29 March 2016
The Home Office announces changes to Tier 2
Following the publication of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)’s report on its review of the Tier 2 visa category in January 2016, the Home Office has now announced details of the changes it will introduce for the Tier 2 visa route. Despite fears that the restrictive measures recommended by the MAC would be followed in their entirety, it is to be welcomed that the government has adopted a more cautious approach in some areas and decided not to introduce some of the changes which would have been most damaging to businesses.
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.
1 March 2016
Government announces immigration fees increases will be effective from 18 March 2016
On 26 February 2016, the government announced that its fees increases for visas, immigration and nationality applications and associated premium services will now come into force earlier than expected and will be effective from 18 March 2016. This is earlier than initially reported in our last alert which we sent you on 12 January 2016, as the government has brought forward the date from 6 April to 18 March.
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.