News
22.10.2020 - New Changes to the Immigration Rules – effective from 01 December 2020
The long-awaited Statement of Changes giving us more details on the famous new Points-Based Immigration System has now been published.
Below is a summary of the most important immigration changes.
Timing
First of all, what happens when?
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Most changes take effect on 1 December 2020.
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Most changes relating to provisions for Irish citizens, Appendix EU, Appendix ECAA and Appendix FM take effect on 31 December 2020. However, changes relating to cancellation, curtailment and revocation of leave to enter or remain for Appendix EU take effect on 1 December 2020.
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Ch...
22.10.2020 - New, improved English language requirements for immigration applications
The creatively named ‘Appendix English Language’ (in its second iteration) will take effect at 9am on 1 December 2020; any application made before this highly specific date will be treated under the old rules. Unlike Appendix English Language the First, which only applied to the Appendix Student route, the new Appendix will apply to all applications made under the following routes:
- Appendix Student
- Appendix Skilled Worker
- Appendix Representatives of an Overseas Business
- Appendix T2 Minister of Religion
- Appendix T2 Sportsperson
- Appendix UK Ancestry
- Appendix Global T...
22.10.2020 - Supreme Court finds treatment of skilled worker unfair
The Supreme Court held today in R (on the application of Pathan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] UKSC 41 that the Home Office’s treatment of a Tier 2 skilled worker, Mr Pathan, was unfair. Mr Pathan had applied for an extension of his visa as a sponsored worker in good time, but his application was refused several months later after the Home Office had, without telling him, revoked his employer’s sponsorship licence. This revocation meant that Mr Pathan’s application was, ultimately, doomed to fail.
Mr Pathan was left unlawfully resident in the UK with no warning and, after...
21.10.2020 - The UK Chancellor increases financial support for businesses and workers
The government today announced it will significantly increase the generosity and reach of its winter support schemes to ensure livelihoods and jobs across the UK continue to be protected in the difficult months to come, supporting jobs and helping to contain the virus.
The chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled increased support for businesses, jobs and workers hit by Covid restrictions after growing clamour from firms in tier two areas.
Job Support Scheme (JSS)
Recognising the pressure businesses in some sectors and areas are facing, today’s announcement lightens the burden of keeping on staff.
...19.10.2020 - Most visa applications to be done on smartphones
The Home Office has been rolling out new webpages for the public on how to get a visa, in preparation for the new points-based immigration system due to be rolled out from 1 January 2021. One such page was published yesterday, aimed at EU citizens. The overall message is “yes, you will in fact need a visa now” but there’s one section that caught our eye:
Most people will be able to complete their [visa] application, including identity verification, using a smartphone app. Some applicants may need to attend a Visa Application Centre depending on the route they are applying for and whether they ...
15.10.2020 - Coronavirus and the UK immigration system (as of 16 October 2020)
Spouses and minimum income
Another group of people under particular pressure during the crisis is families where one partner is on, or about to apply for, a spouse visa. Loss of earnings as a result of the coronavirus-induced economic crash may mean that the family fall foul of the financial requirements.
Until 8 June there was no published concession for people in this situation. There is now a section of the guidance on Changes to the minimum income and adequate maintenance requirement. It says:
If you’ve experienced a loss of income due to coronavirus up to 1 January 2021, we will consider ...
12.10.2020 - Non-resident landlords move to corporation tax
HMRC has published guidance on changes to the rules from April 2020. According to the guidance, non-UK resident landlord companies (NRL) including those who invest in UK property through collective investment vehicles will need to pay Corporation Tax instead of Income Tax on profits from UK property from 6 April 2020. The tax year 2019/20 is also the final year in which the company tax return form SA700 is required to be submitted by the subsequent 31 January.
While this brings a reduction in the current applicable tax rate from 20% to 19%, the changing landscape means that NRLs now face heavi...
08.10.2020 - Rishi Sunak announced a new local furlough scheme
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a local furlough scheme for employees who work for UK firms forced to shut by law because of coronavirus restrictions across the country.
The six-month programme will see the Government pay two thirds of workers’ wages, up to a maximum of £2,100 per month per employee and the Treasury said they would protect jobs and enable businesses to reopen quickly once restrictions are lifted.
The scheme will begin on 1 November. Until November businesses that are asked to close can continue to use the existing furlough scheme. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said it would be a...
06.10.2020 - It just got even more difficult for EU nationals to get British citizenship
On 30 September 2020 the Home Office updated its good character policy for naturalisation to make it even harder for EU nationals to become British citizens.
The new policy doubles the period of time, from five years to ten years, during which certain EU citizens in the UK must have held comprehensive sickness insurance (CSI) or a European health insurance card (EHIC) issued by an EU country, in order to qualify for citizenship.
Before we discuss the latest policy update in detail, some important points:
- This only affects applicants for British citizenship.
- This generally only affec...
05.10.2020 - Immigration Health Surcharge rises to £624 from 27 October 2020
The Immigration Health Surcharge will increase from £400 a year to £624 a year on 27 October 2020. The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2020 (SI 2020 No. 1086) was made today, 6 October, and comes into force 21 days later. As a result, UK immigration applications sent in before the 27th will be hundreds of pounds cheaper than those completed after that date.
The order also provides that applicants for a Health and Care visa are exempt from paying the surcharge. A reduced rate of £470 will apply to students, dependants of students, Youth Mobility visa holders and anyone under 18.
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