I here that in the near future asylum will only be granted?

Of course it is. Do you really want to spend all your tax and NI contributions on benefits for foreign nationals who have no skills? Where political asylum is necessary, then i have no objection.

Im pretty certain they will come in anyway, but at least as illegals they will have no rights and therefore cannot be a drain on society!

What we should really be cracking down on is those who take our hospitality, and then undermine our culture. Like that damn hook-handed cleric Abu Hamza.

The grounds for asylum are nothing to do with being a professional, but there are schemes for skilled migrants which are being reformed toward a points system as they have in Australia, perhaps this is what you are thinking of.

Asylum-seekers are only accepted if they can show that they risk torture or death in their own countries. Nowadays, people asking asylum are only a small percentage of new immigrants.

My personal opinion is that anyone should be allowed to come and work as long as they can support themselves and they are not dangerous in some way.

Asylum when used how it was intended is a wonderful thing, however it is abused by some as a way to improve their living standard. People use fake id to pretend to be under 18 to qualify for government help. Some of these people are much older but it is difficult to prove. I have come across some true cases but more of them are suspect to say the least.

No asylum should be available to people genuinely fleeing persecution in their home country.

However immigration into this country should be based on the persons suitablility for this country. That should be for people who can bring skills and talents whihc are in short supply, that should be for people who can read and write English, that should be for people who have a job offer, and it should be up to the employer to demonstrate that that they cannot find a UK (or EU) citizen capable of fullfilling that role. There should be a few exceptions for relatives, spouses etc...

Asylum is not the same as immigration

Hi Lisa - you hear wrongly. To be granted asylum, under the 1951 UN Convention on refugees, you have to show that you have a well-founded fear of persecution by reason of your political opinions, race, religion, or membership of a social group. It has nothing to do with qualifications.

If the UK sought to restrict refugee status to professional people, it would be in breach of its international obligations.

in the states, i think it is the opposite. in the last few years, asylum applications have been easier. few years ago, approved asylum applicants had to wait a number of years before they can get a green card. that's no longer true.

No! If they contribute to anyone it should be their own country.

Those are not the target jobs for the debate, "the jobs Americans won't do" are. The states have people with diplomas washing dishes, give them the jobs.

If we expect poorer countries to develop, then we need to allow them to use there best talent, if we want to aid their poor then we can always use them to pick fruit, or whatever.

as CB states, so did I.

But no, the answer to the question still remains, the Gov should grant asy to those that are genuinly fearing prosecution in their home country. I dont actually wish to discuss this any further.

No, why cant we just fund our own to get the profession, let us have the jobs or the chance of the jobs..let some other country take the immigrants for a change...this country is too damn soft

It should be granted to those fleeing genuine persecution regardless of their educational status or work background, imo