News
08.02.2024 - UK extends tariff-free trade with Ukraine until 2029
UK to support Ukrainian businesses by extending tariff-free trade until 2029.
- UK and Ukraine extend tariff-free trade on majority of goods for an additional five years.
- Move designed to help Ukrainian businesses impacted by the war and is the most generous tariff break offered by any country.
- UK Trade Minister Greg Hands and Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko to sign extension in a virtual ceremony today.
Most UK-Ukraine trade will remain tariff-free until at least 2029, thanks to an extension agreed today to support Ukraine’s long-term economic recovery from...
01.02.2024 - Court of Appeal rejects Home Office attempt to exclude person on “public policy grounds”
The Court of Appeal has rejected the Home Office’s appeal in a case involving denial of entry to the UK to the family member of an EEA national on “public policy grounds”, where the person had a low risk of re-offending. The case is Secretary of State for the Home Department v Okafor [2024] EWCA Civ 23.
Background
Mr Okafor married a Swedish national in October 2019. She held indefinite leave to remain. On 30 July 2020 Mr Okafor was granted entry clearance under the EU Settlement Scheme and he arrived in the UK with an EUSS family permit in September 2020.
He was refused admission on public po...
31.01.2024 - New international arrangements expand opportunities for the Youth Mobility Visa Scheme
The UK’s Youth Mobility schemes with Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea have been expanded, while new schemes with Uruguay and Andorra come into effect.
Young Brits will have more opportunities to live, work and study abroad, as changes to the UK’s international arrangements with 6 countries come into effect today (31 January).
Enhancements to the UK government’s successful existing Youth Mobility schemes with Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea have come into force, including expanding the age range so more young people can qualify and gain vital life experience overseas.
New sche...
31.01.2024 - Important change to the company sponsor licence renewal process from 6 April 2024
From the 6th of April 2024, sponsors will no longer be required to renew their sponsor licences.
Currently, licences must be renewed (and fees paid) every 4 years. If a licence was not renewed, the sponsor will not be able to employ any sponsored employees, and existing sponsored employees would have their visas cut short to 60 days.
The renewal process is not particularly onerous, and it involves a Level 1 user logging into the system, making the renewal application and paying the renewal fee. This is currently £536 for small or charitable organisations, and £1,476 for medium or large ...
30.01.2024 - Dates confirmed for changes to income thresholds for family and skilled worker visas
A ministerial statement made today has confirmed that there are two statements of changes coming in the next couple of months. The first will remove the ability of care workers to bring dependants, and the second will include the increase to the minimum income requirement for families, among other changes.
19 February statement of changes
The 19 February statement of changes will remove the rights of care workers and senior care workers to bring dependants. This will come into force on 11 March 2024. The other change made at this stage is that care providers in England will only be able to spo...
29.01.2024 - An application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court is not a barrier to deportation from the UK
In Geddes v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 66 (Admin) the High Court has said that a pending application to the Supreme Court does not act as an barrier to deportation on the basis that the appeal has not yet been finally determined.
Background
In 2007, at the age of 17, the applicant was convicted of wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and sentenced to six years in a young offenders institution. In 2014 the Home Secretary made a decision that his deportation was conducive to the public good under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971. He appealed...
25.01.2024 - Changes to treatment of some late applications to the EU Settlement Scheme in new guidance
The Home Office has introduced some flexibility for some categories of people who are applying late to the EU Settlement Scheme, after the rules were severely tightened in August last year.
The new version 22 of the guidance for caseworkers on the EU Settlement Scheme applies to decisions made from 16 January 2024 and also makes some other changes.
Changes for those who hold permanent residence and are applying late
In the section “Examples of reasonable grounds” for making a late application, further explanation and two new examples have been given under “Circumstances which will not generall...
22.01.2024 - How to avoid the minimum income requirement for partners under spouse and family visas
Since the initial announcement, we have learned that the increase will be staggered with the first increase being to £29,000 and will come in spring 2024. The next level of £38,700 will be reached in 2025.
We do not yet have the draft immigration rules that will make the increase law but it is important to start thinking now about how couples can avoid the new minimum income requirement.
Below we look at the various ways that applications can be made while avoiding the need to meet the minimum income requirement.
Apply before spring 2024
We have been told that the new minimum income requirem...
19.01.2024 - HMRC challenges UK VAT status of online traders
HMRC will contact businesses believed to be non-established taxable persons (NETPs) for VAT purposes. The business will then have 30 days to challenge HMRC’s decision.
HMRC will send a one-to-many letter from late January 2024 to businesses that it believes are NETPs (non-established taxable persons) for UK VAT purposes.
The businesses targeted are likely to be those using either an agent or serviced office address as their place of registration.
In the letter, HMRC asks the business to provide evidence that it is established in the UK for VAT purposes if it disagrees that it is a NETP (non-...
18.01.2024 - Immigration Health Surcharges increases with effect from 6 February 2024
As we previously reported on 09 January of this year regarding the increase of the immigration health surcharge, the Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2024 passed into law on 16 January 2024.
The new rates will apply to applications made on or after 6 February 2024, which is 21 days after the order became law.
The ‘normal’ surcharge will increase from £624 per year to £1,035 per year of the visa being applied for.
The lower rate surcharge (for such visas as Student, Student dependant, Youth Mobility Scheme and children aged under 18 on the date of application) will rise from £470 p...
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