Why the floodgates are open

[AtW]

Unless they just get given NI numbers on request that is.

A person on a work permit is entitled to a permanent NI number.

This does not mean however that the person is entitled to benefits - the stamp in passport clearly states that recourse to benefits is not allowed and in effect when work permit ends abruptly (ie made redundant), then it's a grey area and in theory visa is no longer valid and the person has to leave.

In order to claim permanent residence one would have to be for 5 years on work permit (was 4 couple of years ago), that's a pretty long period of time during which a lot can go wrong.

Either way claiming benefits is not allowed (though paying NI tax is okay), of course some people can try to claim them anyway and some of them even succeed, then they apply for permanent residence and get boot up their arse for violating immigration laws - no residence, no future visas etc.

[Buffoon]

It is up to employer to supply proof of local advertising (if it is necessary, which it is not in plenty of cases) - copies of ads in mags, newspapers etc, if this info is not supplied then app should be rejected.

Can you really imagine some grunt at the Home Office actually checking up on the advertisement and verifying that the potential employer had not received any suitable candidates?

There are more that enough people in this country to fill all the positions held by those on work permits. This board is full of people who are either unemployed or under-employed. Every one of those working in this country on a permit has displaced another worker from the UK who is quite capable of doing the job.

[threaded]

Can you really imagine some grunt at the Home Office actually checking up on the advertisement and verifying that the potential employer had not received any suitable candidates?

There are more that enough people in this country to fill all the positions held by those on work permits. This board is full of people who are either unemployed or under-employed. Every one of those working in this country on a permit has displaced another worker from the UK who is quite capable of doing the job.

Yes, but one has to remember the UK government hates its voters.

[AtW]

Every one of those working in this country on a permit has displaced another worker from the UK who is quite capable of doing the job.

Probably, but at least these people are here - they have to pay council tax, road tax, income tax, VAT, rip off fuel duty, ridiculous morgages or just rents: all this ensures that the amount of money they would ask for has got at least some baseline which is a lot higher than if they remained in their own countries where they would need to earn 3-4 times less to live a lot better (well, this is no longer the case in Moscow but we talking about a really screwed up country that could never act reasonably).

Of course work permits should only be issued to the best people in order to ensure that any job that can be outsourced is very primitive indeed.

[Buffoon]

However, those displaced will not be earning (and spending) as much as they could. Indeed, some may not be earning at all and drawing benefits. Much of the earnings of those on work permits will be repatriated to their home countries and not benefit the economy of the UK. The net economic benefit argument is fallacious.

All applications for work permits on the basis that the skills are not available in the UK are plain and simply fraudulent. The government is at best naïve or incompetent to approve them. However, the conspiracy theorist inside me suggests that there is a more sinister activity going on.

Having said all that, there is every reason to welcome overseas business and workers; provided that it is new or additional ideas and business. It is also true that in general protectionism is bad, but what we have seen has been deliberate destruction of the market and barriers to entry applied to home suppliers.

[xoggoth]

You may mug upon the law atw but you clearly do not follow the news much.

[AtW]

I followed the rule and know what was needed to be filled in a work permit - before jumping to conclusions I suggest you print it out and carefully examine relevant sections.

Much of the earnings of those on work permits will be repatriated to their home countries and not benefit the economy of the UK.

Much of earnings? Don't be ridiculous - much of the earnings will be put back into UK economy because of taxation and high cost of living - almost all will be put if work permit holder brought his family over here.

Real-life example: when I was on work permit I was paid £35k pa (outside of London), of which I was getting £24k net (the rest is income tax, plus employer NI), then after very modest lifestyle I could save around £1k per month - my lifestyle was far more modest than normally people on £35k would get, so even if I moved all that disposable income back home it would have been 33%, but no sane person would 100% of what's left back home, so even if it's 50% of that, the figure would actually be 15% of the salary, which is less than if I was doing the same thing via outsourced agreement - the UK in this case would not actually get any taxes.

Should every IT person from around the world get work permit? Of course not, and most of them would not hack it here anyway, but it makes perfect sense to give work permits to the best to effectively deprive 3rd world countries of their talents and ensure they pay same rip off Gordon Brown taxes here, this would force them to close the salary gap - sure they may still be cheaper than you, but better have £35k vs £40k here, than £10k vs £40k when it's outsourced. All the mounts here are for permiedom - work permit holders can't be contractors.

[Viktor]

My case is in reverse...I hold a UK business visa which entitles me to work as a contractor not permie. On my visa it states clearly "no recurse to public funds". I have been contracting in UK since last year.
Now the Home Office, inspired probably by the last events regarding "anti-immigration" wave, doesn't want to extend my visa on the basis that I can't prove the payment of corporation tax. Please explain to me how can I pay CT before my company's year end (which in my case is 31st October)? I have clearly explained them this issue, only to find out in the end that I must now appeal their decision.
I don't understand why I am f(*& up in a country where self-employment and business initiative should be promoted...Last year when I decided to go to UK I had such a great respect for this country, and now instead of a feeling of achievement I am regarded as a potential "undesirable"... Maybe this country doesn't want qualified people, maybe it's best to claim asylum and stay on benefits...

[mcquiggd]

Yes, now you are getting the right idea...

[AtW]

My case is in reverse...I hold a UK business visa which entitles me to work as a contractor not permie.

You can't engage in a professional work (contractor or permie) whilst on a business visa - this visa type is designed for business meetings and stuff like that. The way to do what you want to do legally is via HSMP route (I switched to it after work permit to get over my last year of wait until permanent residence).