The UK government has unveiled plans to introduce a new travel scheme aimed at bolstering the country’s border security measures. The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) will require visitors from countries outside the European Union to obtain permission before travelling to the UK. Under the ETA scheme, visitors will need to complete an online application process…
On 23rd February 2023, the Home Office and Immigration Enforcement announced the creation of a special taskforce to clamp down on illegal working in the UK. The Home Office ramped up immigration enforcement activity in January 2023 following Rishi Sunak’s pledge to boost raids to stamp out illegal working. At the same time, he announced…
In welcome news for those due to make a family visa application from outside the UK, UKVI has now restarted its priority processing services as of 20th February 2023. This means that new family visa applicants can, once again, pay to receive a much faster decision on their case. Family visas include spouse/civil partner visas,…
On 21st December 2022, in the case of Independent Monitoring Authority v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWHC 3274 (Admin), the High Court ruled that the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) is unlawful. In this article, we will look at the background of the High Court case and the Home Office’s decision not…
Those familiar with the Global Talent Visa will know that Tech Nation provides endorsement for those applying as a leader or potential leader under the digital technology category. At the end of January, Tech Nation announced that they will be ceasing operations on 31st March 2023. In this article, we look at the announcement to…
A recent High Court decision has thrown doubt on the immigration status of children born to EU Citizens exercising their free movement rights in the UK before Brexit. In R (on the application of Roehrig) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWHC 31 (Admin), the Claimant, C, was born in the UK on…
The latest guidance on the Global Business Mobility (Senior or Specialist Worker) visa (which replaced the old Intra Company Transfer (ISC) visa) published on 1st January 2023 now exempts employers from paying the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) in certain circumstances. The ISC exemption will help to reduce the cost to UK companies who transfer staff…
In a move that will hopefully mark the resumption of its faster processing services, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will be writing to existing marriage and family visa applicants, offering them the chance to ‘upgrade’ to a priority visa. Since April 2022, it has not been possible to use the priority processing service when applying…
In September 2022, we wrote about the main differences between the five visas available under the Global Business Mobility scheme, which was introduced by the Home Office on 1st April 2022, namely the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, Graduate Trainee visa, Expansion Worker visa, Service Supplier visa, and the Secondment Worker visa. Over the next…
If you have received a visa application refusal from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), you may be able to request an administrative review, a judicial review, or an appeal, to challenge the decision. Receiving a visa refusal can be highly distressing and worrying, especially because this can impact your plans to live, work, study, start…
