Archive for category: News

On 4^th December, the Home Secretary announced a plan to drastically reduce migration levels to the UK, including the number of skilled workers.

One of the main changes is increasing the minimum salary of a skilled worker from the current £26,200 to £38,700. This is likely to cause significant problems for those who employ skilled workers, especially in areas of the UK where salaries are generally lower.

The shortage occupation list is due to be replaced with a new and reduced list.

Sponsored care workers will no longer be able to bring their dependants with them, obviously raising questions around whether they will continue to come here at all.

We do not yet know the date when these changes will be introduced nor the details of whether they will apply retrospectively to skilled workers already in the UK.

Please keep an eye on our website for further details as and when they become known.

Not long after the October 2023 increases to many immigration application fees, the Health Charge is also due to rise significantly. The increase will come into effect on 16th January 2024 or shortly afterwards and anyone able to submit an application prior to that is wise to do so.

The current charge of £624 per year for most adult applicants will increase to £1035 per year. This means for example that an applicant for a spouse visa will need to pay, upfront, the huge sum of £2587.50 in respect of their initial 2.5 years of permission to live in the UK. Currently, they pay £1560.

Children under 18 years old, students, and their dependents will pay £776 per year instead of the current £470 per year, as will applicants under the Youth Mobility Scheme.

Please do get in touch for further information about this or any other aspect of the Immigration Health Charge by sending an email to info@jennyharveyimmigration.co.uk

The Home Office has confirmed that EU nationals and their family members granted pre-settled status but not yet settled status will automatically receive a two-year extension of their pre-settled status towards the end of that pre-settled status.

This is to avoid those who have not applied for settled status losing the right to remain in the UK when their pre-settled status has expired.

E-mails are being sent to those granted pre-settled status to explain this extension and to encourage people to apply for settled status once eligible.

If you receive such an e-mail and would like our advice on an application for settled status please contact us on info@jennyharveyimmigration.co.uk

Further to an announcement by the Prime Minister on 13^th July 2023, we are expecting large increases in visa application fees and in fees for applications to remain in the UK.

Similarly, the Immigration Health  Surcharge will drastically increase, from the current £624 per year for most applicants to £1035 per year. The current discounted rate for children is £470 per year but will rise to £776 per year.

If you are thinking about making an immigration application, and are eligible to do so, it would be sensible to apply as soon as you can.

We don’t yet know when the increased rates will be introduced and will post updated information as soon as we do.

From 29^th June 2023, Nationals of New Zealand will be benefit from an increased age limit if they wish to come here under the Youth Mobility Scheme.

Applicants must currently be under the age of 31 . They will need to be under 36 years old as of 29^th June and will also be able to stay here for up to 3 years rather than 2 years.

British nationals will benefit from a similar arrangement as referred to in the recent news story from the Home Office.

UK and New Zealand expand schemes for young people to work abroad – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please contact us for more information about this or any other aspect of coming to live and work in the UK.