KNOWLEDGE

CENTRE

New Coronavirus Policy for UK Spouse & Partner Visas

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to have a major impact on the UK and worldwide, the Home Office has updated its Covid-19 policy, coinciding with the start of a 4-week ‘lockdown’ in England on 05 November...

What is a Good Innovator Visa Business Plan?

The UK Government launched the Innovator visa for overseas entrepreneurs when the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category was closed  in March 2019. The Innovator visa category is aimed at experienced business...

Overstaying Does Not Break Lawful Residence For 10 Years Long Residence ILR

This post provides an update on the current landscape of case law addressing the continuous lawful residence requirement for 10 year long residence ILR in light of the case of Hoque & Ors v Secretary of...

The Skilled Worker Route - What’s Changing?

The Skilled Worker Route will open to new applications on 1 December 2020, replacing the Tier 2 (General) route which will close on the same day. Whilst there are certain similarities between the new Skilled Worker...

Do I have time to find a new Tier 2 Sponsor?

On 23 October 2020 the Supreme Court in R (Pathan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] UKSC 41 held that the Home Office had acted unfairly by not informing a Tier 2 General skilled worker...

Court of Appeal rules Home Office removal window policy unlawful

On 21/10/2020, in R ((1) FB (Afghanistan) (2) Medical Justice) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] EWCA Civ 1338, the Court of Appeal unanimously declared that the Home Office’s removal window policy...

Resident Labour Market Test: All You Need To Know

If you are a licensed sponsor, and you are intending to hire a prospective migrant to work in the UK, under the Tier 2 (General) visa category, you will be required to satisfy the Resident Labour Market Test (“RLMT”).  Resident...

Hong Kong BN(O) Visa: More Details Announced

In response to the breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration by the Chinese government in restricting the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people, the UK government is ready to welcome BN(O) citizens and their...

MAC publishes Review of the Shortage Occupation List 2020

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its Review of the Shortage Occupation List for the UK for 2020.  The report examines which occupations are in shortage and makes recommendations as to which...

Immigration Health Surcharge To Increase on 27 October 2020

The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2020 (SI 2020 No. 1086) will come into force as law on 27 October 2020 after being signed by Kevin Foster, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for...

British citizenship after EU Settled Status - Good Character Guidance Updated

In May 2020, the Home Office updated their Guidance on ‘lawful residence’ in relation to EU Settled Status in its naturalisation guidance.  This is particularly problematic for EEA nationals in relation...

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. ...