12 December 2013
Immigration Update: New Electronic Visa Waiver Scheme for Middle Eastern Business Travellers
As at 9 December the Home Office has proposed changes to the Immigration Rules to provide a new, straightforward and free alternative to a visa for short-term visitors from Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The intention is to extend the scheme to Kuwait later in 2014. These countries are currently visa nationals for the UK, which means that until now individuals have been required to apply for a visa in order to enter the UK as a visitor.
5 December 2013
Immigration Update: Launch of New ePassport Gates at Gatwick
On 4 December the Home Office announced the unveiling of new generation state of the art machines at London Gatwick airport which allow passengers with an electronic chip in their passport to pass quickly and efficiently through immigration control.
2 December 2013
Devil is in the detail on benefit tourism
EU citizens are free to move anywhere in the union for three months without hindrance and should not face deportation just because they are sleeping rough.
20 November 2013
A new UK investor residence visa programme is launched - but it's not run by the UK
The market for global residence and citizenship by investment programmes has been hotting up for some time. The popularity of these schemes, offering long term residence and second passports by making a specific level of investments, has been fuelled by a combination of the demand for easier travel and political and economic security and the need for cash-strapped countries to redress their balance sheets.
20 November 2013
Changes to the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK requirement for settlement and naturalisation
As of the 28 October 2013, the government has introduced changes to the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK (KoLL) requirement which will apply to any application for permanent residence (settlement) in the UK for adults (aged 18 and above). The new requirements will also apply to individuals applying to naturalise as British citizens.
