News

19.10.2022 - Changes to the Global Talent category

The Global Talent category is for talented and promising individuals in the fields of science, digital technology and arts and culture wishing to work in the UK.

The evidential requirements for arts and culture applications are being amended to require applicants to provide letters of support from organisations or individuals who have directly worked with the applicant and can therefore comment on their skills through personal experience rather than via reputation.

This is intended to ensure that the authors have first-hand knowledge of the applicants work and prevent the submission of more ge...

19.10.2022 - Changes to the provisions for adult children within the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route

The changes being made to Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (HK BN(O)) include provision to enable children of BN(O) status holders to apply to the BN(O) route independently (that is, without needing to form part of their parents’ household or apply at the same time as them).

This change will apply to those who:

• have at least one BN(O) parent;

• are aged 18 or over;

• were born on or after 1 July 1997; and

• reside in Hong Kong, the UK or the Crown Dependencies.

Partners, dependent children, and adult dependent relatives of the adult child may also apply with them.

This change w...

19.10.2022 - Inclusion of the poultry sector in the Seasonal Worker route

This is the only change to take immediate effect, as of 4pm 18 October 2022.

As a result of the statement of changes HC 803, which came into force on 1 November 2021, pork butchers are allowed to come into the UK as Seasonal Workers for up to six months. The route has now been expanded to include all roles in the poultry production sector, allowing seasonal workers in the sector to enter the UK to work from 18 October – 31 December each year. The new rules state:

“If the Certificate of Sponsorship confirms that the role is in the poultry production sector, the date of application must be on or...

19.10.2022 - New statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 719

The Home Office published a new statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 719) yesterday, on 18 October.

The explanatory memorandum confirms that the changes are largely focused on the government’s continued efforts to simplify the rules, and on implementing policy changes that have recently been put in place.

The majority of the changes take effect from 9 November 2022, unless otherwise stated. 

Most significantly, the government has made clear in the Nationality and Boarders Act 2022 that confirmed victims of human trafficking or slavery are eligible for temporary permission to stay ...

18.10.2022 - British ministers considering сap on dependents for international students

The UK’s recently revamped government is reportedly looking at ways to tighten the immigration rules to limit the number of dependants international students can bring to the UK.

The idea is being considered by ministers as part of a wider plan to tackle so-called “bad migration”, and to ensure the immigration system supports growth whilst maintaining control.

Newly appointed Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the Tory party conference that her long term aim was to reduce net migration to the “tens of thousands,” an old government target previously axed by Boris Johnson.

International studen...

17.10.2022 - Chancellor statement: certainty on some mini-budget tax measures

New Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirms off-payroll working will remain and that income tax rates will not change.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement that corporation tax rates would increase from April 2023, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced the reversal of many tax measures that were introduced at the mini-budget on 23 September. This announcement was made ahead of the Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on 31 October.

The Chancellor stated in his speech that more difficult decisions will have to be made on both tax and spending. In light of this, government departments will be asked to find eff...

15.10.2022 - Corporation tax rate to increase to 25% from 1 April 2023

In a bid to quell the turmoil that has ensued in the financial markets since the mini Budget, British Prime Minister Liz Truss has confirmed that the corporation tax rate will increase to 25% from the current 19% rate.

The corporation tax will increase to 25% from 1 April 2023, affecting companies with profits of £250,000 and over. The legislation that provided for this increase also sets out that small companies with profits up to £50,000 will continue to pay corporation tax at 19%, with profits between these two figures being subject to a tapered rate.  

Finance Act 2021 also included an inc...

23.09.2022 - Mini-budget UK 2022

The New Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has now uncovered his mini budget with an emphasis on tax cut and to stimulate the UK economy. A summary of his key announcements is as follows:

Income Tax

  • A cut in the basic rate of income tax to 19% will be brought forward by a year, to be effective from April 2023. As it stands, basic tax rate is at 20% for any annual earning between £12,571to £50,270 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
  • Government estimates approximately 31 million people will be benefiting from an average of £170 reduction in tax.
  • For England, Wales and Northern Ireland t...

22.09.2022 - Interest rates raised to highest level for 14 years

UK intertest rates have been raised to 2.25% from 1.75%, marking their highest level in 14 years.

It is the seventh time in a row that the Bank of England has raised rates as it battles to stem soaring prices.

The increase takes borrowing costs to their highest since 2008, when the UK banking system faced collapse.

Interest rates have been rising since last December as the rise in the cost of living has accelerated.

Inflation - the pace at which prices rise - is currently at its highest rate for nearly 40 years.

At 9.9%, it remains five times higher than the Bank of England's target of 2%.

Inf...

21.09.2022 - Home Office Guidance update: good character in British nationality applications

The Home Office nationality guidance on the good character requirement has now been updated in line with the provisions on lawful residence that came into force on 28 June 2022. The provisions were introduced into the British Nationality Act 1981 by section 9 and Schedule 1 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (and by section 12 with additional regard to refugees).

As per the new amendments, where an individual holds indefinite leave to remain, they can be treated as meeting the lawful residence requirement during the 5-year qualifying period, without further enquiry.

To align with this cha...

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