On Thursday 2nd April 2020, the Home Office updated its guidance addressed to the following persons affected by travel restrictions because of COVID-19: – If you are a visa holder and a short-term resident in the UK: Visa Extensions: If you are in the UK legally but your visa is due or has expired and
As of 3rd April 2020, the Home Office has issued a further update for sponsors of Tier 4 students and Tier 2 and 5 employees. For the previous update and contact details, please read our publication: https://www.hudsonmckenzie.com/covid-19-update-relaxation-of-sponsorship-duties/ If you are a sponsor and any of the following scenarios apply to you, please see the latest
As part of the national effort to combat coronavirus, the Home Office has announced any overseas doctors, nurses and paramedics with visas due to expire before 1 October 2020 will have them automatically extended for one year. The extension, which was announced on 31 March 2020 by the Home Secretary Priti Patel, will apply to
As a result of COVID-19, this pandemic has led to detrimental effects on global travel. Multitudinous countries worldwide have gone to unprecedented lengths, such as closing their borders and imposing travel restrictions at late notice or without warning. This has consequently caused British tourists to be stranded abroad without a possible and qualified route home.
On Tuesday 24th March 2020, the Home Office publicly announced visa extensions to be granted to those who cannot leave the UK for reasons such as self-isolation and travel restrictions because of COVID-19. Individuals whose visas expired after 24th January 2020 will be able to apply for such an extension until 31st May 2020. This
On 23rd March 2020, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated the travel notices on the UK government’s website to include further guidance and certain travel restrictions imposed as a result of the current COVID-19 climate. This advice takes effect immediately. The FCO has now launched exceptional travel advisory notices for British people travelling overseas.
As a consequence of the global outbreak of Coronavirus, the Home Office has now relaxed some of the duties carried out by sponsors of visa applicants. The radical reason for this is because Tier 4 students and Tier 2/5 employees are likely to be inhibited from working or attending universities, for self-isolation and restricted travel
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) grants visa holders’ access to the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. This charge is calculated based on the duration of the visa applied for and it is a paid aspect of visa applications. Visas must extend to a period beyond 6 months and it applies to family, work
On Thursday 5th March 2020, the latest Immigration Bill was unveiled to the House of Commons. This Bill is a watershed in the history of the UK’s immigration policy and relationship with the EU, by signalling an end to free movement and taking a significant step to leave the EU for the first time in
On 19th February 2020, the Home Office published a policy paper, The UK’s points-based immigration system which announces pivotal policy changes to UK immigration. In alignment with the UK government’s manifesto commitments to end free movement, reduce net migration and only attract skilled labour into the UK, it has delivered the following changes: – No
A Schengen Visa is designed to be short-stay visa that grants nationals of non- EU countries access to any of the 26 countries in the Schengen area, 22 of them being within the European Union. It is one of the world’s most renowned visas, with visa applicants continually increasing. The current EU Visa Code, also
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent advisory body that provides its recommendations on multitudinous issues to the UK Government. Considering these recommendations, the Government then decides to set a policy. The previous Home Secretary requested MAC to proffer its recommendations on what the salary thresholds should be for migrant workers entering the UK
Boris Johnson has just announced that a new Global Talent visa will be launched on 20 February 2020, aiming to attract individuals who work in a ‘qualifying field’ and have been endorsed by a recognised UK body. This is a new innovation to the current Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa route. The fundamental foundations of
The changing political landscape in the UK, and the overwhelming uncertainty in the wake of impending Brexit, is undoubtedly having a significant impact upon recruitment; the messages are nothing, but mixed. In these uncertain times, we are currently facing a major talent shortage and the combination of increased employability and the instability of EU settlement
The Conservative Party had a sweeping majority last week; therefore, it is almost certain that Boris Johnson will now be in a position to deliver Brexit on 31st January 2020, as promised. Whilst, as we all know, there are sound arguments for and against Brexit, the firm’s Managing Partner, Rahul Batra outlines the opportunities it
