David Cameron speech 25/03

Two measures that may affect UK-Yankee in David Cameron's speech today (the majority was focussed on EU migrants so not of direct relevance:)

http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/immigration-speech-cameron/

- New requirements for Landlord and Letting agents to confirm a tenant's immigration status before signing a lease.  It's not clear what would happen if the expiry date of the visa is before the end of the tenancy.

- "stricter charging or a requirement for non-EEA temporary migrants to have private health insurance in order to access NHS care."

Not clear what "temporary migrants" are for these purposes, but this almost certainly includes visitors.

They TRIED the whole no access to NHS thing a few years ago, but almost every single health insurance plan punts you back to the NHS if something serious develops. 

I can't see how this is going to work, unless they are talking about tourists only.

I'm not sure how the NHS bit would be enforced, but these both seem perfectly reasonable and overdue to me.

The Guardian has an article that begins to tease out how these changes might to work. I like how they mention that a lot of these 'changes' are basically already in force.

Immigrants' residents permits: how would they work?

Ministers are looking at plans to restrict access to services for migrants, but have found existing rules are already quite tough

"New requirements for Landlord and Letting agents to confirm a tenant's immigration status before signing a lease." - I have been here for two years on a spouse visa, and rented two flats, with two different agencies, and both times this was checked. They required it of me. They both copied my visa for their file. So, I had sort of assumed this already was the law! Guess not!?

"It's not clear what would happen if the expiry date of the visa is before the end of the tenancy." - When I asked both letting agencies that question they told me that as long as I was legal when I signed, it was done and dusted as far as they were concerned. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I'm not sure how the NHS bit would be enforced, but these both seem perfectly reasonable and overdue to me.

The tenancy agreement change could be a big headache.  Let's suppose you're looking for somewhere to rent when you have 1 month left on your FLR visa.   Even though you fully expect to get ILR, if you are unable to sign a lease that lasts past the end date of your visa then it will be very difficult to find rented accomodation.  It's also unlikely that letting agents or landlords would accept a promise that you expect to get a further visa due to the possibility of a fine.

Yes. It could be a potential issue, for sure.
And, letting agents are not immigration experts.

And... We were afraid of exactly this issue, as my visa was checked for both rentals in the past, so we decided to stay in this flat we are in at the moment, until I have completed my ILR.

Two measures that may affect UK-Yankee in David Cameron's speech today (the majority was focussed on EU migrants so not of direct relevance:)

http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/immigration-speech-cameron/

- New requirements for Landlord and Letting agents to confirm a tenant's immigration status before signing a lease.  It's not clear what would happen if the expiry date of the visa is before the end of the tenancy.

- "stricter charging or a requirement for non-EEA temporary migrants to have private health insurance in order to access NHS care."

Not clear what "temporary migrants" are for these purposes, but this almost certainly includes visitors.

That's what's got me worried - my initial reading of "temporary migrants" was, "anyone who is not working", i.e tourists and visitors (particularly as in the speech Cameron mentioned the NHS as being for "British families and those who contribute to the economy (italics mine)" but if they mean "anyone who hasn't actually got ILR/citizenship" this could be a major worry. As for how it works, couldn't they just ask for your private insurance certificate as part of the "proof you have sufficient funds/aren't going to be a burden" when you apply for FLR/ILR?

I find it disturbing that they're talking about restricting access to the NHS if you're working and contributing to the NHS via PAYE deductions (or other payments if you're not on PAYE).

My situation is different - although I'm American, I'm here as a Swiss citizen, so I fall under EU rules. The talk on restricting EU citizen access to the NHS is worrying.

For temporary migrants, there are special health insurance plans for expats which is available. From what I understand, though, it isn't cheap.

All in all, quite worrying, no matter which set of rules you fall under.

Yup. It sucks.

I don't like it one bit.

I'm not sure how the NHS bit would be enforced, but these both seem perfectly reasonable and overdue to me.

Do you really have no trouble with landlords and estate agents asking people for documents, etcetera based upon whether or not they have an ethnic appearance or are accented?

I think they would just have to get those documents from anyone and everyone, right? I mean, they made a copy of my Brit hubby's passport too.

But, I totally DO see you point with that question. 

Does this proposed restriction to NHS include us non-EU spouses as well? So how would access to NHS work if an immigrant has a pre-existing condition? I could pay the premium for private health insurance, but my condition wouldn't be covered, so would still need access to NHS. Are they proposing taking away access to NHS completely? My MIL just told my DH today that this is what they are doing, and we'd like to verify this.

TIA!

I think they would just have to get those documents from anyone and everyone, right? I mean, they made a copy of my Brit hubby's passport too.

But, I totally DO see you point with that question. 

That is the only way such questions are legal in the US.  You must ask for the same proof from every person.

Does this proposed restriction to NHS include us non-EU spouses as well? So how would access to NHS work if an immigrant has a pre-existing condition? I could pay the premium for private health insurance, but my condition wouldn't be covered, so would still need access to NHS. Are they proposing taking away access to NHS completely? My MIL just told my DH today that this is what they are doing, and we'd like to verify this.

TIA!

I don't think anyone knows yet for sure.