Category Archives: News

Online check to be introduced to simplify the Biometric residence permits process for employers

Damian Green said:‘It is vital that we work with employers to give them the tools they need to meet their obligations. Our new online checking service will also turn up the pressure on those who wish to live and work here illegally. The message is clear – the UK is no longer a soft touch […]

Employment restrictions for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals extended

Damian Green, said: Maintaining these controls will make sure migration benefits the UK and does not adversely impact on our labour market. The government is radically reforming the immigration system, and has already announced an annual limit on work visas and tough new rules for students to ensure net migration is reduced from the hundreds […]

United Nations Agency ‘hacking attack’ investigated

A spokeswoman for the UNDP said the agency believed “an old server which contains old data” had been targeted. “The UNDP found [the] compromised server and took it offline,” said Sausan Ghosheh.”The server goes back to 2007. There are no active passwords listed for those accounts.”Please note that UNDP.org was not compromised.” Details were posted […]

Minimum salary for sponsorship under family route should be raised

Presently the threshold is an annual income of £5,500 after tax, excluding housing costs. This is equivalent to £13,700 before tax and including housing costs. The thresholds are based on the income levels at which a family is not entitled to state benefits or contributes at least as much to the public finances as it […]

Changes to the skills shortage occupation list come into effect

The shortage occupation is part of the Tier 2 immigration route via the points based system. Highly skilled migrants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) seeking to work in the UK must apply for visas via this route. Employers can only bring someone into the UK under Tier 2 if the job is on […]

New policy guidance on the marriage visa age of 21

This case challenged the requirement under paragraph 277 of the Immigration Rules for both foreign spouses and their sponsors in the UK to meet a minimum age of 21 before the foreign spouse could be granted a visa to enter or remain as a spouse or partner. Paragraph 277 (along with other paragraphs of the […]

Minimum 21 years age requirement for foreign spouses declared unlawful

The UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, stated that the new rule would reduce the number of forced marriages. Supreme court judge, Lord Wilson said, “I would acknowledge that the change in rules is rationally connected to the objective of deterring forced marriages. But the number of forced marriages which it deters is highly debatable. What […]

New Permanent Residence Requirements for UK Tier 2 Visa Applicants

The UK Boarder Agency (UKBA) announced additional documentation requirements for Tier 2 visa applicants applying for indefinite leave to remain. Tier 2 applicants will now be required to furnish proof from their employers and sponsors that they are paid at a high salary under Tier 2 visa.