News

Whilst no clarity on the timing or dates of implementation has been shared, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, The Rt Hon John Glen MP has announced steep increases to immigration fees and the immigration health surcharge (IHS). The current rate for the immigration health surcharge will increase from £624 to £1,035 per year. Workers […]

In June 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined one of the Home Office teams which were part of a large-scale operation making over 150 visits to businesses employing illegal workers. Over 100 arrests took place with a number of these being restaurants. Illegal working remains high on the Government's agenda with plans to increase enforcement […]

Discussions abound in the House of Lords about labour and skills shortages and there is strong appetite for expansion of the Shortage Occupation List. Further discussions surrounding the inception of a ‘temporary recovery visa’ and as the UK faces its longest recession on record, each week a different Lord or Lady brings an industry from […]

From the cobblestoned streets of the Romans to the bustling financial heart of modern-day London, the UK has time and again proven its strategic importance as a world-leading trading centre. Andrew Griffith MP recently highlighted this rich lineage in a compelling article for TheTelegraph, detailing the ambitious reforms he and the Chancellor are driving to […]

The Home Office has begun contacting sponsors this week to inform them about a change to the process for updating some sponsor licence details. The email outlines new functions that will enable sponsors to keep their sponsor licence details as up to date as possible without having to wait for the Home Office to approve […]

Salary thresholds and going rates have changed to reflect the current economic climate of uncertainty and inflation. From 12th April 2023, salary thresholds and going rates are increasing. Please ensure any new applications from 12th April meet the new salary requirements. Going rates for Skilled Occupations will now be based on a 37.5-hour week (rather […]

As set out in the Spring Budget, the Home Office is undertaking a review of the current UK visitor rules to make it easier and more attractive to do business in the UK. As part of this review, we continue to work with other government departments and their stakeholders to look at how we can expand the range of short-term […]

One of the government’s priorities is securing the UK’s borders and keeping our people safe by ensuring that everyone wishing to travel to the UK (except British and Irish citizens) has permission to do so in advance of travel. To fill the current gap in advance permissions the government is introducing an Electronic Travel Authorisation […]

From 1 January 2023, the Home Office has introduced a concession which will exempt employers paying the Immigration Skill Charge (ISC) for any worker who is covered by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, for those on the Global Business Mobility (Senior or Specialist Worker) visa (this was previously known as the Intra Company Transfer […]

From 5 January 2023, passengers arriving to the UK from mainland China are once again being asked to have a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test. The test will need to be taken no more than two days prior to departure and will be checked by carriers prior to boarding. In addition, on arrival in the UK, […]