Posted on 08/05/2007 9:58:13 AM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat
BRITAIN is facing a mass exodus of people looking to escape the crime and grime of modern living.
The country’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 – 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 – 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 £1,500 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 “third country national”.
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: “It’s absolutely phenomenal. People are trying to get away to wherever they can, and most are successful.
“Ironically, 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 don’t speak English. UK plc simply isn’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 they’ve had enough.
“They’re saying ‘I can’t put my children into the right school, but if I move abroad I can’. Most people are very patriotic and don’t want to leave. They’re almost terrified about it. But they say they just have to.
“It’s a shame people at the top don’t recognise they’re not doing enough to retain highly skilled workers in this country. A lot of them are quite young, and they’re not idle. They just can’t see a future for themselves in this country. They want to get married and settle down and buy homes, but they can’t see it happening here.
“And time and time again they are saying to us they don’t want to be seen as racist because they are quitting because of immigration. We tell them of course they’re not.”
According to the most recent Office of National Statistics figures, in 2005 the official number of people leaving UK shores was 352,000 – up from 249,000 in 1995. The majority – around 150,000 – 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 they’ve decided it’s permanent.
Apart from family, football and a few television programmes, there’s nothing they miss about home. Embracing the warmest winter they’ve ever known – averaging 24C daily – 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.
“It all went very smoothly,” said Simon. “It’s beautiful here and we’ve no plans to go back for good.”
Can you blame them?
I'm just curious about something. I wonder how many people leave U.S. shores annually? You never hear of immigration OUT OF the U.S.
You mean, they can’t get out? Is there a wall preventing them from leaving?
At what point do these people say, “The heck with this. I’m not cutting and running. This is war”?
I knew a young Brit who was in a similar situation. While waiting for his green card — a span of several years — he wasn’t supposed to work. Of course he could take odd jobs off the books, but if he was caught he could be sent back. Meanwhile, he was dependent on his American wife and mother-in-law. It just isn’t a normal situation for a young, ambitious and eager to work male to be living like this. Ironically, he and his wife had met in Mexico. If he had just come across the border illegally, he could have been working from the day he arrived and in line for eventual amnesty.
The fact is, the Euro-peons aint exactly producing alot of children, so don't expect a large wave of European immigrants anytime soon. That being said, skilled immigrants from Europe (and Asia, Latin America, etc.) face an uphill battle in trying to come here. Of course, if you want to wash dishes or clean bedpans, feel free to cross the southern border at anytime...
Generally there is no such thing.
Most Americans here in Indonesia are expats.
They couln't become Indonesian even if they wanted to.
That would be the same for most, if not all of Asia, Africa, South America, and to some extent Europe.
In other words, it's a one way street.
North Queensland will be hot - but beautiful.
The same kinda thing is beginning to take shape here - although most here still look down on escaping b/c it’s still so wonderful in the States. Those that leave the US now may be saving their futures or life savings - or they may be turning their backs on the best place on earth. IMO it’s too early to decide - but I don’t like the way it’s heading.
Ya know you can always buy a place to keep your assets - and have a place to go :0-)
“North Queensland will be hot - but beautiful.”
Just like West Texas.
LOL I know nothing about West Texas - maybe next summer I’ll head over to check it out in my carbon-emitting family transport vehicle - any suggestions on where to go?
The same thing is happening to California, except the people leaving are going to other states. Same reasons.
I can tell you that the answer to your question is that the Brits now see that their own government is solidly behind the demise of their country.
Is it different in the US? We saw a government heading right over a cliff, ready to provide immigration amnesty for up to 20 MM illegals; that same government which is only beginning to apply any kind of enforcement to longstanding laws regarding illegals...and let’s not forget that much of that apparent effort is on the backs of local gov’ts.
For the sake of diversity, the British citizen has not only been disarmed, but has been legally deprived of his/her inherent right of self defense. Skyrocketing crime, both personal and property, have only hardened the resolve of the UK govt to disarm its native citizenry. This is the only area that’s really different between the the US & the UK.
In Britain, the eligibility for social welfare programs available to immigrants is virtually automatic. Arguable, medical care “welfare” is essentially free in the US to any illegal who can walk into an emergency room, because they cannot be denied health services. And finally, illegals have unfettered access to our public schools, at taxpayer expense and generally to the detriment of those schools.
We are not far behind Britain. Know that.
I wouldn't welcome them.
They are fleeing the effects of population growth (one such effect is liberal thinking and governing).
We don't need to add to our own already over the top population growth from existing immigration.
“Britain and Europe are doomed.”
Well, not all of Europe is doomed.
I am quite happy here in Slovakia, as there is not the PC crap that is destroying the UK and the US.
The worst thing in Slovakia are the Brits that visit here.
They are trashy slobs that flock here to drink cheaply.
They are noisy, laughing their fool heads off, then they puke on the streets and pee in the fountains.
One respectable Brit told my brother last year that the population of the UK now has only one or two percent with any class.
Sad to say, the US is becoming just as bad off.
They died in World War I. Britain has never recovered from that bloodbath.
It's the warmest bet. But there is a huge demand for skilled trades in Canada, Alberta especially. The problem is finding housing. Employment is easy to find in any province in Canada where finding decent housing isn't a problem.
Christian UK and Europeons should make the move while the moving is good. It doesn't get any better and easier than this.
Professionals, like nurses and doctors should beware however. Make sure their education and training credentials are honored and they have a job offer before moving to other countries.
My favourite city in the world is Quebec
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.