UK Visa Appointment Centres Start To Reopen
UKVI has confirmed it is resuming application services on a phased basis, as follows: UK centres The following UKVCAS (Sopra Steria) centres have reopened: Service Point Open on Belfast 22 June Birmingham (Core) 1 June Birmingham Premium Lounge 1 June Cardiff Bay (Core) 22 June Chelmsford 1 June Edinburgh 22 June Exeter 1 June […]
UK COVID Travel Corridor Countries
The UK government has confirmed a list of 60 countries that have been approved for travel and are to be excluded from the UK’s COVID-19 quarantine rules. Under the exemption, people travelling from any of the countries on the travel corridor countries list will not have to self isolate for 14 days on arrival in […]
Employee refusing to return from furlough
With the recent relaxation of the lockdown rules, an increasing number of businesses are beginning to re-open in the UK, meaning that for employees who have been furloughed under the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, their temporary leave of absence will soon be coming to an end. As employers respond to changes to the furlough […]
Flexible Furlough Scheme (How Does It Work?)
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is changing from 1 July 2020. Under the new rules, flexible furlough is permitted, allowing employers to bring employees who have previously been furloughed back into work for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while they remain on furlough for hours not worked. Changes also take effect impacting […]
Travelling to the UK (Quarantine Rules)
As part of the Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy, a range of new measures are being introduced at the UK border affecting all international arrivals. This includes the introduction of new quarantine rules for those travelling to the UK. COVID-19 border measures The new rules take effect from 8 June 2020 and will apply at […]
How to Unfurlough Staff
If you are currently receiving financial assistance for furloughed workers through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), you may be looking at how to unfurlough staff in preparation for the return to work, and ahead of the scheme’s closure in October 2020. The process of bringing workers back from furlough carries both legal and HR […]
Notice Pay For Furloughed Workers?
If employees have agreed to accept 80% of their salary while on furlough, is their notice pay also paid at 80%, or does it revert to 100% under the usual employment law rules? As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ability to furlough workers under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, various legal issues […]
Start Work Before Tier 2 Application Decided?
Can an individual start work before the Tier 2 visa is granted? While delayed UK visa processing is causing wide-spread disruption to employers, it may in some cases be possible for Tier 2 visa applicants to start working for their sponsor before their visa is decided. Guidance published on 9 April now allows for sponsored […]
COVID-19 Immigration Tier 2 Sponsor Guide
What do Tier 2 sponsor licence holders need to be aware of during the COVID-19 crisis? The key message is that sponsor licence holders remain subject to their licence holder duties and should continue to follow compliant processes and systems. Only where there is specific guidance or exemptions from the Home Office should sponsors deviate […]
Tier 1 Entrepreneur: Coronavirus Guidance
As a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa holder, you may be concerned about your ability to comply with your visa conditions and to meet future extension eligibility requirements because of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on your business. The Home Office has provided specific guidance for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa holders whose businesses have been […]