SIGNIFICANT RISE IN REQUIRED SALARIES FOR SPONSORED SKILLED WORKERS FROM 4th APRIL 2024

The general minimum salary rate will increase from £26,200 to £38,700 for those workers assigned a certificate of sponsorship (COS) after 4th April 2024. People assigned a COS before that date will not need to be paid the new amount assuming they make their immigration application within three months of the assignment. The £38,700 minimum will […]

UKRAINE PERMISSION EXTENSION SCHEME ANNOUNCED

It has finally been confirmed that people granted permission to live in the UK under one of the three Ukraine Schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme, and Ukraine Extension Scheme) will be able to apply for further permission to live in the UK. Unfortunately, this will only be for an additional 18 months (at […]

Update to plans to increase the financial threshold – Family Route

We finally have a date for the first increase in the income requirement to meet when making a new application under the partner route. From 11th April 2024, the income threshold will rise from the current £18600 to £29000. Further increases are planned but we don’t yet know when. Extension applications will not be affected […]

Visitors and remote work

In a welcome change for many visitors to the UK, it is now permitted to remotely undertake some activities linked to their overseas employment. Recent guidance (link below) gives examples of answering e-mails and phone calls and taking part in remote meetings. Visit caseworker guidance (accessible) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) However, coming to work in the […]

AMENDMENTS TO FINANCIAL THRESHOLD PLANS FOR THE FAMILY ROUTE

Having caused much anxiety with its 4th December announcement on a change to the financial threshold for family visas, the Government has amended its plans in a further announcement on 21st December 2023 and has published a ” Fact Sheet” – please see the link below. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fact-sheet-on-net-migration-measures-further-detail The financial threshold will still increase in the […]

MAJOR CHANGES ANNOUNCED TO SKILLED WORK ROUTE FROM THE SPRING OF 2024

On 4th 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 […]

PLAN TO HUGELY INCREASE FINANCIAL THRESHOLD FOR FAMILY VISAS

On 4th December, the Home Secretary made a shock announcement that the financial threshold for family visas will rise in the spring of 2024, from £18600 per year to £38700. This has understandably caused a lot of anxiety and distress, even amongst people already living in the UK as the dependants of those who are […]

SIGNIFICANT INCREASE TO IMMIGRATION HEALTH CHARGE

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 […]

HEFTY INCREASES IN IMMIGRATION APPLICATION FEES AS OF 4TH OCTOBER 2023

Home Office fees are due to rise for many immigration applications as set out in the table below. These include applications to enter the UK as a partner or as a skilled worker and applications to settle in the UK or to become British. If you are considering an application, and have checked that you […]

AUTOMATIC EXTENSION OF PRE-SETTLED STATUS

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 […]