News

Dec 08, 2023 - Home Office unaware of the extent to which ‘mystery’ stamp has been used to grant entry to UK in error

An Albanian national was mistakenly allowed to enter the UK by an immigration officer who used a stamp described by the Home Office Presenting Officer as “a stamp which is regularly encountered, but the use of which is shrouded in mystery”. As a result, he did not meet the requirements of Appendix EU. That is the conclusion reached by the Upper Tribunal in Allaraj (EEA EFMs, admission, IO’s stamps) [2023] UKUT 00277.

Background

On 5 December 2020 the appellant travelled from the Czech Republic with his Czech national partner. His passport was stamped by an immigration officer in France stating...

Dec 07, 2023 - Changes to the application submission procedure under the Ukraine schemes for nationals of Ukraine

The Home Office have made a change to the application process under these schemes from 7 December 2023.

Now all applicants to the Ukraine schemes are now required to attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to submit visa applications and before travelling to the UK. At the VAC, applicants will have their photograph and fingerprints taken.

Applicants who are under 5 years old are not required to provide their fingerprints but must still provide a live scan facial image as a biometric.

Applicants, whose applications are approved, will receive a notification, and before travelling to the UK will b...

Dec 07, 2023 - Statement of immigration changes HC 246: rules finally amended to provide for victims of transnational marriage abandonment and many more amendments

A new statement of changes has been laid today. Most of the changes relate to the EU Settlement Scheme and travel document requirements for school groups visiting the UK from France. 

The main provisions and the date they will come into effect are set out below.

New Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse – 31 January 2024

This will replace existing provisions in the rules and provide one set of rules for those applying for settlement on the grounds of domestic abuse. Changes are also being made, which include the inclusion of those who have been subject to transnational marriage abandonment. 

Depen...

Dec 05, 2023 - Autumn Statement 2023: the tax changes that didn’t make the headlines

ICAEW’s Tax Faculty scans the Autumn Statement documents for other tax-related announcements. Various tax measures can be found in the Overview of tax legislation and rates, the Autumn Statement, and updated Tax information and impact notes.

Enterprise investment scheme (EIS) and venture capital trusts (VCTs) extended 

The government has announced that EIS and VCT relief will be extended for a further ten years, beyond their existing sunset clause expiry date of 5 April 2025. This is subject to UK and international subsidy obligations being met.

Clarity over deductibility of training costs 

HM...

Dec 04, 2023 - Government plans attack families as minimum income requirement to rise to £38,700

The Home Secretary made a statement on 04 December 2023 to the House of Commons about the government’s plans to reduce net migration, mainly by separating families.

It’s yet another five point plan and is due to come into force in Spring 2024:

  1. People on health and care visas will no longer be able to bring family dependants and care firms must be regulated by the Care Quality Commission in order to sponsor workers.
  2. The skilled worker salary threshold will be increased by a third to £38,700, the care sector will be exempt.
  3. Ending the 20% salary discount for roles on the Shortage Oc...

Nov 23, 2023 - UK net migration in 2022 revised up to record 745,000

Net migration into the UK was a record 745,000 last year, figures show - far higher than originally thought.

Office for National Statistics data published on Thursday show that experts have revised up previous estimates.

In May, it said net migration - the difference between the number of people coming to live in the UK and those leaving - for 2022 had been 606,000, 139,000 lower than the true figure.

PM Rishi Sunak's spokesman said migration was putting "unsustainable pressure on communities and councils" and it was clamping down on dependents of students arriving in the UK. "We believe there...

Nov 23, 2023 - Autumn Budget Statement for 2024: summary of the main measures

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has unveiled the contents of his Autumn Statement in the House of Commons.

It sets out the government's tax and spending plans for the year of 2024, affecting the take-home pay and household budgets of millions of people, as well as the funding for key public services.

Here is a summary of the main measures.

Taxation and wages

  • Main rate of National Insurance cut from 12% to 10% from 6 January, affecting 27 million people
  • Class 2 National Insurance - paid by self-employed people earning more ...

Nov 22, 2023 - UK’s Jeremy Hunt delivers budget announcements aimed at reviving stagnant economy

U.K. Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt is delivering his Autumn Statement budget announcement of the United Kingdom, as he faces pressure from within the ruling Conservative Party to implement tax cuts as the country’s economy stagnates.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government has adopted a cautious approach to fiscal policy in the wake of the bond market panic unleashed by his predecessor Liz Truss’ disastrous “mini-budget” last fall.

The U.K. economy flatlined in the third quarter, and Hunt is expected to announce measures intended to bolster the country’s anemic growth outlook by attracting busi...

Nov 21, 2023 - Court of Appeal says deportation of mother of British child not “unduly harsh”

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against the deportation of a mother with a British citizen child, finding that their separation would not be “unduly harsh”. The case is FN (Burundi) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWCA Civ 1350.

Background

The appellant is a citizen of Burundi who arrived in the UK on 10 September 2003. In December 2007 she gave birth to a daughter, J, who is a British citizen. In 2009 the appellant was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment for offences including fraudulently claiming benefits. During the 7.5 months she was in prison, J’s father ...

Nov 15, 2023 - Supreme Court finds Rwanda is not a safe country to which refugees can be removed

The Supreme Court has today held that Rwanda is not a safe country and that it would be unlawful for refugees to be removed there. The government’s appeal against the Court of Appeal’s judgment has been dismissed.

Rwanda is widely acknowledged as having a poor human rights record. It is therefore in breach of numerous treaty commitments it has made. And the courts in Rwanda do not act an effective check on government behaviour: there is no real judicial independence. Further, the Rwandan government breached the terms of a previous asylum deal into which it entered with Israel. It is therefore ...