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Q&A from What’s happening in immigration Law? - 26 March 2024
03 April 2024This Q&A covers questions raised in our webinar.
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Update: Sponsor Management System outage immediately ahead of work route salary rises
02 April 2024Update (2 April 2024): The Home Office is switching off the Sponsor Management System (SMS) from 19:00 on 3 April 2024 until 9:00 on 5 April 2024. The planned system outage was previously due to take place from 19:00 on 2 April until 9:00 on 4 April 2024. The delay gives sponsors one more day to issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) before salary threshold rises take effect for work routes from 4 April 2024.
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MAC to carry out rapid review of Graduate route by 14 May 2024
15 March 2024The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been commissioned to make a rapid review of the Graduate route, with its report due to be published by 14 May 2024. Employers should plan for potential restrictions to this route or its abolition.
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New Immigration Rules radically reform Skilled Worker route
14 March 2024This is the biggest reform of UK work routes since Brexit. The clear message from Government is that net migration must be reduced. Most changes affect Skilled Workers and come into force on 4 April 2024, however other work routes are also affected.
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UK Migration Advisory Committee reports on new Immigration Salary List
29 February 2024Only 21 occupations are recommended for inclusion on the new Immigration Salary List (ISL), which will replace the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) for the Skilled Worker route from 4 April 2024. Employers may find that this, combined with the increased minimum salary thresholds will significantly reduce the size of the eligible talent pool for sponsorship of overseas workers.
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Apply now for UK work visas before minimum salary jump on 4 April
29 February 2024From 4 April 2024 many people who would qualify now, will not be able to get a Skilled Worker visa. Hefty increases to the occupation-based ‘going rate’ salary thresholds and the new general salary threshold of £38,700 will impact a vast number of would-be applicants. Employers should urgently review potential applicants to submit applications now and avoid disappointment in the near future.
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Home Office reconfirms Ukraine Schemes do not lead to settlement
27 February 2024New Immigration Rules laid on 19 February 2024 have made immediate changes to the Ukraine Schemes, including closing the Ukraine Family Scheme. A separate announcement reconfirms that the Ukraine Schemes do not lead to settlement, but that an 18-month extension will be available for scheme participants from early 2025. Participants wishing to settle in the UK should urgently review their options ahead of restrictions to work and partner routes being implemented in March and April 2024.
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New Immigration Rules place greater restrictions on care workers
22 February 2024From 11 March 2024 care providers in England cannot sponsor new care workers under the Skilled Worker route unless they are registered with the Care Quality Commission. From the same date, newly sponsored carers can no longer bring their family members to the UK.
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Changes to right to work compliance: key takeaways for employers
16 February 2024The Home Office recently updated the Employer’s guide to right to work checks. The guide contains references to the increased £60,000 civil penalty for illegal working, along with some small but significant changes that impact how employers complete compliant right to work checks. In this article, we highlight the key changes to help employers stay on top of right to work compliance.
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New visitor rules benefit business visitors to the UK
15 February 2024Since 31 January 2024, the Immigration Rules for visitors have been liberalised to allow a wider range of activities for business visitors, including in the areas of intra-corporate activities, remote working, providing legal services and carrying out research. The Permitted Paid Engagement visitor route has been expanded and incorporated into the standard visitor route, meaning these visitors can stay for up to six months.
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UK Migration Advisory Committee to advise on new Immigration Salary List
01 February 2024The Home Office has asked the Migration Advisory Committee to conduct a ‘rapid review’ of which occupations should be initially included on the Immigration Salary List (ISL). This list will replace the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) for the Skilled Worker route from April 2024. Employers experiencing skills shortages should consider submitting evidence to the full ISL review, which is expected to be commissioned shortly.
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Home Office announces timeline for immigration reforms
30 January 2024The Home Office has issued a new statement outlining the launch dates for major reforms to the Skilled Worker and Partner routes. This, along with other recent announcements confirms a packed timeline of immigration reforms due to be made over the next year.
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Processing delays as changes loom
29 January 2024The Home Office is struggling to cope with a surge of demand for immigration application-related services ahead of an increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge and upcoming changes to the Skilled Worker and Partner routes.
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Illegal working civil penalties due to triple from 13 February 2024
25 January 2024The civil penalty an employer may receive for employing an illegal worker will rise from £20,000 to £60,000. This significantly increases the financial risk to employers of failing to carry out rigorous and compliant right to work checks.
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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: