News

14.03.2019 - Spring Statement 2019

Chancellor Philip Hammond on 13 March 2019 presented at the House of Commons new Spring Budget. In the light of the problems with the signing of the Brexit deal, the new budget did not reveal significant changes.

Let’s have a closer look on the most important points of chancellor’s speech.

Economic growth

The economic growth in 2019 will be 1.2%. This number is lower compared to the autumn statement, which showed 1.6%. The expected annual forecast will be 1.4% in 2020, 1.6% in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The deficit of GDP in 2018-2019  will be 1.1%, which is 3 billion pounds less than predicted in t...

08.03.2019 - New fees for visa applications

On 7 March 2019 the Home Office published new visa fees for both in-country and outside of the UK submission. The new fees will apply to applications submitted on or after 29 March 2019 (with few minor exceptions). In general, visa fees have not changed apart from a small increase in prices for visit visas. Also there is an increase in fees for additional services related to expedited processing such as «Super priority» and «Priority» for both in-country and out-of-the country applications.

07.03.2019 - Statement of changes to the UK Immigration Rules dated 7 March 2019. Scrapping Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa

Home office published the latest statement of changes to the UK Immigration Rules, laid to the Parliament on the 7th of March 2019. Most of the changes will take effect from 29 March 2019, but the cut-off date is yet to be confirmed.

Changes to TIER 1 (Investor) category

• Investors will need to provide proof of the source for any investment funds over the past two years as oppose to 90 days which is the current requirement before the submission.

• British banks must confirm that they have carried out all necessary checks before opening an investment account.

• The government excluded investme...

04.03.2019 - “Right to Rent” scheme violates Human Rights Law

The High Court ruled that the government’s “Right to Rent” scheme violates Human Rights law. The hearing took place on 1 March 2019. This program obliges landlords to check the immigration status of tenants before signing the tenancy contracts, as well as conducting regular checks throughout entire lease and its extension.

The “Right to Rent” policy was introduced in 2016 by Theresa May as a part of a plan to create ‘hostile environment’ for illegal immigrants under the 2014 Immigration Act. Under this policy all landlords should conduct checks of the immigration status of the potential tenant...

01.03.2019 - Office of National Statistics (ONS) recorded a rise in migration level from countries outside the European Union

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the level of net migration to the UK from countries outside the EU has reached its highest level in the last 15 years. From September 2017 to September 2018, 261 000 more non-EU people moved to the United Kingdom rather then left. This is the highest figure since 2004. Net migration from EU countries continues to fall and has halved reaching the level of 2009 – 57 000 people.

The ONS report states that in general, from September 2017 to September 2018, 627 000 people moved to the UK, 345 000 people left the UK. Thus, the total net migration...

27.02.2019 - Calculating qualifying period to obtain permanent residence for extended family members of EU citizens

The High Tribunal in the case of  Kunwar (EFM – calculating periods of residence) [2019] UKUT 63 (IAC) ruled that a non-European partner who is in a durable relationship with an  EU citizen but not married to him/her cannot start counting five years residency for purposes of permanent leave in absence of residence card. The five years clock runs after the applicant is granted the Residence Permit card. This situation significantly differs from the one where partners are married. They have an automatic right for residence, while relying on the length of the relationship with their sponsor from ...

22.02.2019 - Passport requirements for trips to the EU after Brexit

If the UK leaves the European Union without a deal, then from 29 March 2019, the following requirements for British passports will apply for those who travel to EU countries:

1) Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after arriving in EU country. This requirement applies to both adult and children's passports.

2) If you have applied for a new passport before old one is expired, then up to 9 additional months can be added to the validity period of your new passport. This additional months in your ten-year passport are not included in the six-month limit for traveling to EU countries....

19.02.2019 - Criminal Convictions and EU Settled Scheme

EU Settled Scheme is a new system to confirm immigration status for European citizens residing in the United Kingdom. All Europeans living in the UK are required to obtain new status in order to legally reside in the country after Brexit.

It is very likely that most applications will be approved and applicants will receive either permanent immigration status or temporary status. However, under certain circumstances, the application might be refused. One of the most common reason for refusal is criminal record of the applicant.

All applications will be checked against British and European datab...

11.02.2019 - Only UK private schools will be able to accept European children from 2021

The government recently published further information for Europeans who plan to move to the UK after the country leaves the European Union without deal. According to new information released recently, those who move to the UK between March 2019 and January 2021, will have no educational restrictions in terms of immigration. However, anyone who will be in the country for more than three months will need to get a temporary European residence permit. In 2021, the situation may change significantly. According to an official government document published shortly before Christmas, only private schoo...

25.01.2019 - Rights of EU citizens residing in the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands

The Upper Tribunal in case of Amsar (Isle of Man: free movement) [2019] UKUT 12 (IAC) confirmed that neither the Isle of Man nor the Channel Islands are member states of the European Union. This means that EU citizens, who work there, cannot exercise their rights of free movement for immigration purposes. Therefor they cannot bring their non EU family members (for example, wife / husband) according to the euro rules.

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