Falklands: Immigration Matters

During the recent round of Council meetings some immigration policy matters were discussed against the backdrop of budgetary and economic matters.

Regarding the Moratorium on the Receipt and Consideration of Permanent Residence Permits, which was due for review at the end of March, Councillors decided that the moratorium should continue for the foreseeable future. It was agreed, however, that Permanent Residence Permit applications already queued in the system when the moratorium was imposed could come forward to Executive Council for consideration; the Immigration Officer will be contacting the people concerned.

On another matter, Section 17(5)(b)(ii) of the Immigration Ordinance (Work Permits) contains a "Four Year Rule" which provides that a person may only work in the Islands on work permits for a cumulative period of four years in any consecutive period of five years, unless the consent of the Governor to such longer period has been obtained. Councillors agreed that this provision should be suspended until further notice for administrative reasons. The suspension of this provision means that people may now apply for and be granted work permit renewals, without the consent of the Governor, even though they may on the date of application have been in employment in the Islands for four years or more.

Executive Council also discussed the matter of the length of time for which a work permit may be issued. The Immigration Ordinance (Section 17(5)(i)) provides that a work permit may only be issued for up to two years duration, unless the consent of the Governor has been obtained for a longer period. During periods of economic uncertainty it has become the practice to limit the duration of work permits to one year, wherever possible, rather than granting the two year maximum at the outset. This practice is applied in work areas and to job types where in any sustained period of economic uncertainty there are likely to be a number of local applicants seeking employment. Executive Council decided to reconsider this matter at the Executive Council meeting in April.

Any enquiries regarding this notice should be addressed to the Customs and Immigration Department on telephone 27340, facsimile 27342, or e-mail [email protected].

The Secretariat

Stanley

Ref: IMM/1/1

1^st April 2003