UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are moving toward a digital immigration system. What is an eVisa? An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK. You will need to create a...
Immigration
Immigration Update: Following Statement of Changes to UK Immigration Rules. Following the Home Secretary’s announcement on December 2023 to curb net migration by encouraging businesses to invest in the resident workforce rather than over-relying...
Latest Immigration Reforms to be implemented on or after the following dates: On 30 th January 2024 the Home Secretary, James Cleverly set out the timeline for the immigration reforms which are set out below and are to be implemented in the coming months....
On 15 th January 2024 the draft Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2023 was approved by the House of Parliament. It has been confirmed that the increase will become effective 21 days after the Order is made, meaning no earlier than 6 th February...
On 4 December 2023, Home Secretary James Cleverly presented a five-point plan to reduce migration levels and curb abuses of the immigration system, delivering the biggest-ever reduction in net migration by up to 300,000 a year. The plan is expected to come...
A Significant Rise in Immigration Health Surcharge from January 2024: Following the Government announcement on 13 th July 2023 of their intention to increase the Immigration Health Surcharge no formal date was announced when this will be implemented. The...
Phased roll out of the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in October 2023 for Qatari nationals What is an ETA? An ETA is an application for digital permission to travel to the UK. This is a new requirement for people who do not need a visa...
‘The Biggest Shake-Up of Civil Penalties Since 2014’ -High Penalties Announced for Employing or Housing Illegal Migrants. On the 7 th of August 2023 the Government announced that from 2024 they will be tripling fines for those who employ or...
Shortage Occupation List To Be Updated Addressing The Construction Worker Shortage: It has recently been announced that more roles in the construction field are to be added to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) on 7 th August 2023. This is to aid the...
Youth Mobility Scheme: 2nd Ballot Open From 24 July 2023 to 26 July 2023 This is a cultural exchange programme for participating countries which grants young people aged 18-30 or 18-35 the opportunity to come to the UK for up to 2 years for the purposes for...
Level 1 Users on Sponsor Management System (SMS) required to provide National Insurance Number (NINO) From 19 th June 2023 a new requirement was introduced on the SMS guidance which makes it mandatory for new Level 1 Users to provide their national...
The infamous and controversial policy of a ‘Hostile Environment’ introduced by the Ex-Home Secretary, Theresa May, has been reinstated. In January 2018, the government announced that the Bank Accounts of people suspected of living in the UK...
The launch of the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme also dubbed the U.K ESTA In the recent Statement of Changes published by the on 9 th March 2023, the Home Office have announced they will be launching the new Electronic Travel...
In yesterday’s announcement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt MP indicated that there will upcoming changes expected in autumn 2023 to the business visitor visa requirements and the addition of construction workers to the Shortage Occupation List. As well...
India Young Professionals Scheme visas available now under the ballot system The India Young Professionals Scheme visas ballot opened on 28 February 2023 at 2.30 pm. The ballot will close at 2:30 pm on 2 March 2023. A total of 2,400 visas will be available...
No doubt, last years world cup in Qatar showcased footballers’ skills on the pitch, these players will have attracted attention from major football clubs around the world, including UK football clubs wanting to sign international footballers for their...
The Government recently announced that they will be boosting the UK’s horticulture industry by making 45,000 seasonal worker visas available. The allocation of 45,000 seasonal worker visas will allow businesses to recruit foreign workers to come to...
The Home Secretary’s plans on reducing number of International Students who can stay on Graduate Visa: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, Suella Braverman, is planning on reducing the number of international graduates who can stay...
New roles added to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes which qualify for Health and Care Worker Visa: Care assistant Care worker Resident warden Carer Home care assistant Home carer Support worker (nursing home) As it currently...
Opening of the New Graduate Immigration Visa Route: 1 July 2021 Today marks the day of the opening of the new Graduate Immigration route. This graduate visa route provides an opportunity for international students who have graduated to stay in the UK,...
The deadline to apply under the EU settlement scheme (EUSS) is 30 June 2021 . For those EU Citizens and their family members who were in the UK exercising their free movement rights as of 11pm on 31 December 2021. The application under the EU...
The 1 January 2021 marked the end of free movement and introduced a new single global immigration system where there is no discrimination between EU and non-EU nationals. Anyone arriving from the EU after 31 December 2020 will need to be...