Clarkslegal has produced a guide on ‘What to expect for 2016’ which clearly sets out all the forthcoming legislative changes, which we hope you find useful in planning your year ahead. ...
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have recently made changes to the Tier 2 and 5 sponsor guidance published on its website. UKVI already imposes onerous obligations on employers who sponsor employees who are from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) on Tier 2 visas. ...
The recently published Immigration Bill, coming less than a year after the Immigration Act 2014 took effect, builds on the Conservative Government’s objective to make Britain a more hostile environment for undocumented migrants....
The shocking images of the Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi, washed up on a Turkish beach this week have spawned social media campaigns such as “refugees welcome” and provoked many calls for action....
As of last month, UK passport holders wishing to visit India can apply online for an “e-Tourist visa”. Applications can be made online through the Government of India’s website, which enables applicants to upload documents, pay the fee of $60 (£39) and track their application. Once an application is submitted, visa entry documents should arrive by email within 4 days....
The government is introducing a new requirement for criminal record certificates to be provided as part of the visa application process....
Six Lithuanians are suing Kent-based gangmaster operation DJ Houghton Catching Services in the High Court, for whom it is alleged that they were trafficked from Lithuania to work, in the first ever case of a UK firm being taken to court for modern slavery-related claims. ...
Tier 2 visas are the main route for skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to come to work in the UK....
Last month we blogged about news that the cap on the number of Tier 2 visas for skilled migrant workers was reached for the first time....
Immigration issues have been in the news again this week following comments from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) that up to 3,365 nurses currently working in the UK may be forced to leave after upcoming changes are made to the immigration rules....
It has been reported that the cap on the number of Tier 2 visas permitted each month has been reached for the first time since its introduction in 2011....
Wednesday’s Queen’s Speech, which marked the state opening of parliament, set out the new government’s ‘one-nation’ programme of legislation. The Immigration Bill featured amongst a total of 26 bills proposed and its aim is to “control immigration”....
A report published this week by London First and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) claims to quantify, for the first time, the positive effect of London’s 67,000 non-EU international students....
On Friday 11 July 2014 the Court of appeal finally handed down its judgment in MM (Lebanon) and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department and another [2014] EWCA Civ 985. Background The appeals were originally heard four months ago in March and the case concerns one aspect of the Home Secretary`s controversial rules on family migration introduced in July 2012. Under the new rules...
The unprecedented surge in support for UKIP has been highlighted by a recent survey conducted by NatCen. A survey of 3,000 people was conducted to find out what the British public perceives as most important when determining whether or not someone is ‘truly British`. The results showed that: 95% felt that to be British you must speak English (in 2003 this figure was 86%) 74% said it was impo...
A two-week government crackdown aimed at workplaces that could be employing illegal workers has been exposed by campaigners. The Financial Times reported this week that the raids targeting businesses including care homes, hotels and restaurants, building companies, recruitment agencies and other small businesses began on Monday. Efforts by the Home Office to keep the raids named Operation Cen...
All employers need to carry out right to work checksAs an employer, you have a duty to prevent illegal working in the UK by carrying out checks to ensure that your employees have the right to work here. The illegal working provisions of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 mean that an employer may be issued with a penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker (from 16 May 2014) where t...
According to BBC News, the number of Romanians and Bulgarians working in the UK fell by 4,000 in the period January to March 2014, following the lifting of restrictions on nationals from these countries on 1 January. Despite these citizens now having the same rights as other EU citizens, it appears that we have not seen the huge wave of immigration prophesised by some politicians and commentators...
On 6 May 2014 the Home Office published a draft code of practice on preventing illegal working detailing a revised civil penalty scheme for employers expected to come into force today. It will apply where any breach occurred on or after 16 May 2014. Having replaced the previous code issued in February 2008, it has statutory force and contains some comprehensive changes to right to work checks to...
The Immigration Bill received Royal Assent on 14 May 2014 The passage of the Bill has been controversial making way as it does for a number of reforms viewed to further target immigrants generally rather than to build on "existing reforms to ensure that our immigration system works in the national interest" as Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire commented in the Home Office`s pr...