Sham Visa Marriages: Impact on Genuine Couples
Reports of Sham Visa Marriages Being Promoted in Social Media Groups Media reports indicate that individuals are attempting to use informal online networks, including Facebook groups, to arrange marriages for immigration purposes. In some cases, posts explicitly refer to “contract marriages” or requests for British citizens willing to marry in exchange for immigration […]
UKVI Issuing Urgent Information Requests to Sponsors
Section A: UKVI Issuing Urgent Sponsor Compliance Requests UKVI is contacting sponsor licence holders by email, requesting detailed payroll and employment information relating to sponsored workers. These requests require a substantive response within a short timeframe and include an explicit warning that failure to respond may result in licence revocation. The level of […]
Cost Savings of Proposed Earned Settlement: £600m Not £10bn
Earned Settlement Savings Lower Analysis of government data indicates that the projected fiscal savings associated with the proposed earned settlement reforms are materially lower than initially suggested. While ministers have referenced a £10 billion figure in support of extending the route to indefinite leave to remain, underlying data from the Migration Advisory Committee […]
Changes to Sponsor Right to Work Checks: March & April 2026
Right to Work Duties Expanded in Sponsor Guidance Recent updates to Home Office sponsor guidance in March and April 2026 have changed sponsor licence holders’ right to work responsibilities. While the underlying statutory framework under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 has not been amended, (as yet at least), the sponsor guidance […]
EU Settlement Scheme Automated Grants & Removals Clarified
Changes to EU Settlement Scheme Status Checks The Home Office is refining its automated processes to assess whether individuals with pre-settled status remain resident in the UK. The system now draws on tax and benefits data, alongside travel information, to identify whether there is sufficient evidence of UK-based activity. As part of this, […]
Further 24-Month Extensionfor Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme
Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme: Further 24-Month Extension Introduced The Home Office has introduced a further extension under the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme, allowing eligible individuals to apply for an additional 24 months’ leave from 8 April 2026. It means that individuals can now hold permission under the scheme for up to three and […]
Brexit Visas: UK-EU Youth Scheme Negotiations Stall
Brexit visas in discussion The term “Brexit visas” is being used to describe potential new mobility arrangements between the UK and EU following the end of free movement. The UK and the EU are currently in discussions over a proposed youth mobility scheme that would allow young people to live, work and study […]
Bass Family Immigration Bail: ILR Refusal Warning
Bass family immigration bail case Tim and Christen Bass, US nationals, have lived in the UK under the Skilled Worker route since 2019, with their two children. Both parents were working in professional roles and the family has been resident in south London throughout their stay. In June 2025, the family applied for […]
British Passport Dual Citizenship: 2026 Rules
Why dual British citizenship is in the news Recent reports of British citizens being refused boarding when travelling to the UK on non-UK passports have brought dual nationality into focus. The catalyst has been the rollout of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system and the expectation that carriers verify travel permission or […]
Update to Sponsor Guidance March 2026
Sponsor Guidance Changes March 2026 The Home Office updated its sponsor guidance on 6 March 2026 (version 03/26), introducing a series of changes affecting employers that hold, or are applying for, a sponsor licence. The updates sit alongside the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules HC 1691, which introduced related amendments to […]