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CENTRE

How to Check Your UK Visa Application Status

If you’ve applied for a UK visa, waiting for a decision can be a stressful experience, particularly if you have a travel deadline or other important plans. Fortunately, the UK visa application process...

How to Chase a Delayed UK Visa Application

We regularly receive telephone calls and emails from people experiencing delays by the Home Office processing their visa and immigration applications. It is deeply frustrating when the Home Office takes...

More Changes to UK Immigration Rules Announced

In the space of two days last week the Home Office published two statements of changes to the Immigration Rules.  The first Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 1496) was published on 17 July 2023,...

Closed Material Procedures in Immigration Cases

When an individual challenges a decision made by a public body (as happens in immigration cases), it is generally considered a fundamental feature of natural justice and fairness that they must be shown the evidence...

Home Office Publishes Changes to UK Immigration Rules

In its latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC1160), presented to Parliament on 9 March 2023, the Home Office has announced various changes to a number of UK immigration routes, including...

Home Office Evidential Flexibility Policy Explained

Evidential flexibility is the name given to the set of provisions allowing decision-makers to take a more pragmatic approach to gaps in evidence. When evidential requirements are nearly met, decision-makers...

UK Government Announces Measures To Speed Up Immigration Decisions

As many UK visa applicants and those with appeals pending before the Immigration Tribunal continue to face delays in the immigration system, the UK Government has announced two measures that it hopes will speed...

My UK Visa Has Been Cancelled - Why and What Can I Do?

In this post, we look at the reasons why a UK visa may be cancelled by the Home Office, what happens if a UK visa is cancelled by the Home Office, when cancellation of a UK visa takes effect and your options if...

Windrush Lessons Learned Review - Has Progress Been Made?

In March 2020, Wendy Williams conducted a review of the Home Office’s workings, and failings, in the wake of the Windrush Scandal. This review called for significant reform by making 30 recommendations...

The 'Ethical Decision-Making Model' Tool For Home Office Staff

On 11 November 2021, the Home Office published guidance for its caseworker titled ‘The Ethical Decision-Making Model’, described as a tool to help Home Office staff when making decisions involving difficult...

Early Settlement Concession for Young People in the UK

In this post, we look at the recent change in Home Office policy which welcomes young people who were born or brought up in the UK without immigration status to apply for early settlement. The old rule – which...

Changes to dates of birth - New Guidance

There are many circumstances in which individuals can face challenges where their date of birth is incorrectly recorded, they cannot prove it or there is a dispute as to the correct date of birth of an individual. ...