Q3 statistics for immigration and asylum released by Home Office

Last week saw the UK Home Office release immigration statistics for the period from July to September 2009. These statistics cover asylum applications, removals from the United Kingdom of illegal migrants and migration figures from Eastern Europe.

According to Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas the statistics show that net migration is falling, indicating that migrants are now coming to the UK for a shorter length of time, working, contributing to the local economy and then returning home.

Asylum applications have fallen to 5,055 in the third quarter of 2009, which represents a 24% reduction when compared to the similar period in 2008. This figure is aided by actual decisions made on asylum cases which rose by 38% against the same period last year, with the overall grant rate falling by 12%.

The UKBA had set itself a target of concluding 60% of all new asylum cases in the next six months in December 2008 which may also have boosted the figures.

Eastern European applicants for the work registration scheme leveled out at 29,085 as compared to 41,265 in 2008 and 28,060 in the previous quarter.

British citizens returning to Britain made up 14% of the total inbound migration number, higher than any other nationality.

Net migration fell from 233,000 in 2007 to 163,000 last year – the lowest level recorded since 2004 when the eight accession countries first joined the European Union.