23 March 2020
Covid 19 - a reminder for solicitors and law firms about their regulatory obligations
Towards the end of last year I commented, as part of our Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations (StaRs) blog series, that the introduction of the StaRs on 25 November 2019 was an opportunity to take stock and introduce steps to ensure compliance going forward; it was a time to prioritise, not panic.
19 March 2020
Wills and estate planning - the right time is right now
In the current crisis, we find ourselves with time (perhaps too much time…) for worry and reflection over an uncertain future. That reflection could usefully and responsibly be channelled, in part, to issues of Wills, tax planning and general succession.
18 March 2020
COVID-19 - Managing health and risk whilst in police custody
At the time of this blog, according to officials, the criminal justice system continues to operate ‘as normal’. Whilst it is to be expected that non-essential trials will likely be delayed, certain components of the justice system cannot simply be deferred - crime happens no less in times of pandemic. Police custody is one such area where the wheels will need to continue to turn regardless of COVID-19.
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.
18 February 2020
UKVI coronavirus guidance: good news for those already with UK visas but no guidance for those in the process of applying for a UK visa
Much anticipated UKVI guidance on the coronavirus has been published and it has sensibly set out a number of provisions for those who already hold a visa in the UK. There is also the introduction of the UKVI coronavirus immigration helpline (free call: 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), and an email address for queries not covered by this guidance. At first glance, the guidance is helpful but questions remain for those who may have pending applications in China and issues applicants may face in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
