27 October 2025
Government announces more white paper rule changes
The immigration policy white paper was released on 12 May 2025 and there were subsequent Skilled Worker rule changes on 22 July. On 14 October the Home Office released a statement of changes to the Immigration Rules setting out further upcoming rule amendments flowing from the white paper. There was also a Home Office press release.
27 October 2025
Updates on British citizens travelling to the EU, and the Temporary Shortage List for Skilled Worker applications
We focus here on two updates - one on travel to the EU and one on the Temporary Shortage List for Skilled Worker applications based on lower skilled roles.
16 October 2025
People, Not Past Mistakes: A Fairer Approach to Criminality in Immigration
I’ll acknowledge, it is a little edgy - in the current climate - to argue for a more nuanced approach to historic criminality in the immigration system. Sounds like the sort of thing that would feed a tabloid journalist with everything they think they need to know about an immigration lawyer.
26 September 2025
Indefinite leave to remain (with your family): how the Immigration White Paper proposals will stunt opportunities for the children of migrants
The issue of indefinite leave to remain (ILR) has been a hot topic in the UK press. The Reform Leader Nigel Farage has suggested that his party would abolish the status and force people with ILR to return to some form of lesser immigration status which would block access to a range of rights which those who obtained the status acquire - access to welfare benefits, free NHS care and home student University fees for young people.
16 September 2025
Permission to Visit - Goldilocks and the Three Bank Statements
From UKVI’s published statistics on immigration applications, in the most recent reported quarter (March to June 2025) UKVI received 938,527 visit visa applications – the highest ever reported in at least the last 20 years. In that quarter, UKVI also refused 156,659 visit visa applications (and issued 790,708 visas), unsurprisingly, also the highest number reported. The refusal rate for this quarter (which will not cover all applications received) was just shy of 20%.
