KNOWLEDGE

CENTRE

Changes to the requirements for biometric residence permits

The requirement to provide the UK Border Agency (UKBA) with biometric information has changed, with effect from 1st December 2012.

Net migration falls significantly

Latest provisional figures for the year ending March 2012 show that net migration has fallen significantly to 183,000 from 242,000 the previous year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced. Inward...

Daunted by the UKBA and visa application forms?

Do you find that you avoid travelling to the UK because of complex visa application forms and a hostile UK Border Control? It would appear that the majority do, as UK migration has fallen by a quarter. The drop,...

Inspection report on Tier 4 (Student) system

A recent inspection by the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has found that the quality of the decisions made by the UK Border Agency for Tier 4 applications was good, but improvements were needed...

Switching from Tier 4 (General) Student into Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)

From 13 December 2012, Tier 4 (General) Student migrants will no longer be permitted to switch directly into the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category on the basis of having access to £200,000 to invest in a UK business....

Human Rights Committee reports on Crime and Courts Bill

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published a Report on the Crime and Courts Bill which will be considered at Report stage in the House of Lords. The Committee has raised concerns with some areas of...

Changes to the Tier 1 (Investor) visa category from 13 December 2012

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Changes to the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category from 13 December 2012

In its most recent Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, the UK government has announced important planned changes to the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category of the points-based system. The changes were laid...

An Overview of UK Visas for Creative, Media and Arts Professionals

The UK Immigration Rules provide various different routes by which persons involved in the Creative, Media and Arts sector can travel to the UK, work or perform and, in some cases, stay indefinitely. ...

Flexible changes to Immigration Rules

The Government has announced changes to the Immigration Rules, which it says will ensure the UK remains the destination of choice for exceptional overseas talent. Responding to feedback from businesses, the Government...

Acquisition of citizenship in the EU

In 2010, 810,500 persons acquired citizenship of an EU27 Member State. The highest number of citizenships were granted by the United Kingdom (195,000 persons), France (143,000), Spain (124,000) and Germany (105,000),...

Borders and immigration inspector publishes annual report

The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has recently published his 2011/12 annual report. The report highlights some areas of good performance identified by the Inspector during his inspections,...