From 6th April 2024 sponsor organisations no longer need to renew their sponsor licence To employ migrant workers on work permits in the UK, employers must first obtain an authorisation from the Home Office called ‘Sponsor licence’ and be on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors: Workers. To get the sponsor licence, organisations need to apply to the Home Office by completing an online application form and submitting the required specified information…
Read MoreUK immigration update – Home Secretary commissioned report from the Migration Advisory Committee by 23rd February 2024
Home Secretary commissioned report from the Migration Advisory Committee by 23rd February 2024 In his 5 points statements, James Cleverly, the UK Home Secretary, announced major changes to UK immigration and said that those will be implemented in ‘spring’ next year 2024. You may also wish to read our other blog article on the timeline for implementation of the 4th December changes. James Cleverly on 17th January 2024 has written…
Read MoreImportant UK immigration update – NHS Surcharge increase to apply from 6th February 2024
NHS Surcharge increase from 6th February 2024 On 4th October 2023 the new immigration fees started to apply. This increase did not include the NHS Surcharge fees but in mid September 2023 Home Office indicated that the NHS Surcharge fee increase will be announced later in autumn. In mid October 2023, there was an update that the new NHS Surcharge fees were to start applying from January 2024. The UK government recently published The…
Read MoreImmigration sponsorship compliance duties – care homes & care providers – Home Office audit (visit) – licence revocation
Care homes and care providers – sponsor licence immigration sponsor duties All sponsor licence holder organisations have extensive duties and obligations defined by the Home Office. Non-compliance may lead to the licence suspension (during an investigation by the Home Office) or licence revocation (cancellation of licence after the investigation is completed). In this blog we focus on most common breaches of compliance obligations by care industry sponsor employers. We recommend reading…
Read MoreUK immigration update for Health and Care visa – January 2024
Health and Care visa updates January 2024 On Monday 4 December 2023, the Prime Minister and Home Secretary announced the plan to cut net migration which together with the package to restrict student dependants, is expected to reduce the numbers by around 300,000. We summarised the plan in our blog article on 4th December 2023. There are a number of updates for Health and care sponsor employers and Health and Care visa in general. Changes…
Read MoreUK immigration – important clarifications & timeline for new immigration measures to curb net migration
UK immigration – important clarifications & timeline for new immigration measures to curb net migration On Monday 4 December 2023, the Prime Minister and Home Secretary announced the plan to cut net migration which together with the package to restrict student dependants, is expected to reduce the numbers by around 300,000. We summarised the plan in our blog article on 4th December 2023. Package announced in early December 2023 contained…
Read MoreChanges to UK immigration rules – New Statement of Changes to Immigration rules 7th December 2023
New Statement of Changes to UK Immigration rules 7th December 2023 More changes to UK Immigration rules. New Statement of Changes to Immigration rules 7th December 2023 has been published today. It includes changes to EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), changes to visitor rules and changes to Youth Mobility Scheme. There are also minor changes to some other immigration categories. The changes to the rules are due to come into force…
Read MoreBig changes to UK immigration to reduce net migration – increase to salaries, increase to minimum income family visas, limiting Shortage Occupation & dependents – take effect spring 2024
Major changes to UK immigration to take effect in spring 2024 Recent announcement of UK net migration reaching over 745,000 in 2022, caused immediate reaction from UK conservative government. There were already previous changes to UK immigration rules for students and student dependents to limit net migration were announced earlier this year 2023. However, the recent announcement of the higher net migration for 2022 than previously expected, caused the government…
Read MoreSole responsibility for a child in UK immigration – headache for work visa applicants and other UK visa applicants
Sole responsibility: The Guardian has published another very instructive story of immigration woes and self inflicted pain. The Guardian article describes a familiar story. A lecturer from Kenya who holds a UK work visa applied for the visa for her daughter to come live with her in the UK where she has obtained position with one of the universities. Her husband, due to other commitments, stayed behind in Kenya. The…
Read MoreUpdate to Right to Work Checks guidance
Update to Right to Work Checks guidance Right to Work Checks are one of the key requirements each UK employer must be fully familiar with. Under section 15 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, all employers have a duty to check their employees have the right to work in the UK and to undertake the work in question. Home Office will take action against those who employ illegal workers and…
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