UK Home Office Criticised for Refusal to Reveal ‘High Risk’ Countries
The Home Office has faced stark criticism from campaign groups for its decision not to reveal details of the algorithm used to filter UK visa applications. In response to a legal challenge brought by immigrants’ rights campaigners over use of its artificial intelligence programme, the Home Office provided a redacted list of countries in different […]
2020 Planned Closures of USCIS Field Offices
USCIS is continuing with the planned closure of 13 US international field offices and 3 district offices by August 2020. USCIS operated 23 international offices in 20 countries around the globe. While it had previously advised of plans to close all of its international offices by March 2020, USCIS confirmed in a statement last summer […]
Controversial US Health Insurance Mandate Blocked Temporarily
A federal judge in Oregon has temporarily blocked President Trump’s order to deny visas to immigrants without health insurance. On October 4, 2019, a Presidential Proclamation suspended entry of immigrants into the US without approved health coverage or without the ability to pay for foreseeable medical issues within 30 days of entering the country. The […]
Overhaul of US Immigration Regulations Ahead of Election
2020 is set to bring wide-ranging reforms in US immigration regulations as the Trump Administration moves ahead with planned changes against a deadline of this year’s Presidential election. The proposed rules, as outlined in the Government’s Unified Agenda for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will, if enacted, profoundly affect employers, H-1B and L-1 visa […]
US Public Charge Update
A number of US courts have blocked the Trump Administration from using new, tougher rules on US immigration applications from low-income immigrants. The Public Charge Final Rule is currently being litigated and some courts have issued an injunction, preventing the new rules from being applied until the legal challenges are resolved. On August 14, 2019, […]
Business Groups Warn Against Post-Brexit UK Immigration System
The CBI has warned the introduction of an arbitrary £30,000 salary threshold for all migrant workers would not be workable for the UK economy. The warning comes in response to the Government’s white paper on UK immigration, published in December 2018. White paper on immigration In the document, the Government proposes a fundamental overhaul of […]
Changes to UK Immigration Rules January 2019
In its Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, the Government has laid down the latest changes affecting UK immigration policy. New Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme for Non-EU workers 2019 will see the introduction of a new two-year pilot scheme for seasonal employment in the horticultural sector. The scheme will initially be trialled with selected operators, […]
Immigration Health Surcharge has Doubled
From today, the UK’s immigration health surcharge has been doubled from £200 to £400 per visa applicant per year. The increase also applies to those eligible for the discounted rate, which has risen from £150 to £300. This affects students and those on youth mobility schemes. The new rates apply to all relevant applications made […]
Migration Statistics Reveal Rise in Investor and Entrepreneur Visas
Figures released this week by the Office for National Statistics reveal an increase in the number of UK investor and entrepreneur visas granted during the first quarter of 2014.
Government to end right of appeal against refusal of family visit visas
As part of the coalition’s plans to cut family migration to the UK genuine family visitors will no longer be able to appeal the decision to refuse them entry to the UK to visit their family members in the UK. Last year the government drafted legislation to restrict certain family members from being classed as […]
Immigration Law Update: Legacy Asylum and Migration Cases
The Border Agency has generally failed to deal with its legacy of unresolved asylum cases, according to a recent report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. This failure was, it says, largely due to inefficiency, poor customer service and a lack of security and data checks. Legacy cases The report, An inspection […]