Immigration blog and updates

By law all employers in the UK, without exception, have to perform right to work checks or face civil penalties. Employers who carried out the right to work checks correctly have a statutory excuse against liability for a civil penalty if an employee is later found working for them illegally. The procedure for the right to work checks is specified by the Home …

Read more “Right to work checks for supplementary employment – mistakes to avoid”

The UK government published press release on Sunday 11th May 2025 and started by ‘(…) immigration system will be radically reformed so the system is controlled, managed and fair under a landmark White Paper to be published tomorrow (Monday 12 May).’ We did write an earlier update on the upcoming changes in UK immigration laws. The …

Read more “UK migration radical reforms White Paper 12 May 2025 published – skilled workers, care workers, settlement ILR, English language, deportation and more”

The UK government published press release on Sunday 11th May 2025 and started by ‘(…) immigration system will be radically reformed so the system is controlled, managed and fair under a landmark White Paper to be published tomorrow (Monday 12 May).’ The White Paper setting out the actual changes is due to be released today 12th …

Read more “UK migration radical reforms to reduce migration – skilled workers, care workers, settlement ILR, deportation and more”

Recruitment of care workers on skilled worker health and care visa is put under more scrutiny by Home Office. Where an applicant for health and care visa is being sponsored for a job with working locations entirely in England as ‘6135 – Care workers and home carers’, and ‘6136 – Senior Care Workers’ from 9 …

Read more “New rules on recruitment of care workers in England by sponsor licence holder employers – Engagement with regional partnerships”

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. …

Read more “Increase in immigration applications fees – UK visas, settlement British citizenship – 9 April 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 …

Read more “Important changes to skilled worker and health and care visa rules – Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules 12 March 2025”

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 …

Read more “Conservative party proposals to increase minimum salary thresholds levels for all work visas and spouses”

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 …

Read more “EUSS scheme automated upgrades to settled status”

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 …

Read more “Level 1 user & Key Personnel changes to requirements – skilled worker sponsor licence”