Immigration Insights

March 16, 2022

The UK Home Office has announced the temporary suspension of the priority and super priority services for new study, work and family visas. This is to focus efforts on applications arising from the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The suspension currently applies to Entry Clearance applications only – those submitted outside the UK.

March 15, 2022

The way employers carry out right to work checks is due to change from 6 April 2022, with the draft revised guidance having been published in recent days. Newland Chase summarises the most significant updates being proposed (note these may be subject to change).

March 15, 2022

Following our recent webinar, Newland Chase experts answer the most pressing questions on the challenges and solutions of the EU Blue Card Directive.

March 14, 2022

The ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme will extend provisions for Ukrainian nationals to obtain UK visa status. Details announced today confirmed that with no current tie to the UK needed, the new initiative will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to sponsor visa status for Ukrainians fleeing the crisis.

March 10, 2022

The Home Secretary has this morning announced a significant change to the visa process for those applying under the Ukraine Family Scheme. Following pressure to address delays and the limited availability of biometric appointments in the region, from March 15th Ukrainians with passports will now have access to a fully digital application process.

March 10, 2022

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has announced the introduction of a points-based assessment called Complementary Assessment Framework (COMPASS) from 1 September 2023 for new EP applications and from 1 September 2024 for EP renewals.

March 9, 2022

Beginning 1 September 2022, the minimum salary for EP holders will increase. At the same time, MOM will also be increasing the minimum salary and levies for S Pass holders. Quotas for S Pass will also be updated on 1 January 2023.

March 4, 2022

The European Union (EU) ministers agreed to implement the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) (2001/55/EC) to provide Ukrainians refugees with a unified immigration option throughout the EU.

March 4, 2022

The Home Office has published further guidance for family members of British nationals, UK settled persons (including individuals holding indefinite leave to remain and settled status) and certain others to come or stay in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme.

March 2, 2022

In a statement to Parliament this week, Home Secretary Priti Patel has confirmed that the UK government has created a "generous" and "unprecedented" package of measures to help Ukrainians and their family members enter the UK.

February 28, 2022

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued over the weekend, there were many changes from a visa and immigration perspective for both Ukrainian citizens and residents fleeing the country and Russian citizens seeking to apply for visas from certain countries.

February 25, 2022

As anticipated, several European countries announced travel and immigration concessions today for individuals fleeing Ukraine due to the ongoing military invasion from Russia. In addition, the Ukrainian authorities also announced specific exit and border protocols, most of which specifically affect Ukrainian citizens.

February 25, 2022

Further to the news of a visa concession for family members of British citizens in Ukraine, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have announced visa concessions for Ukrainians who are already in the UK.

February 24, 2022

Adjustments to Right to Work (RTW) checks made due to COVID-19 have been extended by the Home Office until 30 September 2022 (inclusive).

February 23, 2022

Non-British family members of British nationals who usually live in Ukraine can now apply for a visa in any of the family settlement migration routes for free. The concession is available to persons of all nationalities (except British) whose British family member usually lives in Ukraine and is their spouse or civil partner; their unmarried partner (living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least 2 years); their parent if under the age of 18; their child under the age of 18; or their adult dependent relative.

February 18, 2022

The Home Office has announced minor but important changes to its “View and Prove” share code system. Share codes are currently used by individuals who have an online immigration status to prove their right to work and live in the UK, for example, employers or landlords.

February 18, 2022

Recent changes to how the Immigration Health Surcharge is calculated have meant that individuals applying from outside the UK now have to pay for the time granted before the visa – essentially from their declared expected date of arrival in the UK.

February 18, 2022

The Home Secretary has taken decisive action to close the Tier 1 Investor visa route to all new applicants from all nationalities with immediate effect.

February 15, 2022

More than a dozen countries, including the U.S., the UK and Australia, have strongly urged their citizens residing in Ukraine to depart the country immediately due to the rising political and military tension with Russia.

February 14, 2022

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced that Brazil has been fully added to the U.S. Global Entry program. Designed to provide expedited entry clearance for “pre-approved, low-risk travelers” upon arrival in the United States, the Global Entry program allows pre-screen travelers to skip long processing lines and paperwork at most major international airports.