The law restricting the entry of highly qualified Russians and citizens of other countries not in the European Union, despite numerous objections, was passed in 2010. Now, almost three years later, opponents of the measure relish the sad consequences: talented professionals choose other countries, and entrepreneurs cannot find the workers they need.
International companies, which take advantage of a clause in the law allowing them to transfer an employee from a foreign branch without applying for a work visa, have been the least affected. The number of such applications increased by a third in the year after the law was passed. Moreover, they most often came from companies in the information technology sector for their workers in India. Small and medium-sized businesses are practically deprived of this opportunity and constantly complain through organizations and the press about a shortage of personnel.
This restriction, which also applies to the issuance of student visas, has already caused losses of about 3 billion pounds in uncollected tuition fees. Entry permits issued as of June were down 21% compared to the previous year – besides pounds, Britain also lost potential young taxpayers. Moreover, under new rules, a foreign student must leave the country within 60 days after the expiration of the student visa – previously they were allowed to stay for two years.
One of the few counterarguments – the isolated case where London Metropolitan University issued visas to 'dead souls' – does not hold up to any criticism. After the release of data on losses, even the conservative newspaper The Daily Telegraph, the main pillar of the coalition, called the law 'too strict' and expressed hope for a shift toward 'more sensible' policies.
Nevertheless, no shifts are visible, and instead of trying to ease the conditions, the government raises the question of how to limit migration from EU countries as well, undeterred by the fact that freedom of movement is guaranteed by European laws. Thus, Home Secretary Theresa May warned that she has taken this issue seriously and is preparing a series of measures that could be introduced immediately in the event of a collapse of the eurozone. And former Labour Party minister Frank Field even stated that European immigrants are the main reason why Britons cannot find work, and called for this to be explained to Brussels in order to restrict their entry.
'The Poles are coming,' 'New influx from Eastern Europe' – these are among the favorite headlines in the conservative press, and they receive thousands of comments from readers. One entrepreneur shared in a conversation that a reporter from a radical right-wing newspaper once called him and asked for 50 pounds to tell him over the phone how he hired a Pole who did nothing and ran off with the money. Some Britons have still managed to appreciate the work ethic of Eastern Europeans: the renowned chef and entrepreneur Jamie Oliver complained that the young Britons he hires for his restaurants are 'wimps' and therefore he prefers to hire 'iron-concrete and bulletproof' Poles and Lithuanians.
However, as long as the eurozone holds together thanks to Germany's efforts, it is unlikely that England will be able to close its border to Schengen, but the current law causes a lot of trouble for those who honestly apply for visas and pay taxes. Natalia, a former Muscovite, received a higher education in London and works as a financial analyst. She needs to regularly report to the authorities on her income and movements. 'I feel like a criminal, as if I have something to hide. Getting a visa has become more difficult and expensive,' she says. Every time before going through passport control at the airport, Natalia trembles and fears that she will again be detained for 4 hours, as has happened before, pending clarification.
Olga, an aviation specialist from Moscow, did not manage to get a work visa at all. She was given verbal consent for a position in a small company, but after the employer learned how many documents he needed to submit, he chose a local specialist. 'They apologized profusely, but said they were not ready to fight with English bureaucracy,' the Muscovite complains.
The story of 25-year-old Ibrahim, an illegal immigrant from Turkey, is so stereotypical that it could seem made up. He does not complain about persecution by the authorities and spends almost all his free time smoking marijuana. He works exclusively in kebab shops for two-thirds of the minimum wage: 'I'm outside the law. They know they can pay me only 4 pounds an hour. But overall, I like it here, I won't go back on my own.'
Thousands like Ibrahim arrive in England every year. In September, the government managed only to identify (not catch and deport!) 174 thousand illegal immigrants. No government agency can say how many there actually are. Nor can it say what the chances are that all of them will continue to live in Britain, getting by on odd jobs and petty theft, while talented Russians will spend weeks in consulates submitting documents and paying fees.