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Immigration Health Surcharge due to rise imminently
18 January 2024Substantial rises to the Immigration Health Surcharge have now been approved by Parliament to come into effect on 6 February 2024. Individuals hoping to avoid these should submit their UK immigration application by 5 February 2024 to be sure they are not impacted.
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Immigration law in Ireland - a roundup of 2023 and looking ahead to 2024
11 January 20242023 ended with a significant announcement on the largest expansion and shakeup to the employment permit system since its inception. In 2024, we expect to see further changes to the employment permit system and the possibility of the enactment of the Employment Permits Bill. However, we also expect to see further changes adopted as part of the Department of Justice’s modernisation programme, like those we have seen with the naturalisation process and the possibility of proposals on the adoption of a single application procedure.
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What's happening in UK immigration law in 2024?
10 January 2024This year we expect to see a host of restrictions aimed at bringing down net migration and stamping out abuse of the immigration system, alongside a liberalisation of short-term immigration routes and the introduction of technology-based innovations. Increases in the Immigration Health Surcharge and maximum civil penalty for employing an illegal worker were anticipated for January 2024 but now will be deferred into February 2024 or later, depending on when implementing regulations are finalised by Parliament.
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UK government issues further details on net migration reduction policy
02 January 2024The main new detail for employers to note is that occupation-related going rates of pay will be increased alongside the general salary thresholds. There will be transitional arrangements for Skilled Workers, however users of the system will be required to pay more in salaries and other immigration-related costs throughout the period of sponsorship. Senior carers and carers will be prohibited from bringing dependants from the new year, and the increased minimum income requirement under the five-year Partner route will be raised initially to £29,000 instead of £38,700.
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A big shakeup to Ireland's employment permit system
22 December 2023In a surprise pre-Christmas announcement, the Irish Government significantly expanded Ireland’s employment permit system but also increased the salary requirements for most employment permit types. While this is welcome news, it also means that some employers may need to review and reforecast their budgets for employment costs to ensure any employment permit holders they employ can continue to work in Ireland.
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Q&A from What’s happening in immigration law webinar – 7 December 2023
20 December 2023This Q&A covers questions raised in our webinar. This session discussed:
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New Immigration Rules expand activities allowed for visitors
12 December 2023On 7 December 2023 the Home Office published new Immigration Rules. These expand the range of activities visitors are allowed to do in the UK from 31 January 2024, including remote work, research, provision of legal services and paid engagements. The Youth Mobility Scheme is also amended to include citizens of Uruguay and to restructure the arrangements for Japanese and South Korean citizens.
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UK immigration policies announced to lower net migration
05 December 2023On 4 December 2023 the UK Government announced a ‘five point plan’ to lower net migration, following on from recent high net migration figures. These include raising the general threshold for Skilled Worker visas, abolishing the salary discount for shortage occupation roles and prohibiting care workers from bringing dependants.
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How to avoid a right to work check headache when BRPs are phased out
27 November 2023The Home Office intends to phase out biometric residence permits and other physical immigration documents from 1 January 2025. Although details of the process are still awaited, employers should take the opportunity now to review the volume of repeat right to work checks are due on 31 December 2024 and aim to minimise bottlenecks with processing these.
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The role of immigration law in advancing DE&I initiatives in global mobility
17 November 2023Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives are no longer just buzzwords but are becoming essential elements of success for companies in all industries. Companies are recognising the value of diverse talent and the need to promote equitable opportunities in their global operations. Immigration law is a cornerstone of the legal framework and can play a pivotal role in shaping the demographic composition of a company.
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UK immigration options for competitive esports players
01 November 2023The esports industry is rapidly evolving. As a popular host of international competitive events, the UK needs to continue to attract and retain competitive esports players. An esports visa may be in the pipeline, but for now, esports players should be aware of UK’s available immigration routes.
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Big Immigration Health Surcharge increase for Q1 2024
24 October 2023The Immigration Health Surcharge will increase from 16 January 2024 at the earliest. The new yearly rate for most affected applicants will jump from £624 to £1,035. Employers and affected applicants should consider applying ahead of the rise where possible.
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Further changes to SMS updating requirements for employers
17 October 2023The Home Office has announced two important changes that impact employers who hold a licence to sponsor overseas workers. Authorising Officers and Key Contacts on sponsor licences will be asked to provide their national insurance number. Sponsors registered with Companies House will be asked to provide their Companies House reference number.
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Migration Advisory Committee recommends sweeping changes to Shortage Occupation List
12 October 2023The Migration Advisory Committee MAC released its full review of the Shortage Occupation List for the Skilled Worker route on 3 October 2023. Key recommendations include the abolition of the shortage list and to allow asylum-seekers with the right to work to occupy any job.
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UK immigration fee rises from 4 October 2023
18 September 2023The UK Government has confirmed substantial immigration fee rises will apply from 9:00 am on 4 October 2023. The fee for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has also been set at £10. In this article we focus on what these changes mean for employers.
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UK nationality and immigration for babies of EUSS participants
12 September 2023Individuals with status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) will need to take certain actions for the UK nationality or immigration rights of a new baby to be recognised. The relevant actions depend on the circumstances and in some cases involve meeting short deadlines.
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Sponsorship Compliance Guide 2023
01 September 2023This Sponsorship Compliance Guide is a useful reference for you and your colleagues to guide you through your duties as a sponsor licence holder.
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Three reasons the EU Settlement Scheme is still relevant for employers
21 August 2023It is now over two years since the main application deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). However, recent changes to policies on pre-settled status extensions, late applications and ongoing right to work considerations mean that understanding the EUSS is still very relevant for employers. In this article we flag some aspects for employers to be aware of and act on.
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Monitoring British citizens’ travel in the Schengen Area: EES and ETIAS
15 August 2023Monitoring travel within the Schengen Area is due to significantly improve with the implementation of new IT systems. This article focuses on how the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (‘EES’) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (‘ETIAS’) is likely to affect British travellers.
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UK visa requirements for offshore workers
09 August 2023Employers of workers within 12 nautical miles of the UK landmass must ensure that appropriate UK right to work is in place, and may be required to notify the Home Office of workers arrival in, and departure from, UK waters. All individual workers employed within the 12 nautical miles need a visa unless they are a British or Irish citizen, and are also subject to notification requirements.