04.09.2025 - Refugee family reunion route closed
As trailed earlier in the week, the refugee family reunion route will be “suspended” as of 3pm today as set out in the statement of changes just published. The explanatory memorandum describes this as “introducing a temporary pause to Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection), as we undertake a full review and reform of the current family rules to ensure we have a fair and properly balanced system”.
No timescale is indicated for how long the route will be closed, although the ministerial statement accompanying the statement of changes refers to “a new family policy” being set ou...
03.09.2025 - Urgent update
The government has announced that the refugee family reunion route will be suspended from 3pm tomorrow (Thursday 4 September 2025). Family reunion applications submitted before 3pm tomorrow, including those currently under appeal, will continue to be assessed under the existing rules.
20.08.2025 - Good character and criminal convictions in British citizenship applications
Anybody over the age of ten who applies for registration or naturalisation as a British citizen needs to meet the so-called “good character requirement”. This is a mandatory requirement set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. Where a person is deemed by the Home Office not to be “of good character” then his or her application for citizenship will be refused.
There is no further definition of what is meant by “good character” in the British Nationality Act 1981. However, there is guidance available from the Home Office as to what is likely to be considered behaviour that indicates a ...
06.08.2025 - UK-France agreement on asylum returns
As announced in July, this week a treaty between the UK and France on asylum returns has been ratified and is now in force. The treaty provides for people who have arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel to be returned to France, in exchange for France sending people who have not attempted the journey to the UK, on a one for one basis. Yesterday, a statement of changes to the immigration rules was also published, relating to the part of the scheme that will bring people to France.
This is a pilot scheme and is due to end on 11 June 2026. The Home Office announcement states that they expect t...
22.07.2025 - Irish citizens who have been resident in the UK for five years to register as British
The Act introduces a simplified route for Irish citizens who have been resident in the UK for five years to register as British.
The Act was one of the final pieces of legislation passed by the previous government before its dissolution in May 2024, and the journey to this point began as early as 2005.
There was uncertainty as to when Irish citizens would be able to make use of this more simplified route to British citizenship, and of how much the fee for this application would be.
The route officially opened to adults and children on 22 July 2025. The application is made online under form B(O...
01.07.2025 - Closure of care worker route to new entrants from 22 July 2025
People will no longer be able to come to the UK as care workers and senior care workers (occupation codes 6135 and 6136) as these roles are closed to entry clearance applications from 22 July 2025. The explanatory memorandum states that:
The changes also provide for in-country applications, for those switching from other visa routes, to continue for a transition period until 22 July 2028, at which point these occupations will be removed from the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Workers must have been legally working for the provider that is sponsoring them for at least 3...
01.07.2025 - New temporary shortage list
From the white paper that Appendix Immigration Salary List is to be replaced with a new, time limited, Temporary Shortage List for roles below RGF level 6. This statement of changes puts in place some interim measures:
- an expanded Immigration Salary List, containing the existing entries plus occupations at RQF levels 3-5 which the MAC identified as being in shortage in its 2023 review and 2024 rapid review
- an interim Temporary Shortage List, containing occupations at RQF levels 3-5 which the Department for Business and Trade and His Majesty’s Treasury have identified as being impo...
01.07.2025 - Skills and salary thresholds to rise from 22 July 2025
The qualification threshold for skilled workers, lowered to RQF level 3 in 2020, is being returned to RQF level 6. The explanatory memorandum states that this will mean a drop of around 180 eligible occupations, but the press release says it will be 111 fewer roles on the list in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
These changes will not affect people already in the routes in roles below RQF level 6, however the explanatory memorandum states that these “transitional arrangements will not be in place indefinitely and will be reviewed in due course”.
Routine salary increases are also being made to the...
01.07.2025 - Closure of Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy from 3pm today
Eligible applicants who submitted their application before 15:00 BST on 1 July 2025 will still be able to make eligibility applications for their immediate family members and additional family members after this date.
No explanation is provided as to why it was necessary to close the scheme seemingly without any advance notice. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme is also being formally closed, although it was not possible to apply under that anyway.
25.06.2025 - Private Life effective from 29 July 2025
Under the new rules, children who have lived in the UK for seven years will now qualify for settlement after five years.
Continuous Residence requirements for a child born in the UK applying for settlement on the Private Life route, the period of continuous residence may include time spent in the UK with or without permission.
This development is of great utility to families with young children, and young people who came to the UK at an earlier age and are looking to make the UK their permanent home.
Additionally, young people granted permission in the UK on the basis of their family or priv...
