Grounds for refusal and re-entry bans

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The rules set out in the Immigration Rules, Part 9 are a list of common grounds on which an application for entry clearance, permission to enter or permission to stay can be refused, which are in addition to any grounds for refusal included in the specific requirements set out in the Parts and Appendices of the Immigration Rules covering the relevant immigration route. Part 9 also includes grounds for the cancellation of existing entry clearance or permission.

Part 9 was restructured and rewritten in Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 813, which came into force for applications decided on or after 1 December 2020. Originally known as the ‘General grounds for refusal’, the Part is now titled ‘Grounds for refusal’, although ‘Suitability’ is now the term that seems to be used as an umbrella term for these matters. These changes were made as part of the Home Office’s Simplification of the Immigration Rules project, further to recommendations of the Law Commission.

The broad intention for the Part is to set out in one place common grounds which will apply across all routes in the

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Latest Immigration News

Immigration weekly highlights—11 September 2025

Welcome to the 11 September 2025 highlights from the Immigration team, which provides links to key news stories from the last week, as well as a round-up of new and updated content in Immigration.

Home Office revokes record number of sponsor licences for non-compliance

The Home Office has announced that a record number of 1,948 sponsor licences have been revoked between July 2024 and June 2025—more than double the 937 sponsor licences revoked in the previous year. Common reasons for revocation included sponsors using work visas to enable individuals to circumvent the Immigration Rules, underpaying and exploiting sponsored staff reliant on their jobs to remain in the country, and failing to provide promised work. The announcement notes that a new approach in the form of improved data and intelligence sharing across government and law enforcement has resulted in increased numbers of employers being found in violation of their sponsor duties. The Home Office reports that sectors with the highest levels of abuse include adult social care, hospitality, retail and construction. Based on current trends, the Home Office anticipates sponsor revocations to continue increasing for the current year.

Home Office publishes guidance on proving pre-settled status alongside other immigration permissions

The Home Office has published caseworker guidance clarifying how holders of pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) can prove their status when they subsequently obtain other UK immigration permissions. Holders retain their pre-settled status if they hold pre-settled under the EUSS for one of the eligible reasons.  The eligible reasons include holders being from the EU, Switzerland , Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, or being a family member of someone from these countries, or possessing a retained right of residence by virtue of being a family member of someone from these countries who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

Adopted children more easily able to get British citizenship

The Home Office caseworker guidance for registering children as British citizens has been updated so that children adopted overseas by a British parent can more easily register as a British citizen. In general there is an expectation it is a recognised overseas adoption, but caseworkers would need to consider the welfare and best interests of the child in any case

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