UK Tightens Citizenship ‘Good Character’ Rules
The UK Home Office has implemented significant amendments to the British citizenship good character guidance. These changes, effective from 10 February 2025, have profound implications, particularly for refugees and individuals who entered the UK through irregular means. Overview of the good Character’ Requirement The ‘good character’ criterion is a statutory mandate under the […]
Automatic Conversion of Pre Settled to Settled Status
The Home Office has announced that it is implementing a new process to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to full settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. The move follows a High Court ruling that the UK Home Office’s approach to pre-settled status was unlawful, and aims to simplify the transition for those who […]
Warning: Skilled Worker Visa Holders Face Higher Salary Bar for ILR
Current Skilled Worker visa holders in the UK may face challenges in securing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the future due to the increases in salary threshold requirements that took effect in 2024. Those who joined the Skilled Worker route before the 4th April 2024, and who are currently earning below the new thresholds, […]
ETA Exemption Introduced for Airside Transit
The Home Office has announced a change to the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme affecting certain travellers transiting through the UK. A temporary exemption to the ETA requirement has now been introduced, aimed at streamlining transit processes at key UK airports. Previous ETA rules for transit travellers Under the original ETA rules, […]
Home Office Fee Increases Proposed for 2025
The UK government has announced its intention to increase fees for various immigration and nationality-related products and services. These changes, part of a broader review, will impose higher costs on employers who rely on the UK’s immigration system for their workforce, on certain nationality applicants and on visitors coming to the UK under the Electronic […]
New UK Entry Requirements for Non-European Travellers
With effect from 8 January 2025, non-European visitors to the UK from visa-exempt countries will now require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). This is the latest phase in the roll out of the UK’s new ETA scheme, which is already operational for visiting nationals of countries including the UAE and Qatar. The final implementation phase […]
Changes to Sponsor Guidance January 2025
The Home Office has issued updated sponsor guidance, with a number of key changes to the visa sponsorship regime impacting UK organisations that hold, or are applying for, sponsor licences. Revised Rules on Recovering Sponsorship Costs Employers are no longer allowed to transfer or recover certain sponsorship-related expenses from sponsored employees. The prohibited […]
Home Office Launches Passenger Helpline for eVisas
The Home Office is launching a new passenger support helpline to deal with queries from those who will be travelling from 31 December 2024, in light of the extended transition to eVisas. Under the temporary extension, airlines and other carriers are allowed to accept expired biometric residence permits and cards from those returning to the […]
Latest eVisa Travel Advice as System Rollout Delayed
The UK government has postponed the full transition to eVisas due to concerns about potential disruption for people travelling and proving their immigration status. eVisa Transition Deadline Postponed In a written statement published on 4 December 2024, Seema Malhotra, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship, announced that expired biometric residence […]
Home Office eVisa Transition Information for Employers & BRP Holders
The Home Office has issued much-needed information and resources about the ongoing transition from physical immigration documents to the eVisa digital system. With an expiry deadline of 31 December 2024 for physical documents, there remains considerable progress to be made over the coming months to ensure those affected by the changes do not fall foul […]