News
17.03.2022 - Bank of England raises interest rates again to curb inflation
Interest rates have increased for the third time in four months as the Bank of England tries to calm the rise in the cost of living.
The rise to 0.75% from 0.5% means rates are now at their highest level since March 2020, when the pandemic began.
Energy bills and food costs are increasing and there is concern the war in Ukraine will push prices up further.
The Bank has warned inflation, the rate at which prices rise, may reach 8% and possibly higher, in the coming months.
Prices rose by 5.5% in the year to January, the fastest rate for 30 years and well above the Bank's 2% inflation target.
Th...
17.03.2022 - Important information regarding 'Priority' and 'Super Priority" visa services
Home Office announced today that it is prioritising Ukraine Family Scheme applications in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the invasion of Ukraine, as a result, applications for study, work and family visas may take longer to process.
Standard visitor visas are currently taking an average of 6 weeks to process.
Home Office apologise for any inconvenience caused.
16.03.2022 - UK wrongly insisted on Comprehensive Sickness Insurance for years - EU court finds
Eligibility for NHS treatment does count as Comprehensive Sickness Insurance, the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled. The case is C‑247/20 VI v Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
The key pivotal question was not directly asked – so we should be glad that the judges nevertheless took it upon themselves to address it. The preliminary reference asked three questions:
- Whether children with permanent residence are also required to have CSI (answer: no, they are not).
- Whether the family members of students and self-sufficient persons who did not yet have permanent residence ar...
15.03.2022 - New statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1118 – PART 1
The government has published 205 pages worth of changes to the Immigration Rules. The changes are being phased in over the next few months, starting on 6 April 2022.
This is the first in a series of (at least) three articles on this statement of changes.
No recourse to public funds
In May 2021, the High Court ruled that government policy on denying benefits to migrants was in breach of the statutory duty to promote the welfare of children. The Home Office is now graciously making changes to reflect that judgment.
This currently stipulates that immigration permission as a partner, child or pa...
15.03.2022 - Statement of changes HC 1118: new family and private life rules - PART 3
On 9 July 2022, the first people granted permission to stay under the ten-year private and family life routes will start to qualify for indefinite leave to remain.
Now, just in time for that anniversary, the Home Office has introduced what it describes as a “simplified” approach to such cases.
This article is intended to be a non-exhaustive overview of the most significant changes to family/private life in statement of changes HC 1118. All the new rules discussed below apply to applications made on or after 20 June 2022.
Private life
The new Appendix Private Life retains the four grounds on w...
15.03.2022 - Statement of changes HC 1118: new and improved UK work visas – PART 2
New High Potential Individual route
A new visa for people to come and work in the UK without a job offer was advertised by the Home Office last summer, although the final product differs slightly from what we were promised.
The main requirements of Appendix High Potential Individual are:
The applicant must, in the 5 years immediately before the date of the application, have been awarded an overseas degree level academic qualification which Ecctis confirms meets, or exceeds, the recognised standard of a UK bachelor’s or UK postgraduate degree.
The institution at which the applicant was awarded ...
14.03.2022 - Homes for Ukraine program – full details
The UK is one of the most generous nations in the world and the British public are now being asked to go one step further and open their homes to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
We have a long history of helping others in their hour of need and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme offers a lifeline to those forced to flee their homes.
How this works
This bespoke scheme will offer a route to those who want to come to the UK who have someone here willing to provide them with a home. It will enable individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to volunteer accommodation and provide a route to...
14.03.2022 - Home for Ukraine program for Ukrainian refugees in the UK
People in the UK can offer to sponsor and house people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine who have obtained a visa through a new government scheme.
From 19 February 2024, the following changes are introduced:
- New applicants under this scheme receive a visa for a period of 18 months, instead of 36 months as it was before.
- The sponsor must be either a British or Irish citizen, or ‘have permanent residence in the UK' (which means having the right to permanently reside in the UK). Previously, a sponsor could have been a person of any nationality who had a British visa valid for more than s...
13.03.2022 - UK households offered £350 a month for hosting refugees
Households in the UK will be offered £350 a month to open their homes to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The government's "Homes for Ukraine" scheme calls on people to offer a spare room or an empty property to a refugee for a period of at least six months.
Announcing the new scheme urged people to join the "national effort" and give a safe home to those in need.
Individuals acting as sponsors will be able to nominate a named Ukrainian individual or family to stay with them rent-free in their home, or in a separate property, for six months.
Sponsors won't be required to know them in advanc...
11.03.2022 - Ukraine Family Scheme – now available to apply from inside the UK
It is now possible to apply for a family visa under the Ukraine Family Scheme from inside the UK.
For that you must apply online for the Ukraine Family Scheme by the following link: https://apply.visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/ukraine-scheme?_ga=2.174465826.184449414.1646645704-199880377.1626361932.
You will then book and attend an appointment at UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point located in the UK.
You will need to give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UKVCAS service point - this is to get a biometric residence permit.
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