Visa application fees, settlement application fees, British citizenship fees and Certificate of Sponsorship COS fees are all increasing from 9th April 2025. In early 2024 there was huge increase in NHS Surcharge fees. The trend to increase immigration fees is very likely to stay as the government aims to reduce net migration to the UK. Further below we copy Home Office notification dated 19 March 2025 of the immigration fee…
Read MoreImportant changes to skilled worker and health and care visa rules – Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules 12 March 2025
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules published on 12 March 2025. Changes in immigration rules relating to Skilled Worker visas including Health and Care visa, will take effect from 9th April 2025. Those recently published changes mainly relate to minimum pay for skilled workers, recruitment of care workers Soc Code 6135 and senior care workers Soc Code 6136 and deductions from salary for skilled workers. Skilled Worker –…
Read MoreConservative party proposals to increase minimum salary thresholds levels for all work visas and spouses
Proposals for increase of minimum salary for all work visas and spouse/family visas are in the news at present March 2025. Meeting the minimum salary level is one of the key requirements for the Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) and Skilled Worker visa to be granted. The minimum salary requirement is equally important as the minimum NQF Level 3 skill requirement and genuine vacancy test. Current minimum salary level for skilled worker visa The standard minimum salary for…
Read MoreEUSS scheme automated upgrades to settled status
EUSS scheme and EUSS Family Permit immigration permissions are a separate set of rules that has its own unique complexities. In January 2025 Home Office published a factsheet informing of the automated upgrade to settled status. From early 2025, the Home Office is to introduce a new process to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status without the need for them to make a further EUSS application. Settled status under EU Settlement…
Read MoreHome Office has announced dates for the India Young Professionals Scheme February 2025 ballot.
How to apply for India Young Professionals Scheme The next India Young Professionals Scheme ballot will open at 2:30pm India Standard Time on 18 February 2025, and will close at 2:30pm India Standard Time on 20 February 2025. You can enter the ballot at any time while it is open. The link to enter will be on this page. To take part in the ballot you have to meet the…
Read MoreLevel 1 user & Key Personnel changes to requirements – skilled worker sponsor licence
Level 1 user requirements change – skilled worker sponsor licence Level 1 user changes announced by Home Office. UK Visas and Immigration UKVI immigration rules and guidance are changing frequently and there have been recent changes to Key Personnel requirements. This blog is specifically focused on key personnel and particularly Level 1 user role for skilled worker sponsor licence. One of the key duties for each sponsor licence applicant and…
Read MoreSponsoring workers in a personal capacity – Sponsor guidance updates 31 December 2024
Sponsoring workers in personal capacity – big changes. Important updates have been made to the sponsor guidance and Sponsor a Skilled Worker. Sponsor licence holders need to keep up to date with of all the changes introduced by the Home Office UK Visas and Immigration. Examples of ‘personal capacity’ can be employing a nanny. Unfortunately this will no longer be possible. In addition those migrant workers’ that already hold skilled…
Read MoreImportant UK immigration update – Use of expired BRP cards allowed due to flawed eVisa system
The Home Office UKVI change from BRP cards to evisa is causing confusion to UK visa holders. At Thaxted Legal we help our clients to navigate the changes and new updates relating to evisas are published every day recently. According to the Guardian article, to avoid windrush- style scandal passengers will be allowed to use expired identity documents to travel to the UK because of flaws in the eVisa system. The UK immigration minister…
Read MoreUK evisa deadline delays – UK to postpone switch to evisa digital system
The Home Office UKVI change from BRP cards to evisa is causing confusion to UK visa holders. At Thaxted Legal we help our clients to navigate the changes. It is important to have the UKVI online account and evisa and check that all details recorded on your UKVI account and evisa are fully correct. Most physical documentation proving the right to remain in the UK, such as biometric residence permits BRPs, will no longer be valid…
Read MoreImportant UK immigration update – more sanctions on rogue employers including ban from hiring overseas workers
In one of our previous blogs we discussed the further measures that the new Labour government intends to bring in order to reduce net migration to the UK. Today 28th November 2024 Home Office issued press release Rogue employers will be banned from hiring overseas workers. The Home Office used strong wording at the start ‘Shameless businesses who commit serious offences will be banned from sponsoring overseas workers to crack…
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