19 December 2017 The Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, has written to EU nationals resident in the UK to reassure them about their future in the UK after Brexit. This follows information provided recently by the Prime Minister, Theresa May, about negotiations and an agreement reached with the EU, details of which can be found here. …
Update on EU citizens’ rights after Brexit
11 December 2017 The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has further clarified the rights of EU citizens after Brexit. Her comments follow the conclusion of the latest round of negotiations with the European Commission. The assurances the Prime Minister made included: That the rights of EU citizens will be written into UK law. That those rights …
New settled status promised for EU citizens
The latest advice from the government, dated 7 November 2017, has set out more details of a new settled status scheme for EU citizens. The government says the new system will be streamlined, low-cost and user-friendly. EU citizens will also be consulted on its design. EU citizens wanting to remain in the UK after Brexit …
15 more countries added to Registered Traveller service
The UK government expanded the Registered Traveller service to 15 new countries on 5 October 2017. The Registered Traveller service allows approved members, who have undergone advanced security checks, faster entry at the UK border through ePassport gates or the UK/EU passport lane. To apply, you must have an eligible passport and visa, or have …
UK Landing cards to be withdrawn
With effect from Autumn 2017, non-EU travellers will no longer be required to fill out a landing card on arrival to the UK. The proposed changes were announced in August and included a short consultation period with carriers, ports and people who use the statistics gathered through landing cards. The changes are expected to affect …
Home Office announces independent assessment of EU citizens in the UK
The Home Office have announced that they will conduct an independent assessment of the role that EU citizens play in the UK economy and society. The report has been commissioned over a year after the referendum vote to leave the EU, and its results will be delivered in September 2018, seven months before the Brexit …
UK Government publishes position on EU migrants in the UK
The UK government has published a document laying out their proposal for the rights of EU citizens who are long-term residents of the UK after Brexit. The policy paper, The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union: safeguarding the position of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU, has …
New charges for Visa Office enquiries from overseas
With effect from 1st June 2017, all customer enquiries to the Visa Office will be handled by a private company called Sitel UK. This means that there will be changes in contact details and how enquiries are handled. New service charges have also been introduced. The service has been contracted out as part of the …
Supreme Court rules income threshold for spouse visas will stay
Court challenges against the salary thresholds imposed on spouse/partner visas were brought to an end after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the government. This means that the thresholds will remain in place, and have been found ‘compatible’ with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Supreme Court unanimously backed the …
Changes to the immigration rules from 3 November 2016
The Government have announced changes to the Immigration Rules which will take effect from 24 November 2016. The changes affect Tier 2, Tier 4 and spouse visas. This new set of changes is being introduced as the first of two sets of changes to Tier 2 visas, as well as introducing new language requirements for …