Home Office: fears over bringing in foreign lawyers in future

Government proposals to overhaul the managed migration system would be 'disastrous' for law firms wanting to bring in talent from abroad, leading immigration solicitors warned this week.


The new system will see immigration decisions transferred from the Home Office to British diplomatic posts around the world in 2007.


Philip Trott, head of immigration at City firm Bates Wells & Braithwaite, who is liaising with the Home Office on behalf of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association in relation to the proposals, said: 'The new system will expect visa officers in British diplomatic posts to cast off all their history of rejection mania and cultural disbelief, and accept the applicant's documents at face value.'


There is also concern that rejection can only be appealed on the basis of of a breach of human rights or racial discrimination


Under the plans, applications will be made by individuals rather than employers, making it difficult for firms to track and control the process. Firms may also be obliged to pay financial bonds to guarantee that the individual will leave the country when the permit expires.


Mr Trott added: 'The current system processes applications in one or two weeks, and is the envy of the world. To change it is barking. '


Julia-Onslow-Cole, head of business immigration at City firm CMS Cameron McKenna, said: 'This will be disastrous for law firms. Employers and law firms are... worried that they will lose control over the process, and will not be able to bring the people they need into the UK.'


A Home Office spokesman said the new system would be simpler and less bureaucratic, and would not stop highly skilled migrants coming to the UK.