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 House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) published its report ‘Earned Settlement: Examining the Government’s proposed reforms’ on 13...
The below data shows the number of Home Office-approved employer sponsors, according to visa route, as listed on the Home Office’s register of...
In a letter to the 3million/ILPA and Britain in Europe, the Home Office has confirmed that it has amended its guidance on Dual citizens to provide...
Immigration analysis: This analysis looks at aspects of Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 1691 which were either not mentioned in the...
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has published a letter from its Senior Responsible Owner and Service Owner, Tracy Parker-Priest, to the legal...
Latest Immigration Practice Notes
The Private Life Route was initially introduced in Part 7 of the Immigration Rules on 9 July 2012, and represents the government’s interpretation of...
Immigration offences are matters that are dealt with under the criminal law. They are distinct from civil penalties which, in the context of...
Using this Practice NoteThis page contains an alphabetical list of Home Office application forms for use in applications made from within the UK, with...
The White Paper ‘Restoring control over the immigration system’ was published on 12 May 2025, and sets out a large number of significant changes to...
Pre-2025DevelopmentKey date(s)Further readingIllegal Migration Act 2023 (IMA 2023)Received royal assent on 20 July 2023, with certain sections in...
Latest Immigration Precedents
Appeal No. HU/1234/2025IN THE FIRST-TIER TRIBUNALIMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM CHAMBERBetween:MAGGIE SMITH Appellant– and –Secretary of state for the home...
Appeal No. HU/1234/2025IN THE FIRST-TIER TRIBUNALIMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM CHAMBERBetween:MAGGIE SMITH Appellant– and –Secretary of state for the home...
What is earned settlement?The Home Secretary’s November 2025 policy statement and consultation, ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, sets out...
In the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)Appeal No: XXXAPPLICANT NAMEAppellantANDSECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME...
Dear [Applicant],Your UK Expansion Worker entry clearance visaWe have been instructed [by [Sponsor]] to assist you [and your dependants] with an...
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
Curtailment
The process of shortening the existing leave of persons already in the UK. Leave is either curtailed with immediate effect or the remaining period of leave is shortened, usually to a period of 60 days. A notice of curtailment must be served in writing.
Permanent residence
Right to reside permanently (without limitation of time) in the United Kingdom in accordance with Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006, SI 2006/1003.
Points based system
A system of immigration control introduced in the United Kingdom from 2008 under which the Immigration Rules provide for the necessary acquisition of specified points in some or all of the following categories in order to fulfil requirements for entry clearance, leave to enter, leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain: attributes, English language and maintenance.
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