About Immigration Law
As the rules and policy on UK immigration grow more and more complex, it’s getting harder and harder to stay up to speed on the latest changes (especially when one source seems to contradict another).
EU law rights and EU Settlement Scheme
Our content deals with the mechanics of the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and eligibility, as well as the citizens’ rights aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement, that broadly underpins the scheme.
Sponsored work
We deal with the key sponsored and non-sponsored work immigration routes. We have Practice Notes covering all aspects of eligibility (from the point of view of the sponsor and the sponsored migrant) and common pitfalls.
UK immigration control
How immigration law works. Submitting an application, grounds for refusal, conditions of permission, and various sources of law. Plus analysis of the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules from 2013.
Policy
As the rules and policy on UK immigration grow in complexity, it’s tricky to stay up to speed on the latest changes (especially when one source seems to contradict another). We’ll help keep you up-to-date.
Topics We Cover
Latest Immigration News
Welcome to the 29 May 2025 highlights from the Immigration team, which provides links to key news stories from the last week, as well as a round-up of...
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its review of Professionals in IT and Engineering. The review, commissioned by the Home Secretary...
The Home Office has announced the arrest of 33 individuals involved in a human smuggling ring in Northern Ireland. The multi-agency operation also...
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has issued a response to the 22 May 2025 joint letter issued by nine Member States which...
The Home Office has confirmed that Tech Nation will continue to be the endorsing body for the Global Talent Digital Technology visa route for the next...
Latest Immigration Practice Notes
Conflict in Ukraine news & analysis tracker—2022 [Archived]ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. This Practice Note...
Child Student: eligibilityThis Practice Note outlines the general eligibility requirements for entry clearance and permission to stay applications for...
Administrative reviewAdministrative review is the main remedy which is available to challenge immigration decisions on applications which are not...
Sponsoring a Skilled WorkerThe Skilled Worker route enables UK employers with an appropriate sponsor licence to recruit or continue to employ skilled...
Partners applying for limited leave to remain under Appendix FM: eligibility tablesFORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENTS: On 4 December 2023, the previous...
Latest Immigration Precedents
Senior or Specialist Worker—entry clearance—email at beginning of processDear [APPLICANT],Your Senior or Specialist Worker entry clearance visaWe have...
Clauses—repayment of immigration feesSTOP PRESS: Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 733, published on 12 March 2025, has introduced a new...
Entry clearance pre-appointment emailDear [APPLICANT],Biometric appointment instructionsThe visa application[s] for you [and your dependants] has[/ve]...
Approval of naturalisation application—information sheetI am pleased to enclose a letter from the Home Office that confirms that your application for...
Skilled Worker—entry clearance—email at beginning of processDear [APPLICANT],Skilled Worker entry clearance visaWe have been instructed by [SPONSOR]...
Latest Immigration Q&As
Featured Immigration content
Parental consent for minor child—letter
Parental consent for minor child—letter[Insert address of [parent OR guardian] in home country][Insert Home Office address where application is...
Biometric Immigration Documents
Biometric Immigration DocumentsWhat is a Biometric Immigration Document?A Biometric Immigration Document (BID) is the key ‘document’ that evidences...
Children applying for indefinite leave under Part 8 and Appendix FM: procedure
Children applying for indefinite leave under Part 8 and Appendix FM: procedureA child may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to enter or remain...
Key contacts for immigration advisers
Key contacts for immigration advisersIP COMPLETION DAY: The Brexit transition period ended at 11pm on 31 December 2020. At this time (referred to in...
Applying to confirm a Zambrano right of residence [Archived]
Applying to confirm a Zambrano right of residence [Archived]ARCHIVED: this Practice Note is no longer maintained as it covers the implementation of EU...
Passport stamps, vignettes and codes—examples and common problems [Archived]
Passport stamps, vignettes and codes—examples and common problems [Archived]This Practice Note is no longer updated as it relates to the position...
Do you need to submit a separate VAF4A (Appendix 2) form when making an entry clearance application using the new online form? On what basis can the Home Office request this?
Zambrano EUSS rules declared unlawful on appeal (R (Akinsanya) v SSHD)
Immigration analysis: The Court of Appeal has partially upheld the decision of Mr Justice Mostyn in finding that the Home Office’s rules for...
Where a new employee has an indefinite leave to remain endorsement in their expired passport, would an employer have a statutory excuse against a civil penalty if they obtained a positive verification notice from the employer checking service with a copy of their expired passport? If not, would the employer need to wait until the employee receives their biometric residence permit before they can commence employment?
The status of the Tier 4 sponsor
The status of the Tier 4 sponsorSTOP PRESS: This Practice Note is being updated to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules which replace the Tier 4...
Right to work checks: when and why
Right to work checks: when and whyThis Practice Note looks at why employers need to carry out ‘right to work’ checks and when such checks should be...
Long residence and private life
Long residence and private lifeThe long residence and private life routes within the Immigration Rules are for those applying for further permission...
Changes of law and policy, rights against retrospective legislation, and legitimate expectation
Changes of law and policy, rights against retrospective legislation, and legitimate expectationChanges to immigration law may mean that a person who...
Approval of naturalisation application—information sheet
Approval of naturalisation application—information sheetI am pleased to enclose a letter from the Home Office that confirms that your application for...
Nationality and Borders Act 2022—nationality provisions
Immigration analysis: The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022. In addition to controversial provisions relating to...
Can a Tier 2 sponsor reduce a sponsored migrant’s number of weekly hours in order for them to be able to undertake supplementary employment (for another employer)? If so, is the sponsor required to report this change in employment via the sponsor management system?
Can an applicant have two applications pending with the Home Office at the same time, where one application has been made under the Immigration Rules, and the other under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016?
Applying under the Representative of an Overseas Business route
Applying under the Representative of an Overseas Business routePreviously, Representative of an Overseas Business provided a route of entry and stay...
Associated legal terms
Foreign criminal
In accordance with UK Borders Act 2007, s 32(1) a 'foreign criminal' means a person (1) who is not a British citizen; (2) who is convicted in the United Kingdom of an offence; and (3) to whom Condition 1 or 2 applies.
Immigration Health Surcharge
A surcharge introduced to non-EEA migrants for applications made on or after 6 April 2015 where their total period of leave exceeds six months. The surcharge is a financial contribution to the NHS. Abbreviated to IHS.
Immigration White Paper
A policy document released on 19 December 2018 by the government setting out the shape of UK Immigration post-Brexit.
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