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09.02.2014 - UK Government Embarrassment – Immigration Minister resigns over cleaner’s visa

Immigration Minister Mark Harper, who is a strong advocate for the Immigration Bill that is going through parliament, has resigned from the UK Government. The reason why: in 2007 he employed a cleaner who did not have permission to work in the UK.

As we have mentioned in previous articles the Immigration Bill proposes, amongst many other proposals, that all private landlords will have to check the immigration status of proposed tenants and will be at risk of a financial penalty for not doing so. The Bill also proposes the penalty for failing to check an employee’s immigration status to rise to...

05.02.2014 - Tier 1 (Investor) – update

In the next few days the Migration Advisory Committee will be delivering their report to the government about the Investor route and whether in its current form, investing £1 million into UK government bonds/business, is of benefit to the UK economy.

Depending on its recommendations the government could amend the Immigration Rules regarding the Tier 1 (Investor) category. Until the report is published it is not known what the recommendations will be, however the committee could recommend that the amount of investment be increased or decreased, or they could even recommend that the investment b...

02.02.2014 - New Government proposals – immigration fees and premium services

The UK government has announced proposals to change the fees it charges for its visas, immigration and nationality applications as well as introducing new premium services for applicants. If the proposals are approved by Parliament then the new fees will apply from 6th April 2014. Some fees for their premium services will be applicable from 31st March 2014.

The new premium services, and their fees, include the following:

  • a 3-5 day priority visa service costing £100;
  • a priority settlement application service for a fee of £300;
  • a super priority visa service for £600, which will expedite the app...

02.01.2014 - Visit the UK for Chinese New Year

The UK has just welcomed the New Year, 2014, and we are now looking forward to the Chinese New Year and the year of the Horse. London has planned the largest Chinese New Year celebration outside of Asia (there were 500,000 spectators in London last year celebrating the year of the Snake), and as such the Home Office anticipate that there will be many who wish to visit the UK for this spectacular occasion and have given an update on all who wish to visit the UK for the Chinese New Year. 

To summarise, their update is as follows:

  • Visa applications are made online where you will also pay and boo...

17.12.2013 - Electronic visas

From 1 January 2014, passport holders of Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will be able to visit the UK for up to 6 months using an electronic visa waiver (EVW).

The EVW, which can be created online, offers a free, fast and simple alternative to a visit visa. EVW will be available for visits of up to 6 months.

However, those coming to the UK to work or study will still need to apply for visas in the normal way.

It is likely that in the future the electronic visas will be available for the residents of other countries. 

16.12.2013 - Amendments to the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006

The UK Government has recently amended the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 (by adopting the Immigration (European Economic Area) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2013). One of the most important changes is to Regulation 9 family members of British citizens that will come into effect on 1st January 2014, and how this will affect the ‘Surinder Singh’ route. 

‘Surinder Singh’

The ‘Surinder Singh’ route is a way for British citizens to bring their non-EEA dependant family members to the UK using the EEA Regulations as opposed to the strict UK Immigration Rules. The British cit...

15.12.2013 - Tuberculosis testing

From 31 December 2013, residents of the following countries who wish to come to the UK for more than 6 months must be tested for tuberculosis (TB) before applying for a visa: Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Georgia.

If you apply on or after 31 December 2013, you will need to take a TB test if you are applying to come to the UK for 6 months or longer.

If you plan to come to the UK for less than 6 months you do not need a TB test, unless you are applying for a 6 month fiancé (e) visa.

You also do not need to take the test if you are applying to c...

04.12.2013 - Autumn statement 2013

On 5th of December 2013 the chancellor George Osborne gave his autumn statement and we would like to provide you an overview of this statement. 

First of all it would be beneficial to provide a brief summary of key headlines which have been included in the statement documents. 

Economy:  George Osborne stated that " Britain’s economic plan is working – the job is not done yet”. Britain is growing faster than any major advanced economy. He announced that economic growth forecasts for this year have more than doubled from 0.6% to 1.4%. Forecasts indicate no deficit by 2018/19. Bank of England gi...

14.11.2013 - Home Office - Latest News

New immigration rules for members of HM Forces and their families

The new rules came into effect on 1 December 2013. They bring Armed Forces family rules in line with the family Immigration Rules. This means that:

  • a minimum income threshold requirement applies to the members of HM Forces wishing to sponsor a non-EEA dependant to come to or remain in the UK;
  • a basic English language requirement, at A1 level applies to all non-EEA partners seeking leave to enter or remain in the UK as a dependant of a member of HM Forces;
  • to qualify for settlement, all non-EEA partners and children between the ...

20.10.2013 - Help To Buy Scheme

From the 8th of October the Government implemented a new scheme, which suppose to help both first time buyers and home movers on new build homes worth up to £ 600,000

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