13 May 2020
It is time to open a new immigration route for our essential workers
In February 2020, the Government announced there will no longer be a low-skilled worker route when the new immigration system is launched, however they should be opening a new immigration route for our essential workers.
7 May 2020
The impact of increasing domestic violence as a result of COVID-19 on those with insecure immigration status
The COVID-19 pandemic and isolation which has ensued, has driven a dramatic rise in the number of reports of domestic violence in the UK. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has warned that displaced women and girls face a greater risk of violence during the Coronavirus crisis, including being confined with abusers or forced into “survival sex” with limited access to support services.
1 April 2020
Urgent Home Office guidance required for furloughed Tier 2 sponsored workers
As employers grapple with the new furlough leave guidance from Government and what it means for their business and workforce, we are seeing numerous questions regarding employees with a visa, particularly Tier 2 sponsored workers.
13 March 2020
IHS fee increase - you can't budget for it
It was confirmed in this week’s Budget that the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) will be increasing from £400 to £624 per year of the visa. The IHS is a visa fee applicable to overseas nationals for the NHS. The measure also increases the discounted rate for students, their dependants and those applying for Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visas from £300 to £470 per year of the visa. In a new tweak to the previous arrangements, the surcharge will be set at the lower £470 rate for all children under the age of 18.
5 March 2020
Home Office calls time on “cheap labour” – can the hospitality industry survive?
The writing had already been on the wall. Priti Patel had warned that there would be no “carve outs” for specific sectors which would experience a shock when free movement ended. Those comments were aimed at various industry groups which had asked for the temporary work visas which had been mooted in the 2018 Immigration White Paper to be part of any new policy. But repeatedly, the mood music coming from No. 10 and Ms Patel had been clear – don’t lobby us until you have raised wages and provided training and career development opportunities that will attract more local workers.
