UK immigration authorities and sources of immigration law

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Brexit legislation tracker

This Practice Note tracks the progress of UK legislation introduced as part of the legislative project associated with the UK’s withdrawal from the

Applying to naturalise as a British citizen: eligibility

Naturalisation is the most common way for adults to acquire British citizenship. The naturalisation route to British citizenship enables adults who do

Resident Labour Market Test

An employer will be required to carry out a Resident Labour Market Test (also referred to as RLMT) before they can apply for a restricted Certificate

'Durable relationships' and 'other family members' of EEA nationals: definitions and rights of entry and residence

Important notice on Brexit: As of exit day (31 January 2020) the UK is no longer an EU Member State. However, in accordance with the Withdrawal

Practice notes

Procedure for applying from overseas

Coronavirus (COVID-19): This Practice Note contains guidance on subjects potentially impacted by the government’s response to the coronavirus...

Produced in partnership with Gary McIndoe of Latitude Law 27th Oct

Practice notes

Partners applying for entry clearance under Appendix FM: eligibility table

This Practice Note sets out the requirements for an application for entry clearance as the fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, spouse, civil partner or...

21st Oct

Practice notes

Partners applying for limited leave under Part 8: eligibility table

Who can apply under Part 8?An application for further limited leave to remain as a spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same-sex partner can be made...

9th Oct

Practice notes

Making an outside the Rules or exceptional circumstances application

This Practice Note covers practical factors which will need to be considered when advising clients who may not meet all of the requirements of any...

Produced in partnership with Ed Mynott 5th Oct

Practice notes

Partners applying for limited leave to remain under Appendix FM: eligibility tables

Limited leave to remain as a partnerHow the category worksThis Practice Note sets out the requirements for an application for limited leave to remain...

5th Oct

Practice notes

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)—summary and resources

The Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category closed to new entrants on 29 March 2019. The only individuals who can now enter this category are those who have or...

26th Sep

Practice notes

Appendix FM: exceptional circumstances cases under para GEN.3

This Practice Note looks at the of ‘Exceptional circumstances’ provisions found in para GEN.3.1‒3.3 of the Immigration Rules, Appendix FM, which may...

26th Sep

Practice notes

Schedule of absences

The schedule of absences spreadsheets below may be used by Lexis®PSL Immigration subscribers to calculate a person’s absences from the UK for the...

26th Sep

Practice notes

General requirements for indefinite leave to remain in work, business and investment categories

This Practice Note examines the key common requirements for indefinite leave to remain (also known as ILR or settlement) applications in work-related...

26th Sep

Practice notes

Applying for a sponsor licence under Tiers 2 and 5: procedure

When applying for a sponsor licence under Tiers 2 and 5 of the Points-Based System (PBS), an organisation must go through the following process:•step...

26th Sep

Practice notes

Visitor (standard): eligibility

The visitor (standard) category enables short-term visitors to come to the UK for a range of purposes including recreation, business activities,...

25th Sep

Practice notes

Routes for applying to register a minor child as a British citizen

Applying to register a minor child as a British citizen is only necessary if the child has not automatically acquired British citizenship. Before an...

25th Sep

Practice notes

Illegal working: dealing with employees

An employer who is found to have employed a person unlawfully in the UK may be liable to civil penalties and/or criminal sanctions. For further...

25th Sep

Practice notes

Applying for a sponsor licence under Tiers 2 and 5: eligibility and suitability

The eligibility criteria for obtaining a sponsor licence are not located in statute law nor in the Immigration Rules; they are mainly contained within...

25th Sep

Practice notes

Sources of immigration law

There are multiple sources of immigration law. In addition to 16 or so statutes and the ever-changing Immigration Rules, there is a huge number of...

25th Sep

Practice notes

When does leave continue—making and withdrawing applications, challenging decisions and travel

This Practice Note explains what happens to a person’s leave to enter or remain in the UK when they:•travel outside the UK, the Channel Islands, the...

25th Sep

Most recent UK immigration authorities and sources of immigration law content

Practice notes

Sources of immigration law

There are multiple sources of immigration law. In addition to 16 or so statutes and the ever-changing Immigration Rules, there is a huge number of...

25th Sep

Practice notes

The legal status of the Immigration Rules and Home Office policy

There are various sources of immigration law, including:•European legislation•domestic statutes•statutory instruments•the Immigration Rules•Home...

25th Sep

Practice notes

Using archives for immigration research

Using the Points-Based System guidance archive in Lexis®PSL ImmigrationThe Lexis®PSL Immigration service includes an archive of policy guidance...

25th Sep

Practice notes

Immigration Act 2016—materials

The Immigration Act 2016 (IA 2016) received Royal Assent on 12 May 2016. This Practice Note is a compilation of links to key materials relating to the...

25th Sep

Practice notes

Who can give immigration advice in the UK?

Immigration advisers and service providers in the UK are subject to regulation.Broadly, non-legally qualified immigration advisers are required to...

26th Sep

Practice notes

Quick links for immigration research

This Practice Note is a compilation of links to key materials commonly used by UK immigration advisers when undertaking research.See Practice Note:...

26th Sep

Practice notes

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

Changes to immigration law may mean that a person who applies for entry or stay under one rule or policy may have the application determined under a...

26th Sep

Practice notes

Immigration Act 2014—analysis

The Lexis®PSL Immigration analysis of the Immigration Act 2014 provides a summary of the key practical implications of the Act, written by leading...

26th Sep

Practice notes

Key contacts for immigration advisers

Important note: In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and government advice, some of the contact details below may be subject to change,...

26th Sep

Practice notes

Immigration annual round-up: reviewing 2017 and previewing 2018 [Archived]

ARCHIVED: This year’s annual round-up reviews some of the most significant developments of 2017 and previews what is on the horizon for 2018. In 2017...

26th Sep

Precedents

Freedom of Information request

[Insert the correspondence address, including postcode, of the person making the Freedom of Information request]Direct communications unit2 Marsham...

27th Sep

Q&As

Is there a discretion for the Home Office to grant the right to work in exceptional circumstances where for example an applicant is a principal breadwinner and only has means to support his family for a short period of time? Where is the residual discretion of the Home Office in immigration matters derived from and what is the scope of this discretion?

The powers of the Home Secretary to regulate the entry and residence of foreign nationals, while originally founded in the Crown’s prerogative powers,...

Produced in partnership with Gary McIndoe of Latitude Law 28th Sep

Q&As

Can you apply for indefinite leave to remain by combining time spent in the UK on different routes? For example, if you have spent 2.5 years on a spouse visa, and then 2.5 years on a parent visa?

The requirements for entry and stay in any immigration category, including indefinite leave to remain (ILR), for persons without the right of abode,...

28th Sep

Q&As

If a British citizen lives in the UK permanently and wants to bring a domestic worker from a non-EEA country to live in their house and provide cleaning/personal care, what application(s) can be made to facilitate this?

A non-EEA national can obtain entry clearance for a period of up to six months, in order for them to reside in the UK at the home of a British citizen...

Produced in partnership with Gary McIndoe of Latitude Law 28th Sep

Q&As

Where do I find information on UK immigration now that the UKBA website is closed?

As part of the government's plans to bring all government services and information into one place, the UKBA website was decommissioned on 26 February...

28th Sep

Practice notes

Residential tenancies and the Immigration Act—'Right to Rent'

Coronavirus (COVID-19): This Practice Note contains guidance which may be impacted by the government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. For further...

2nd Oct