12 December 2011
Immigration Update: Biometric Residence Permits to be rolled out to remaining migrants
Subject to receiving parliamentary approval, from 29 February 2012 all migrants applying for permission to remain in the UK for more than six months will need to apply for a biometric Residence Permit.
2 December 2011
Immigration Update: Latest news on premium sponsorship proposal
Following the announcement in our Immigration Update on 3 November we have received further information relating to the proposal by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to introduce a Premium Service for trusted sponsors.
21 November 2011
Rolling out the red carpet for investors and entrepreneurs in the UK
In a bid to boost overseas inward investment, the UK Government has rolled out the red carpet to foreign entrepreneurs and investors. This resulted in the overhaul of two visa categories, Tier 1 (Investor) and Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) of the Points Based System (PBS) on 6 April 2011. Both categories now provide for an accelerated path to permanent residence in the UK with less restriction on the time which needs to be spent in the UK to qualify.
7 November 2011
Immigration alert: MAC publish recommendations on settlement criteria for Tier 1 exceptional talent and Tier 2
The Immigration Minister commissioned the MAC to call for evidence and make recommendations with regard to introducing selective settlement requirements in the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent and Tier 2 General categories. The MAC consulted widely with employers and interested parties and published its findings and recommendations on 4 November.
20 October 2011
Immigration Update: New reporting duty for sponsors where employee is on sabbatical
The UK Border Agency has added an additional reporting requirement in a situation where an employee goes on unpaid sabbatical for over one month. This must be reported within 10 days via the Sponsor Management System.