British-Irish Visa Scheme
As reported by the Home Office yesterday, Chinese and Indian nationals can visit the UK and Ireland using a single visa when travelling on certain short stay and visitor visas under the British-Irish Visa Scheme. This also has positive business implications. The British-Irish Visa Scheme will start in China by the end of October 2014 […]
Academic Immigration Rankings
Academic Immigration Rankings Close to the start of each academic term we turn our attention to both the Academic Immigration Rankings of World Universities and the University Rankings as do our clients in the higher education sector. Undoubtedly the reasons are different but the goal is shared. As the immigration law firm of choice for […]
Student Migration Statistics
Student Migration Statistics Earlier this summer, the Higher Education Policy Institute, an Oxford-based think tank, carried out a small survey among Conservative candidates of the May 2015 elections, excluding sitting MPs. Despite the sample size, the results were very interesting. We share them with you below to mark the fast approaching start of the new […]
Withdrawl of the A1 level English language requirement exemption
All, can you hear us ? Its still sunny and we’re loving the heat, while Guidance changes continue. The Home Office walks on, doesn’t look back more partner and parent visa applications, required to meet A1 level English language test, from countries previously listed as exempt. Oh think twice, from 24 July these […]
Immigration Bill 2014 – the Implication for Employers
Immigration Bill 2014 As shared in previous posts, the Immigration Bills is now law after receiving Royal ascent on 14 May. The Act is not yet in force, however it does introduce some sweeping changes to different areas of immigration, asylum and nationality law. Today, we will focus on its provisions and impact as regards […]
UK Immigration Statistics for 2013
We thought we’d share with you key statistics from the Home Office as regards 2013 figures for those who are subject to immigration control: Employers and Employees 27,177 UK employers are registered as Sponsor Licence holders able to employ migrant workers as of January 2014. This is a 4% increase on the previous year, and […]
Tier 1 Investor Visa Changes 2014
As you may have read in our earlier blog, the recent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) Report recommended Tier 1 Investor visa changes including raising the investment threshold from the current £1 mil to £2 mil, and the ability for some visas to be auctioned off at £2.5 mil. Although the MAC Report is not a statement […]
Application Suspension – Steps to take as a Sponsor Institution and as a Student
Please be advised that the Home Office has just communicated that UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) has suspended consideration of all applications to remain in the UK for those migrants who sat an English Test administered by the ill-fated English Testing Service. Below full details of process and what Sponsors alongside applicants need to be […]
Immigration Minister caught out by his own laws
Immigration Minister, Mark Harper resigned over the weekend after he found out that the cleaner he had been employing since 2007 was actually working for him illegally. There are a number of ways we could have chosen to report on this news as it touches upon a variety of different and important immigration aspects. However, […]
New Immigration Rules 2013
New Immigration Rules 2013 UKBA have announced the following changes to the new immigration rules 2013 which will come into effect on 1 October 2013. UKBA state that the new rules will mean greater flexibility for businesses and workers and include: removing the English language requirement for intra-company transferees; making it easier for graduate entrepreneurs to switch […]