News
05.04.2022 - Business travel between the UK and EU: immigration and visa rules
Before 1 January 2021, British and EU citizens did not require a visa to travel across the Channel on a business trip. This is largely still the case post-Brexit, so we’ve been left with the appearance that nothing has really changed from a legal perspective. But with the end of free movement, immigration rules between the UK and EU have fundamentally changed, and business travel is no exception. While the pandemic has hidden some of the impacts of Brexit — we haven’t been travelling to/from the EU nearly as much — the fact remains that the legal landscape has changed considerably, with increa...
04.04.2022 - Seasonal Workers must now be paid at Skilled Worker rates
Holders of Seasonal Worker visas employed in the UK must currently be paid the minimum wage. That means an hourly rate of £9.50 for workers over 23 (the “National Living Wage”), somewhat lower for people aged 21-22, and £6.83 for 18- to 20-year-olds.
As of 6 April 2022, Seasonal worker compensation will be raised to Skilled Worker rates. The government's official guidance stipulates:
“For any worker you sponsor on the Seasonal Worker route who will be making their application for entry clearance on or after 6 April 2022, you must confirm the applicant will be paid at least £10.10 for each hour...
01.04.2022 - Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) - visa data as of 1 April 2022
Total Ukraine Scheme visa applications received: 65,000
Data is as of 1 April 2022 and comprised of:
- Ukraine Family Scheme: 32,800
- Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: 32,200
Total Ukraine Scheme visas issued to people: 29,200
Data is as of 1 April 2022 and comprised of:
- Ukraine Family Scheme visas: 24,400
- Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme visas: 4,700
Of those issued under the Sponsorship Scheme, visas issued where the sponsor was from:
- Scotland: 210
- Wales: 120
- Northern Ireland: 40
The UK has a welfare system which is designed to help those who face financial hardship, or who have specific needs. All those from Ukraine coming to the country under the scheme will be able to seek and take up employment.
Those who are allowed to stay in the UK as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme will have three years’ permission to stay in the UK, with the right to work and study, and they will have immediate access to benefits.
Successful applicants would be apple to get free healthcare from the National Health Service (NHS) and t...
29.03.2022 - Visa program for Ukrainian nationals - Ukraine Extension Scheme
Closes on 16 May 2024.
At the same time, children born in the UK after 18 March 2022 from those who have a permit under the Ukraine visa scheme (including the now closed Ukraine Family Scheme), will be given the right to apply under this route after 16 May 2024, and they will be granted a permit corresponding to the validity period permits, issued under the Ukraine scheme, which are available to their parents.
A. Overview
The visa program for Ukrainian nationals under the Ukraine Extension Scheme, provides an opportunity for applicants or their family members to live, work and study in the UK ...
29.03.2022 - Ukraine Family Scheme: application data as of 29 March 2022
The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK.
As at 9am on 29 March 2022:
Total applications opened: 77,800
Total applications submitted: 38,000
- of which, appointments made at a visa application centre: 12,500
Total applications confirmed for processing: 30,400
- of which, outstanding applications to be processed: 5,300
Total visas issued: 22,100
28.03.2022 - Late applications under the Surinder Singh immigration route
Under EU free movement law, British citizens who had been exercising “treaty rights” in the European Economic Area and then decided to move back to the UK could sponsor their family members to come with them. This allowed them to use the friendlier EU law rules on family migration, rather than the harsher domestic rules (i.e. Appendix FM or Part 8 of the Immigration Rules). This became known as the “Surinder Singh” route after the judgment that first established the right of British people to use EU law in this way.
The Surinder Singh route continued after Brexit, allowing Brits exercising tre...
25.03.2022 - Ukraine Family Scheme: application data 25 March 2022
The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK.
As at 5pm on 25 March 2022:
Total applications opened: 73,200
Total applications submitted: 36,300
- of which, appointments made at a visa application centre: 12,400
Total applications confirmed for processing: 29,300
- of which, outstanding applications to be processed: 4,700
Total visas issued: 21,000
23.03.2022 - 2022 Spring Statement: Key points at a glance
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled the contents of his Spring Statement in the House of Commons
Delivering the Spring Statement, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said:
“This statement puts billions back into the pockets of people across the UK and delivers the biggest net cut to personal taxes in over a quarter of a century.
Like our actions against Russia, I have been able to do this because of our strong economy and the difficult but responsible decisions I have had to make to rebuild our finances following the pandemic.
Cutting taxes means people have immediate help with the rising cost of living, b...
21.03.2022 - Intended parents can bring Ukrainian surrogate mothers to the UK
The Home Office has promised to give UK visas to Ukrainian surrogate mothers and their families, casting a lifeline to intended parents.
Provision will also be made for babies born outside the UK to Ukrainian surrogate mothers, according to Home Secretary Priti Patel, in a letter to leading surrogacy lawyers.
So far no public announcement has been made and the letter provides only the broadest of details.
Visas will be granted “outside the Immigration Rules”, meaning the scheme will be a discretionary one. While this sounds alarmingly vague, much of the UK’s immigration and nationality law o...
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