News

06.12.2018 - Tier 1 (Investor) visa scheme is suspended

Tier 1 (Investor) visa scheme is suspended from midnight on Friday, 7th of December 2018. The suspension will end once new rules will be put in place in 2019.

05.12.2018 - Consulting EU citizens regarding obtaining of the immigration status under new registration scheme may be illegal

The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) published a guidance on 16 October 2018, which clearly states with examples, when it is illegal to provide advice to EU citizens and their non-EU family members on obtaining immigration status after Brexit.

According to the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, it is illegal to provide immigration consulting services without specific accreditation. Only registered solicitors, barristers, CILEX specialists (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives), as well as consultants who have received OISC accreditation can provide immigration advice and...

28.11.2018 - Home Office published the report reviewing ILR refusals based on paragraph 322 (5) of the Immigration Rules

We write following our recent article published regarding the rise in the number of ILR refusal of highly skilled migrants, including the Tier 1 (General) category.

In some of these cases the Home Office refers to the paragraph 322 (5) of the Immigration Rules, designed to tackle criminals and those who pose a threat to national security. According to the latest data, around 1,000 migrants under Tier 1 category could not obtain ILR status, because they made amendments to their tax returns, which the Home Office interpreted as a violation of the law.

Refusal of a visa based on paragraph 322 (5)...

27.11.2018 - Definition of “precarious immigration status” and “financial independence”

The Supreme Court, in the case of Rhuppiah v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] UKSC 58, clarified the definition of “precarious immigration status” and “financial independence”.

Ms. Rhuppiah, moved to the UK more than twenty years ago in September 1997, as a student. She was living under student visa until the end of November 2009 and thereafter applied for ILR under 10 years long residency rule. Her application was refused because of the several short periods of overstaying in between extensions of her leave to remain, which was mishandled by her college. She remained in the U...

15.11.2018 - Home Office will no longer receive immigrants’ personal data from the NHS

In November 2018, the government decided to change the terms of cooperation under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Home Office and the NHS, where the NHS provided the Home Office with patients’ personal data, which was used to track illegal immigrants. The NHS only shared non-medical information, such as full name, date of birth, gender, residential address, personal contacts. Such measures were used to track illegal immigrants and created “hostile environment” for them. Medical personnel, human rights activists, representatives from charitable organizations and MPs have repeatedly ...

13.11.2018 - New in-country visa application system for UK residents

On 2 November 2018, the Home Office has launched a new in-country visa application system, where applicants will have to submit online applications and visit one of the visa centres managed by the outsourcing company Sopra Steria. Existing premium service centres will be closed on 29 November 2018, although some applicants of particular visa categories will still have a chance to book appointments until 9 January 2019.

Up until now any in-country visa applications could be submitted either:

1) By post: the applicant filled out the paper application and sent it together with all supporting docu...

05.11.2018 - Employers are not required to check the status of EU citizens during the transition period

The UK government has confirmed that in the event of no-deal Brexit, employers during the transition period will not be required to carry out immigration checks to hire Europeans.

Home Office secretary Sajid Javid said that the transitional period should be “sensible” and “practical” for all EU citizens. At the same time, it should allow local employers extra time to adapt to the new immigration rules.

During the transition period, employers will still have to carry out standard checks when hiring EU citizens. For example, future employees need to present a valid passport or identity card. How...

31.10.2018 - New grant to support vulnerable EU citizens

On 25 October 2018, the UK government announced the new £ 9 million grant to support vulnerable EU citizens living in the United Kingdom, who might need additional assistance with processing and submitting applications to obtain immigration status through new settlement scheme.

UK based voluntary and community organizations, who represent the interests of potentially vulnerable EU citizens, can submit their applications for additional funding starting from the end of November. They will make vulnerable residents aware of their need to apply for settled status and assist them on all stages of i...

31.10.2018 - Autumn Statement 2018

Chancellor Philip Hammond on 29 October 2018 presented at the House of Commons new Autumn Budget, which will be the last before the UK leaves the European Union.

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

Economic growth

The economic growth in 2019 will reach 1.6%. This number is higher compared to the spring statement, which showed 1.3%. The expected annual forecast has also raised to 1.4% in 2020, 1.5% in 2021 and 1.6% in 2023.

Income tax

From a UK income tax perspective, the allowances and rate bands were increased as expected with the personal allowance r...

30.10.2018 - Visitors from certain countries will have fast-track lines through British border control

The British government announced that citizens from the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan will be able to use E-gates at the border control, when travelling to the UK starting from next year. At the moment only UK, European Union, European Economic Area or Swiss citizens with biometric passports were able to use the E-gates in British airports, while citizens from other countries had to use normal immigration lines for a face-to-face contact with a border officer. Such lines are exceptionally busy and waiting time in Heathrow airport could often reach 2.5 hours...

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