7 November 2013
Immigration Update: Home Office Targets Business Travellers with New Premium Visa Services
On 6 November, the government announced the launch of the GREAT Club, an invitation only service providing top business executives with bespoke support from UK visas and Immigration (UKVI). The Club will start initially in the New Year as a 12 month pilot aimed at around 100 global business leaders who use the visa service and have strong links to the UK. They will be provided with an account manager to ensure their visa and immigration service is swift and smooth. The account manager will also be able to arrange visa services tailored to each individual’s needs at no extra cost during the pilot.
31 October 2013
Immigration Update: Changes to Guidance on Prevention of Illegal Working
As of 28 October the Home Office has published an updated version of its guide for employers on preventing illegal working in the UK. This version replaces the previous one published in May 2012.
31 October 2013
Immigration Alert: Changes to Guidance on Prevention of Illegal Working
As of 28 October the Home Office has published an updated version of its guide for employers on preventing illegal working in the UK. This version replaces the previous one published in May 2012.
18 October 2013
Immigration Update: New “streamlined” UK visa services announced for China
During a visit to China on 14 October 2013, the Chancellor, George Osborne indicated that the visa application process for Chinese visitors was to be simplified. The Home Office has now announced the introduction of the following enhanced and streamlined services for processing UK visa applications in China.
11 October 2013
A new Immigration Bill – proposed changes and causes for concern
A new Immigration Bill was ushered onto the floor of Parliament this week with the words of Immigration Minister Mark Harper MP ringing in all our ears, ‘the public expects and deserves an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate immigrants and tough on those who abuse the system and flout the law’.
The ‘fairness’ of this Bill is certainly up for debate. The sweeping proposed law touches on diverse areas, ranging from the introduction of a levy to be paid by all migrants applying for more than six months limited leave to enter or remain for the National Health Service (NHS), to a complete overhaul of the current appeals process right through to changes to registration for Marriages and Civil Partnerships.
