UCU: Provision of immigration advice

Motion

Motion text: Congress notes:
1. that the UK immigration rules have ballooned in size and complexity, now running to over 1000 pages
2. that employers in higher & further education do not routinely make immigration advice available to current or prospective staff
3. that immigration advice is a regulated activity
4. that lack of advice can have significant repercussions for individuals who are left to navigate a complex system alone.

Congress believes:
a. that employers should proactively provide legal advice on immigration matters to prospective and current staff and postgraduate research students free of charge
b. that employers should have a nominated immigration adviser who has OISC Level 3 Certification.

Congress resolves:
i. that UCU should campaign for all employers to provide current and prospective staff and postgraduate research students with OISC Level 3 immigration advice free of charge
ii. that UCU should make OISC Level 3 immigration advice available to members.
iii. that UCU should campaign for all employers to reimburse the full costs to migrant staff for: visa fees, naturalisation fees and NHS surcharge fees.