Immigration law

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Immigration law refers to national government policies which control the astonishment of immigration to their country.

Immigration law, regarding foreign citizens, is related to nationality law, which governs the legal status of people, in matters such as citizenship. Immigration laws vary from country to country, as well as according to the political climate of the times, as sentiments may sway from the widely inclusive to the deeply exclusive of new immigrants.

Immigration law regarding the citizens of a country is regulated by international law. The United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights[1] mandates that all country|countries allow entry to its own citizens.

Certain countries may maintain rather strict laws which regulate the right of entry and internal rights once established: such as the duration of stay, the right to participate in government. Most countries have laws which designate a process for naturalization, by which immigrants may become citizens.

Immigration law in the UK
British Overseas Citizens have identical legal rights to British citizens - distinguished only in title. British citizenship can be obtained as a right for anybody who was born in Britain, or British overseas territory. It is also available as of right for people of whom one parent is a "British (or British Overseas)[2] citizen otherwise than by descent"[3].


EU citizens
EU citizens, as created by the Treaty of Rome art 17 have the right to work, provide services or self employment in the UK



Non-UK, Non-EU citizens

Immigration Law in the USA
Immigration law is a serious political issue in the USA, as the nation heads towards its 2008 Presidential Elections. Of particular relevance to the debate on immigration is the fact that, due to a backlog in processing immigration applications by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), many would-be citizens will be ineligible to vote in the 2008 Presidential Campaign.

References
^ art 12(4)
^ British Nationality Act 1981, s15, as amended by the British Overseas Territorries Act 2002 s1(1)(b) and s2(2)(b).
^ British Nationality Act 1981, s2(1)(a), subject to s14