News: Immigration Insights

Home Office issue COVID-19 factsheet for visa holders and short-term UK residents.

The Home Office have issued guidance on immigration provisions made for individuals affected by travel restrictions associated with coronavirus (COVID-19). Extending a visa • If the individual already has leave in the UK and planned to remain and apply to extend their leave when it expired, they must continue to do this. • No individual […]

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Home Office issue COVID-19 Guidance for Sponsors

The Home Office has published guidance on GOV.UK on immigration provisions for sponsors and individuals affected by travel restrictions associated with coronavirus (COVID-19). • No individual who is in the UK legally and whose visa expired after 24 January 2020, or is due to expire, will be regarded as an overstayer or suffer any detriment […]

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The Migration Advisory Committee publishes its latest Report. January 2020 – Summary and Recommendations.

The below gives a summary of the detailed research and recommendations issued by the Migration Advisory Committee on 28th January 2020. While the way in which the Government will act upon the below is open to question, the MAC’s recommendations are considered very seriously, so there is a strong likelihood that many of these suggestions […]

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BRP Card Expiry Dates and Encryption Technology – An Update

We have been aware for some time that Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) which do not incorporate the next generation of encryption technology are required by the EU to have a validity date of no later than 31 December 2024. Until 1 January of this year, this issue only affected those granted indefinite leave to remain, […]

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As the UK Leaves the EU – some things Tier 2 sponsors should consider.

As of 11pm 31 January 2020, the UK will leave the European Union. It’s really happening, so here are some key areas Tier 2 sponsors should consider: Keep track of Brexit developmentsCurrently the UK has two systems in place: one under EU law (free movement) and one under UK law (the EU Settlement Scheme). Free […]

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The Global Talent Visa

The UK Government have announced a fast track visa scheme to attract the world’s top scientists, researchers and mathematicians. The changes are due to come into effect on 20 February 2020. Under the scheme, scientists and researchers may be eligible for fast track entry to the UK. This follows a commitment by the Prime Minister […]

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EU Settlement Scheme – an update

The latest Home Office figures (gathered up until the end of August 2019) suggest that over 1.5 million European nationals currently living in UK have applied for the EU Settlement Scheme. As there are an estimated three million EU citizens currently living here, it would appear 1.5 million have yet to make an application. Completed […]

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Tier 1 Investor – rule changes take effect.

The Investor category is for high net worth applicants who have at least £2 million available to invest in the UK. The Immigration Rules covering the Tier 1 Investor route have been amended to allow more scrutiny of the source of each applicant’s funds. The changes came into effect on 29th March 2019. The changes […]

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Are you a Tier 2 Sponsor? It’s time to renew your allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship.

If as an employer you currently sponsor members of staff on Tier 2 Visas, the deadline to renew the Certificates of Sponsorship available to you for the coming year is fast approaching. On the 5th of April your allocation of Certificates could be automatically reset to zero by the Home Office. This could lead to […]

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Tier 1 – Exceptional Talent Visas – Architects now added

Changes made to the Exceptional Talent visa category have come into effect (10th January) meaning that Architects who can demonstrate that they are either already renowned in their field of work or that they are ‘up and coming” are now similarly eligible to apply under this route as those working in digital technology, science, engineering, […]

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Home Secretary requests a MAC review of the Shortage Occupation List.

The Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, has today written to the Migration Advisory Committee for their input in a much-needed review into the composition of the current Shortage Occupation List. The existing system is advantageous for UK employers as it exempts them from the need to advertise “shortage” positions through the resident labour market test and […]

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Latest Immigration changes

The Home Office’s latest Statement of Changes issued earlier this month detailed several changes to the current immigration rules. As it has been widely reported in the press, doctors and nurses have now been removed from the annual cap on Tier 2 General visas for skilled non-EEA workers. Other amendments come into effect on 6 […]

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