Migration Watch UK
May 23, 2013
Commenting on the latest immigration and visa statistics released this morning, Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said:
“The latest immigration figures are very good news. Net migration is down by 89,000 on the previous year and the government have achieved this without harming the business or university sectors.
University applicants are up by 5% on the previous year and skilled visas applicants by 7%.
The key now is outflows. Non-EU outflows have been largely unchanged for ten years. A major effort is needed to ensure that people leave when they should. This could bring the government close to its immigration target.”
Notes to Editors:
1 ONS Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, May 2013.
2 In the year ending March 2013, there were 42,112 Tier 2 visa applications, an increase of 7% on the previous year when there were 39,501.
3 University visa applications increased from 150,136 in the year ending March 2012 to 157,241 in the year ending March 2012.
4 Net migration in the year ending September 2012 was 153,000, down from 242,000 in the year ending September 2011.
5 'Non-EU outflow in the year ending September 2012 was 111,000. Annual non-EU outflow has remained between 101,000 (YE end December 2007) and 126,000 (YE December 2006) over the last ten years.'