UK immigration control: how it works

Understanding the mechanics of UK immigration control is essential for legal practitioners specialising in immigration law. This topic sheds light on the procedural framework and key regulatory bodies that govern entry, stay, and removal of individuals within the UK. Stay informed on the latest policies and practices, ensuring your expertise remains top-notch in guiding clients through the complexities of immigration control.

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Sub Topics We Cover

After entry requirements Applying from overseas Applying in the UK Immigration offences and carriers' liability Immigration Rules changes: analysis and news pieces Leave to enter and remain Permission to travel to the UK Returning residents Suitability grounds for refusal and re-entry bans UK immigration authorities and sources of immigration law

Latest Immigration News

Expired BRPs can be used to end of 2026/within 24 months of expiry

Expired BRPs can be used to end of 2026/within 24 months of expiry

The Home Office has in recent days updated various guidance documents to extend the deadline by which expired Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) can...

The Unity Project publishes analysis of Home Office change of conditions data for Q1 2026

The Unity Project publishes analysis of Home Office change of conditions data for Q1 2026

The Unity Project has published an analysis of Home Office Change of Conditions (CoC) data for Q1 2026, reporting that 702 applications were...

SWJA publishes resource collection on earned settlement reform proposals

SWJA publishes resource collection on earned settlement reform proposals

The Skilled Worker Justice Alliance (SWJA) has published a collection of resources on the UK government’s earned settlement reform proposals and the...

Minister for Border Security and Asylum updates Home Affairs Select Committee on UK-France border security partnership and treaty

Minister for Border Security and Asylum updates Home Affairs Select Committee on UK-France border security partnership and treaty

The Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris MP, has written to the Home Affairs Select Committee updating it on the UK's partnership with...

Featured Immigration content

Parental consent for minor child—letter

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...

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?

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?

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,...

Changes of law and policy, rights against retrospective legislation, and legitimate expectation

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...

Biometric Immigration Documents

Biometric Immigration Documents

Biometric Immigration DocumentsWhat is a Biometric Immigration Document?A Biometric Immigration Document (BID) is the key ‘document’ that evidences...

Q&As

If an individual is a student holding an Asylum Registration Card (ARC), and (1) the ARC does not confirm any restriction on working hours, and (2) the Employer Checking Service check simply confirms ‘ARC Student: Student restrictions (no self-employment)’, will the 20-hour work week limit apply to this individual or are they permitted to work full-time within a Shortage Occupation role?

If an individual is a student holding an Asylum Registration Card (ARC), and (1) the ARC does not confirm any restriction on working hours, and (2)...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Kathryn Bradbury and Rhona Azir of Payne Hicks Beach
30th May
Q&As

When a skilled worker is about to go on maternity leave, does the employer have an obligation to top up any statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance in respect of— a) the employee’s continued employment as a sponsored worker, in order for the employer to meet its sponsor obligations b) the employee’s ability to extend their visa, to ensure they meet the salary requirements for an extension, and/or c) the employee’s ability to apply for settlement?

When a skilled worker is about to go on maternity leave, does the employer have an obligation to top up any statutory maternity pay or maternity...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Applying for a sponsor licence under Workers and Temporary Workers: eligibility and suitability

Applying for a sponsor licence under Workers and Temporary Workers: eligibility and suitabilityThis Practice Note summarises the eligibility and...
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30th May
Q&As

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?

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...
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Produced in partnership with Nick Nason of Edgewater Legal
13th Oct
Practice notes

What is the right of abode?

What is the right of abode?The right of abode—statusThe right of abode in the UK is an immigration status. A person who has the right of abode is free...
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Produced in partnership with Adrian Berry of Garden Court Chambers
13th Oct
Q&As

Is there a positive legal obligation for an employer to report to the Home Office where they discover that an employee, or ex-employee, does/did not have the right to work? Is the position different where the employer is a licensed sponsor?

Is there a positive legal obligation for an employer to report to the Home Office where they discover that an employee, or ex-employee, does/did not...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Examination, entry, search and seizure powers of immigration officers

Entry, search and seizure powers of immigration officersIP COMPLETION DAY: The Brexit transition period ended at 11pm on 31 December 2020. At this...
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Produced in partnership with Bijan Hoshi of Garden Court Chambers
30th May
Practice notes

Retention of documents by the Home Office [Archived]

Retention of documents by the Home Office [Archived]Important note—Archived Practice Note: this Practice Note is no longer updated as it relates to...
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Produced in partnership with Christopher R. Cole of DG Legal and Nathan Woodcock LL.B. of Woodcock Law
13th Oct
Practice notes

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...
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30th May
Practice notes

Adequate maintenance

Adequate maintenanceFor partners and children applying under Appendix FM where the sponsoring partner is receiving one or more specified benefits,...
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Produced in partnership with Jo Renshaw of Turpin Miller
13th Oct
Precedents

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...
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30th May
Practice notes

Appendix FM: the suitability requirements and the general grounds for refusal

Appendix FM: the suitability requirements and the general grounds for refusalThe suitability requirements in Appendix FM mirror, to a certain extent,...
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Produced in partnership with Jo Renshaw of Turpin Miller
13th Oct
Q&As

Is it possible to add further branches to a sponsor licence where all of the entities have the same parent company, but the parent company or head office itself is not the licence holder? Also, what is the situation if one operating company applies for the licence, but the intention is to subsequently form a parent company and other subsidiaries which will also need to sponsor workers?

Is it possible to add further branches to a sponsor licence where all of the entities have the same parent company, but the parent company or head...
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30th May
Practice notes

Sponsoring a Skilled Worker

Sponsoring a Skilled WorkerThe Skilled Worker route enables UK employers with an appropriate sponsor licence to recruit or continue to employ skilled...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Locating guidance and using archives for immigration research

Locating guidance and using archives for immigration researchThis Practice Note explains how to locate current Home Office guidance relating to...
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30th May

Popular documents

Can an applicant have two applications pending with the Home Office at the same time, where one

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?An application for leave to remain in the UK under domestic Immigration

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?What is an appeal?An appeal in insolvency proceedings is no different to an appeal in normal litigation. An appeal will be allowed only if the appeal court is satisfied that the decision of the lower court was 'wrong' or 'unjust because of a

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the current registered owner? Or does the informal exoneration only apply to the parties to the document which informally exonerated the rentcharge?This Q&A considers the situation where, at some

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal fees, will that count as a PET against their estate?A disclaimer is the refusal of a gift prior to acceptance. The refusal of the gift must take place before the beneficiary accepts any benefit