20.11.2025 - To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege. And it must be earned
The consultation on extending the period people in certain immigration routes will need to wait before being able to apply for settlement (also referred to as indefinite leave to remain) has been opened.
The consultation document is called “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: A statement and accompanying consultation on earned settlement”. The consultation is open until 11.59pm on 12 February 2026.
People unaffected by the proposals
1. This includes parents, spouses and dependants of British citizens and those in the Hong Kong (BNO) route:
Separately, and not subject to consultation, se...
20.11.2025 - Biggest overhaul of legal migration model in 50 years announced
The biggest shake-up of the legal migration system in nearly half a century will be launched today, designed to reward those who contribute and play by the rules.
Days after announcing the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in decades, the Home Secretary outlines a major shift in the profile of legal migrants that will prioritise those who contribute to the economy and play by the rules.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:
To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege.
Earlier this year, the government announced it would double the permanent settlement...
17.11.2025 - Home Secretary announces major asylum and other changes in new policy paper: “Restoring Order and Control”
Following a plethora of media briefings and coverage over the past few days, the Home Secretary has officially published her policy paper on “Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy“.
The paper is in three sections. Part I: Reducing arrivals, Part II: Increasing removals, and Part III: Safe and legal routes.
Part I: Reducing arrivals
This section begins with an assertion that various factors are acting as “pull factors” for people to come to the UK. These include “the generosity of refugee protection in the UK”, “the extent of support provided” t...
23.10.2025 - New suitability rules will apply to Appendix FM and other human rights applications
One of the biggest changes introduced by 14 October is not so much the replacement of the Part 9 grounds for refusal with a new yet very similar “Part Suitability” but rather the way these rules will now apply in full to the following applications that previously enjoyed carve-outs and exceptions:
- Appendix FM
- Appendix Private Life
- Appendix Adult Dependent Relative
- Appendix Settlement Family Life
There are also other minor amendments, including incorporating the exceptions for overstayers currently found in paragraph 39E into Part Suitability.
These changes take effect...
14.10.2025 - Date set for commencement of new student, graduate and work immigration rules
New immigration rules were published 14.10.2025 affecting a wide range of immigration routes. Most of the changes had already been announced in the earlier immigration white paper but there are a few surprises included in what is formally known as Statement of Changes HC 1333.
Immigration Skills Charge increasing by 32%
The Immigration Skills Charge is levied directly on employers and is a fee per year of a worker’s employment with temporary leave. It was previously set at £1,000 per year in 2017 and will increase to £1,320 per year.
Changes to English language requirements for economic...
30.09.2025 - Draconian HMRC ‘Interaction Register’ Set to Drive Tax Advisers Out of Market, Warns ICAEW
The UK government’s latest plan to introduce a mandatory register for any tax adviser involved in ‘interaction with HMRC’ has come under fierce criticism from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). The professional body warns that the proposed legislation will not only impose significant extra costs on the honest majority of advisers but could also force many professionals out of the market, ultimately harming the UK tax system and the country’s competitiveness.
Widespread Industry Alarm
Government proposals, due to take effect from April 2026, would require all t...
04.09.2025 - Refugee family reunion route closed
As trailed earlier in the week, the refugee family reunion route will be “suspended” as of 3pm today as set out in the statement of changes just published. The explanatory memorandum describes this as “introducing a temporary pause to Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection), as we undertake a full review and reform of the current family rules to ensure we have a fair and properly balanced system”.
No timescale is indicated for how long the route will be closed, although the ministerial statement accompanying the statement of changes refers to “a new family policy” being set ou...
03.09.2025 - Urgent update
The government has announced that the refugee family reunion route will be suspended from 3pm tomorrow (Thursday 4 September 2025). Family reunion applications submitted before 3pm tomorrow, including those currently under appeal, will continue to be assessed under the existing rules.
20.08.2025 - Good character and criminal convictions in British citizenship applications
Anybody over the age of ten who applies for registration or naturalisation as a British citizen needs to meet the so-called “good character requirement”. This is a mandatory requirement set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. Where a person is deemed by the Home Office not to be “of good character” then his or her application for citizenship will be refused.
There is no further definition of what is meant by “good character” in the British Nationality Act 1981. However, there is guidance available from the Home Office as to what is likely to be considered behaviour that indicates a ...
06.08.2025 - UK-France agreement on asylum returns
As announced in July, this week a treaty between the UK and France on asylum returns has been ratified and is now in force. The treaty provides for people who have arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel to be returned to France, in exchange for France sending people who have not attempted the journey to the UK, on a one for one basis. Yesterday, a statement of changes to the immigration rules was also published, relating to the part of the scheme that will bring people to France.
This is a pilot scheme and is due to end on 11 June 2026. The Home Office announcement states that they expect t...
