08-06-2007, 10:04 PM
By Michael Knapp, Home Affairs Editor
BRITAIN is facing a mass exodus of people looking to escape the crime and grime of modern living.
The countryââ¬â¢s biggest foreign visa consultancy firm has revealed that applications have soared in the last seven months by 80 per cent to almost 4,000 a week. Ten years ago the figure was just 300 a week.
Most people are relocating within the Commonwealth ââ¬â in Australia, Canada and South Africa. They are almost all young professionals and skilled workers aged 20-40.
And many cite their reason for wanting to quit as immigration to these shores ââ¬â and the burden it is placing on their communities and local authorities. The dearth of good schools, spiralling house prices, rising crime and tax increases are also driving people away.
Obtaining a visa to live abroad can cost as little as ã1,500 for the right candidates. Plumbers, electricians, construction workers and doctors are famously in demand. The only obstruction to emigration from the UK is a criminal record, poor health, advancing age and being a ââ¬Åthird country nationalââ¬Â.
Liam Clifford, a former immigration control officer, set up globalvisas.com as a one-man band 12 years ago. He now employs 60 people and is in the process of opening new offices in both South Africa and Australia. Mr Clifford said: ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s absolutely phenomenal. People are trying to get away to wherever they can, and most are successful.
ââ¬ÅIronically, one of the main reasons for leaving is the overstretch of services due to increasing immigration into the UK. People are looking for the better standard of living offered by other countries, as even the most idyllic villages in Britain are under pressure from rising populations.
Skilled labour is obviously an advantage, but so is speaking the English language. Most countries are harder to get into if you donââ¬â¢t speak English. UK plc simply isnââ¬â¢t fighting hard enough to keep its people. Some are telling us they are fed up with living in this country. Even business people are saying theyââ¬â¢ve had enough.
ââ¬ÅTheyââ¬â¢re saying ââ¬ËI canââ¬â¢t put my children into the right school, but if I move abroad I canââ¬â¢. Most people are very patriotic and donââ¬â¢t want to leave. Theyââ¬â¢re almost terrified about it. But they say they just have to.
ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s a shame people at the top donââ¬â¢t recognise theyââ¬â¢re not doing enough to retain highly skilled workers in this country. A lot of them are quite young, and theyââ¬â¢re not idle. They just canââ¬â¢t see a future for themselves in this country. They want to get married and settle down and buy homes, but they canââ¬â¢t see it happening here.
ââ¬ÅAnd time and time again they are saying to us they donââ¬â¢t want to be seen as racist because they are quitting because of immigration. We tell them of course theyââ¬â¢re not.ââ¬Â
According to the most recent Office of National Statistics figures, in 2005 the official number of people leaving UK shores was 352,000 ââ¬â up from 249,000 in 1995. The majority ââ¬â around 150,000 ââ¬â migrated from London and the south east.
Among those who headed out were Simon Blood, 26, and Rachel Roberts, 23, who moved to Australia four months ago. The couple, from Stoke-on-Trent, are loving their new life in far north Queensland so much that theyââ¬â¢ve decided itââ¬â¢s permanent.
Apart from family, football and a few television programmes, thereââ¬â¢s nothing they miss about home. Embracing the warmest winter theyââ¬â¢ve ever known ââ¬â averaging 24C daily ââ¬â both relish the commute to work which takes just five minutes, leaving plenty of time for walks on the beach.
Simon, a marketing executive, and Rachel, a nurse, followed their dream after seeing a newspaper advertisement for nursing recruits Down Under.
ââ¬ÅIt all went very smoothly,ââ¬Â said Simon. ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s beautiful here and weââ¬â¢ve no plans to go back for good.ââ¬Â
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/1564...o-leave-UK
BRITAIN is facing a mass exodus of people looking to escape the crime and grime of modern living.
The countryââ¬â¢s biggest foreign visa consultancy firm has revealed that applications have soared in the last seven months by 80 per cent to almost 4,000 a week. Ten years ago the figure was just 300 a week.
Most people are relocating within the Commonwealth ââ¬â in Australia, Canada and South Africa. They are almost all young professionals and skilled workers aged 20-40.
And many cite their reason for wanting to quit as immigration to these shores ââ¬â and the burden it is placing on their communities and local authorities. The dearth of good schools, spiralling house prices, rising crime and tax increases are also driving people away.
Obtaining a visa to live abroad can cost as little as ã1,500 for the right candidates. Plumbers, electricians, construction workers and doctors are famously in demand. The only obstruction to emigration from the UK is a criminal record, poor health, advancing age and being a ââ¬Åthird country nationalââ¬Â.
Liam Clifford, a former immigration control officer, set up globalvisas.com as a one-man band 12 years ago. He now employs 60 people and is in the process of opening new offices in both South Africa and Australia. Mr Clifford said: ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s absolutely phenomenal. People are trying to get away to wherever they can, and most are successful.
ââ¬ÅIronically, one of the main reasons for leaving is the overstretch of services due to increasing immigration into the UK. People are looking for the better standard of living offered by other countries, as even the most idyllic villages in Britain are under pressure from rising populations.
Skilled labour is obviously an advantage, but so is speaking the English language. Most countries are harder to get into if you donââ¬â¢t speak English. UK plc simply isnââ¬â¢t fighting hard enough to keep its people. Some are telling us they are fed up with living in this country. Even business people are saying theyââ¬â¢ve had enough.
ââ¬ÅTheyââ¬â¢re saying ââ¬ËI canââ¬â¢t put my children into the right school, but if I move abroad I canââ¬â¢. Most people are very patriotic and donââ¬â¢t want to leave. Theyââ¬â¢re almost terrified about it. But they say they just have to.
ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s a shame people at the top donââ¬â¢t recognise theyââ¬â¢re not doing enough to retain highly skilled workers in this country. A lot of them are quite young, and theyââ¬â¢re not idle. They just canââ¬â¢t see a future for themselves in this country. They want to get married and settle down and buy homes, but they canââ¬â¢t see it happening here.
ââ¬ÅAnd time and time again they are saying to us they donââ¬â¢t want to be seen as racist because they are quitting because of immigration. We tell them of course theyââ¬â¢re not.ââ¬Â
According to the most recent Office of National Statistics figures, in 2005 the official number of people leaving UK shores was 352,000 ââ¬â up from 249,000 in 1995. The majority ââ¬â around 150,000 ââ¬â migrated from London and the south east.
Among those who headed out were Simon Blood, 26, and Rachel Roberts, 23, who moved to Australia four months ago. The couple, from Stoke-on-Trent, are loving their new life in far north Queensland so much that theyââ¬â¢ve decided itââ¬â¢s permanent.
Apart from family, football and a few television programmes, thereââ¬â¢s nothing they miss about home. Embracing the warmest winter theyââ¬â¢ve ever known ââ¬â averaging 24C daily ââ¬â both relish the commute to work which takes just five minutes, leaving plenty of time for walks on the beach.
Simon, a marketing executive, and Rachel, a nurse, followed their dream after seeing a newspaper advertisement for nursing recruits Down Under.
ââ¬ÅIt all went very smoothly,ââ¬Â said Simon. ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s beautiful here and weââ¬â¢ve no plans to go back for good.ââ¬Â
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/1564...o-leave-UK