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
The Home Office has provided an update on its ongoing move to a fully digital system of immigration status by confirming that from 30 October 2025...
Welcome to the 23 October 2025 highlights from the Immigration team, which provides links to key news stories from the last week, as well as a...
The European Commission has adopted its 2026 Work Programme, Europe’s Independence Moment, setting out a new plan for Europe’s sustainable prosperity,...
Immigration analysis: Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 1333 was published on 14 November 2025, and included a significant change to the...
The Home Office has increased the fees for Priority service for expedited processing of sponsor licence applications from £500 to £750, and for...
Latest Immigration Practice Notes
Immigration White Paper 2025—summary, tracker and resourcesThe White Paper ‘Restoring control over the immigration system’ was published on 12 May...
Immigration calendarPre-2025DevelopmentKey date(s)Further readingIllegal Migration Act 2023 (IMA 2023)Received royal assent on 20 July 2023, with...
Human rights claims in visitor applicationsA person who makes an application for entry clearance, leave to enter or leave to remain as a visitor...
Illegal working: dealing with a criminal allegationThis Practice Note provides an overview of the main criminal offences relating to illegal working...
Immigration judicial review: which decisions can be reviewed and heads of reviewIn principle the lawfulness of any administrative decision relating to...
Latest Immigration Precedents
General permission to stay application—checklistChecklist of supporting documents for permission to stayFormat for translationsAny documents not in...
General entry clearance application—checklistChecklist of supporting documents for entry clearanceFormat for translationsAny documents not in English...
Workers and Temporary Workers sponsor audit—sponsored worker file checklistMonitoring immigration status and preventing illegal employmentEvidence of...
Immigration appeal witness statement—templateIn the immigration and asylum chamber [Insert Home Office, Port and appeal reference numbers as...
UK Expansion Worker—entry clearance—email at beginning of processDear [Applicant],Your UK Expansion Worker entry clearance visaWe have been instructed...
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...
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?
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 DocumentsWhat is a Biometric Immigration Document?A Biometric Immigration Document (BID) is the key ‘document’ that evidences...
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?
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...
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?
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...
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?
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...
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?
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...
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...
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...
Adequate maintenance
Adequate maintenanceFor partners and children applying under Appendix FM where the sponsoring partner is receiving one or more specified benefits,...
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...
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,...
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?
Associated legal terms
Biometric Residence Permit
A physical document issued to a migrant by the Home Office containing the holder’s biometric and biographical information. It also confirms details of their right to reside, study or work in the UK and of their entitlement to public services or benefits. Abbreviated to BRP.
Illegal entrant
A person unlawfully entering or seeking to enter the UK in breach of a deportation order or of the immigration laws, or by means which include deception by another person, and includes also a person who has so entered.
Section 3C leave
Immigration permission that is granted to an applicant which serves to automatically extend leave. It applies where an in-time application is made to vary leave before the initial period of leave expires and is granted under section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971.
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