13 May 2016
Foreign companies to be required to declare their owners when buying property in the UK
Press reports of this week’s Anti-Corruption Summit, hosted by David Cameron, coincided with the story of actress Emma Watson allegedly buying a UK property through a BVI company. While investment in UK property through offshore companies is perceived as a principal means by which corrupt individuals seek to launder dirty money, Mr Cameron accepts that there are many legitimate reasons for corporate property investment.
23 March 2016
Further details regarding the Immigration Skills Charge announced
As you are aware the government is proposing to introduce an Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) for Sponsors who hire Tier 2 migrants and we last wrote to you about the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendations with regard to this in our 20 January 2016 alert. This week you may have come across reports which seek to confirm the details of the Charge.
11 March 2016
Government publishes its latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules
The government published its latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules today and contrary to expectations, none of the widely anticipated new measures have been introduced, following the recommendations of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) in its Tier 2 Review report in January.
27 January 2016
Changes to the Registered Travellers Scheme
We previously updated you on 30 April 2015 regarding the Registered Travellers Scheme which has since been opened up to a greater number of applicants. Whilst formerly it was only available to applicants from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the US, it has now additionally been opened up for nationals from Hong Kong (for those with a SAR passport), South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan (the passport must have the personal ID number on the photo page). The categories of applicant include all visa holders with the exception of Tier 5 (Sporting & Creative Concessions), EEA family permit holders and those with discretionary leave outside the immigration rules.
12 January 2016
The government announces immigration fee changes effective 6 April 2016
On 11 January 2016, the government set out its proposed changes to the fees for visas, immigration and nationality applications and associated premium services from 6 April 2016.
The government is proposing to set maximum levels on the amounts for broad categories of fees that can be charged by the Home Office over the next four years. There are no current plans to raise fees to the maximum levels. However, the stated goal is to make the border, immigration and citizenship system self-funded by those who use it.