million Nigerians in the UK
  60. ^ [ref name=NS]
  61. ^ Poles in the UK number around 1 million
  62. ^ 400,000 Turks in the UK
  63. ^ [ref name=NS]
  64. ^ BBC News with figures from the 2001 Census
  65. ^ Between 1/4 of a million and 300,000 Iranians recide in the UK
  66. ^ Over 200,000 Filipinos in the UK
  67. ^ 51,000 Japanese expatriates in the UK in 2002
  68. ^ Between 250,000 - 450,000 Iraqis in the UK, many assylum seekers
  69. ^ [ref name=NS]
  70. ^ Thais and British born Thais in the UK, 2006
  71. ^ Brazilians in the UK
  72. ^ 300,000 Russians in the UK
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  74. ^ Yemenis in the UK
  75. ^ Moroccan diaspora in 1999
  76. ^ Colombians in the UK
  77. ^ Over 40,000 Koreans in the UK
  78. ^ [ref name=NS]
  79. ^ Lithuanians in the UK
  80. ^ Around 35,000 Latvians in the UK, although it is often claimed to be around 100,000 - 200,000
  81. ^ Peruvians in the UK
  82. ^ Ecuadorians in the UK
  83. ^ 14,000 Estonian speakers in the UK
  84. ^ Immigration to make Britain the most crowded country in Europe, Telegraph
  85. ^ Population projections 2008-2060, 26 August 2008
  86. ^ "Britain to have '9.1m immigrants by 2030'". Telegraph.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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