Immigration blog and updates

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 …

Read more “Big 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”

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 …

Read more “Sole responsibility for a child in UK immigration – headache for work visa applicants and other UK visa applicants”

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 …

Read more “Update to Right to Work Checks guidance “

EVisa digital UK immigration status to replace BRP and BRC UK immigration update: UK Home Office is introducing changes to make the UK immigration system more digital. This is reflected in their ‘New Plan for Immigration’ roadmap published in July 2022. Part of the digitalisation process is to replace physical immigration permits with online immigration …

Read more “UK immigration update – new online immigration status eVisa instead of Biometric Residence Permit”

Terrorism related questions in UK visa & British citizenship applications UK visa applications and British Citizenship application forms have questions relating to General Grounds of refusal good character. Those questions are focused on the applicants’ conduct, associations and various activities that may mean that the person’s presence in the UK is undesirable. Some of the …

Read more “Terrorism related questions in UK visa & British citizenship applications”

Electronic travel authorisation(ETA) for the UK Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) gives you permission to travel to the UK. The applicant must be seeking permission to enter the UK as either: (i) a Visitor (other than a Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor), staying in the UK for up to 6 months; or (ii) a Creative Worker who is seeking entry …

Read more “Electronic travel authorisation ETA for the UK – what it is and how to apply”

SMS updates National Insurance Number (NINO) for Key Personnel  If your business holds immigration sponsor licence in any category, including Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility as the most typical licence types, you need to ensure that you comply with the Home Office sponsorship duties. Those duties and requirements keep evolving and updates are notified …

Read more “Important: Sponsors SMS updates National Insurance Number and Companies House Number required”

New higher NHS Surcharge from January 2024 Recently on 4th October 2023 the new immigration fees started to apply. This increase did not include the NHS Surcharge fees but in mid September Home Office indicated that the NHS Surcharge fee changes will be announced later in autumn. In mid October 2023, there is an update …

Read more “Important update: Increase to NHS Surcharge immigration fees from January 2024”

UK visa application centres in Israel temporary closure Due to the recent events, Tel Aviv Visa Application Centre and Jerusalem Visa Application Centre are temporarily closed for UK visa applicants from 10th October 2023 until further notice. 28 HaArba’s Street, HaArba’a Towers, south building – Floor 9, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TEL AVIV …

Read more “Important: UK visa application centres in Israel temporary closure – what UK visa applicants and employers should do”

Asylum seekers right to work recommendation from Migration Advisor Committee Under the current immigration rules, Asylum Seekers can request the right to work if their asylum application has been pending for at least 12 months. If the right to work is granted, asylum seekers can only work in occupations on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). …

Read more “Important for Asylum seekers right to work – proposed changes by the Migration Advisory Committee”