PHL envoy: Previous ‘loophole’ in UK immigration rules now closed

For those thinking of going to the United Kingdom on student visas but are actually planning to work there, think again.

 

According to Philippine Ambassador Enrique Manalo, “The Philippine authorities can spread the word that this previous loophole in the UK’s immigration rules had been closed.”

 

“In 2011, the UK instituted changes in its immigration rules governing those acquiring student visas. The changes include limiting the number of hours they can engage in part-time work, redefining the maximum period of stay in the UK, and strict vetting of  educational institutions to ensure that they are legitimate,” Manalo said in an email to GMA News Online.

 

Manalo is the Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James in the UK and non-resident Ambassador to Ireland.

 

Based on the 2012 Stock Estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, there are about 218,777 Filipinos in UK and 14,114 others in Ireland. 
 

He is one of the Philippines’ most experienced diplomats and was deputy foreign secretary for policy from 2007 to 2010. 

 

Manalo noted that the UK immigration policy is undergoing an overhaul.

 

“When the ongoing overhaul of the UK’s immigration policy is completed, the UK will not be as attractive a destination for undocumented migrants as it was before the new policy was adopted,” he said.

 

“Hence, those who intend to come for purposes other than what their visas allow should be forewarned,” he added.

 

On the UK’s policy of encouraging high achievers to come to their country, Manalo said, “This statement should be seen in the context of an ongoing overhaul of the UK’s immigration policy.”

 

“At present, an immigration bill is progressing in Parliament which aims to create an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate immigrants, and tough on those who abuse the system and flout the British law,” he said. 

 

“Once enacted and enforced, the bill will prevent non-entitled persons from accessing public services, reduce the attractions which draw illegal immigrants to the UK, and 

make it easier to deport people who have no legal status in the UK,” he added.

 

Manalo noted that the UK labor market has opportunities for “highly skilled and highly qualified Filipino professionals who can compete with the best and the brightest in the world.”

 

“As to Filipino achievers who intend to legally enter and stay in the UK, there are, of course opportunities, for students to pursue studies in many universities the UK, either on a scholarship or a fee-paying basis,” he added.

 

Advantages, disadvantages of residing in UK

 

Asked about the advantages and disadvantages of living in the UK, Manalo said, “Filipinos in the UK enjoy living in a democratic, open and culturally diverse society. There is no language barrier so communication is easy.” 

 

“UK labor standards protect the rights of workers, there are laws that shield women and children from domestic violence, and health care and basic education are universal,” he added.

 

The downsides include “intense competition in the jobs market, the rising cost of living, particularly the high cost of rent and university education, and the difficulty of bringing over family members for long-term stays,” he said.

 

“However, the resilience and hard-working character of the Filipinos here should help them face this challenge,” he added.

 

ASEAN, UN expert

 

Before being assigned to London, Manalo was the Philippine Ambassador to Belgium. 

 

Having also been previously assigned to Geneva, New York and Washington DC, he has an extensive foreign policy experience, especially on matters pertaining to the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 

 

A graduate of the University of the Philippines with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in economics, Manalo was also a former Chairman of the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 

 

Manalo noted how strong Philippine-UK ties are. “Perhaps, a good example of the kind of relationship we have with the UK would be the response we received from the UK public as a result of the devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).”

 

Typhoon Yolanda killed over 6,000 and caused over P35.5 billion in damage to agriculture and infrastructure. 

 

“I believe the support and assistance –in terms of the sending of British assets and personnel to the Philippines, the donations and words of sympathy and condolences received from British government officials and the public, including from our very own Filipino community in the UK, was tremendous and overwhelming,” Manalo said. 

 

“This unprecedented response, I believe, is a testament to our growing bilateral relationship and people-to-people links which, I am sure, will continue to prosper in the future,” he added.

 

Asked about his opinion on how he thought Philippine-UK relations could be improved further, Manalo said, “The strengthening of our bilateral economic relationship bears witness to our mutual growth. 

 

“The UK is the largest European investor in the Philippines and one of our largest trade partners. While our bilateral trade and investment relations with the UK are robust and constantly improving, there remain great opportunities to expand them to much higher levels,” he said.

 

“We must also deepen and broaden cultural relations by, among others, creating more opportunities for Filipino artists to visit the UK and UK artists to visit the Philippines,” he added.

 

Rewarding experience

 

According to Manalo, since he assumed the post of Philippine Ambassador to the UK more than two years ago, he found the “productive and growing cooperation between the Philippines and the UK, especially in the economic and political fields” personally rewarding.

 

He said the visit of President Benigno Aquino III to the UK last year “enabled us to show to the British public what the Philippines had to offer as a reliable partner, and the benefits of a stronger relationship.”

 

“Since then, the Philippines has been riding high on a string of economic successes; 

our economic growth is now second only to China in the region having surpassed 

seven percent in the first half of 2013,” Manalo said. 

 

“This year we also received successive upgrades to investment grade status from ratings agencies such as Moody’s, Fitch, S&P and the Japan Credit Ratings Agency. This has perhaps led the UK to identify the Philippines, on numerous occasions, as a key emerging power in East Asia and as ‘one of the largest and a key player in ASEAN,’” he added. — RSJ, GMA News