News

09.04.2012 - Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur

This route is for graduates who have been identified by participating Higher Education Institutions as having developed world-class entrepreneurial ideas or skills to extend their stay in the UK after graduation in order to set up a business in the UK.

The business can be as a sole trader, a partnership or a company registered in the UK.  There can be more than one business.

Graduate Entrepreneurs can switch into the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category and need only show £50,000 of investment funds (but will be required to show the normal maintenance funds).

For detailed information please visit he...

27.03.2012 - Osborne Attempts to Stamp Out Tax Avoidance – Amendments to Stamp Duty in the Budget

In an effort close off tax avoidance loopholes, the Chancellor, George Osborne, has turned his attention to the property market in the Budget. This highly lucrative business sector is seen as an area where investors can legitimately avoid tax at present and hold onto their cash by careful manipulation of figures and terminology.

For example, those in the know very often have chattels (fixtures & fittings) itemised and paid for separately, thereby reducing the price of the property. As the value of the property decreases, so too does the stamp duty payable on it and, in some instances, the prop...

18.03.2012 - Changes to the Immigration Rules (March, 2012)


From 14 June 2012, the personal savings of the applicants (maintenance) under Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 5 categories must be as follows:


Tier 1
Tier 1 applicants - Entry Clearance - £3100
Tier 1 applicants – already in the UK - £900
Dependents of Tier 1 applicants who have been in the UK for less than 12 months - £1800
Dependents of Tier 1 applicants  - all other applications - £600

Tier 2
Tier 2 applicants - £900
Dependents of Tier 2 applicants who have been in the UK for less than 12 months - £1800
Dependents of Tier 2 applicants  - all other applications - £600

Tier 5
Tier 5 applicants - £900
...







28.02.2012 - Automatic settlement for skilled workers to end

The Immigration Minister announced today an end to ‘automatic settlement’ for skilled workers. In order to qualify for settlement Tier 2 General workers will need a minimum annual salary of £35,000 and be paid the ‘going rate’ according to the UKBA Codes of Practice. The £35,000 threshold will remain at that level until April 2018. Those Tier 2 migrants working in a shortage occupation, in designated PhD level jobs and ministers of religion will be exempt from the £35,000 threshold.

The new rules will apply to those Tier 2 General applicants whose initial Tier 2 leave was granted under the rul...

12.02.2012 - Changes affecting study, post-study work and maintenance requirements for students and workers

The Immigration Minister has announced new changes to the immigration rules affecting study, post-study work and maintenance requirements for students and workers to be brought into effect from 6th April, 2012.

The Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) route will close on 5th April, 2012, and be ‘replaced’ by new provisions under the Tier 2 (General) immigration category allowing those who have graduated from a UK recognised body with a  Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or PhD (or a PGCE or PGDE) to work for a registered employer in a skilled job if the salary is at least £20,000 a year (and at least the...

09.02.2012 - New immigration fees and new products announced

The Immigration Minister yesterday announced proposals to increase fees for immigration and nationality applications from 6th April, 2012.  Fees are proposed to increase by an average of 2%, although some categories will see larger increases in order to keep other categories’ fees lower to ‘support wider government objectives’, i.e. subsidise those immigration routes they like and discourage those they don’t like.

It was announced early last year that the Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) category would be closed on 6th April, 2012.  The Immigration Minister has since announced a new visa category for ...

02.02.2012 - Migrant Settlement

Immigration Minister, Damian Greene, gave a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank yesterday outlining plans for reform to migrant settlement.  Mr Greene stated an intention to deny settlement to migrant workers who are earning less than £31,000 a year after five years in the UK.  He also stated there would be a review of the annual limit on skilled economic Tier 2 migrants and spoke about the changes to migration already being considered.  He went on to mention ultimately replacing the current Points-Based System with a contribution-based system so that migrants must, presumably, economical...

06.11.2011 - New policy guidance on the marriage visa age of 21

Following the judgment of the Supreme Court in Quila and Bibi  the minimum age requirement for entry clearance or leave to remain applications as a spouse, fiancee, unmarried partner, same sex partner, civil partner and proposed civil partner will be reduced to 18 from 28th November, 2011.

Those applicants who were refused on the basis of their age between 27 November 2008 and October 2011 can apply for a review of the decision by 31st May 2012.  The UKBA has issued policy guidance for previous applicants affected by the judgment.

22.09.2011 - Non-EEA national parents of British children can apply for a right of residence

The UK Border Agency has announced it will now accept applications for a right to reside in the UK from those who are the sole carers of dependent British nationals when that carer has no other right of residence in the UK and removing the carer from the UK would mean the British citizen would have to leave the European Union.

Applicants will be issued a certificate of application, which will enable them to work in the UK whilst the application is outstanding, if they are able to provide adequate evidence that they are responsible for the care and support of a British national.

The Immigration...

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