There are several key immigration developments in the pipeline which are likely to affect UK employers. Here’s what you need to know: 6 February 2024: Visa Application costs increase The Immigration Health Surcharge is increasing from £624 to £1,035 per year for most adult UK visa applications from today, 6 February 2024. For under-18s, students … Continue Reading
In connection with the funding of pay increases being offered in the public sector, the government has announced its plans to increase: No date has been set for the introduction of these increases but they are expected to be imminent given current economic pressures.… Continue Reading
In March this year, we wrote about the abrupt suspension of UKVI priority services for new applications made from outside the UK here. Today, after a full 5 months, UKVI has reinstated “priority services” for new work visa applications. The suspension was UKVI’s response to the large influx of applications under the Ukraine Family Scheme. … Continue Reading
UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) has taken the decision without prior warning to suspend priority and super-priority visa processing services for all applications being made from outside the UK. Not only have the services been suspended, but the UKVI update says that “applications for study, work and family visas may take longer to process.” This … Continue Reading
Those who have been dealing with immigration matters for some time will remember the old Tier 1 (Post Study Work) visa (PSW). It was a lifeline to overseas students who couldn’t find work right away after finishing their degree/masters/PhD in the UK and so it was an unwelcome change when the Home Office closed the … Continue Reading
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently published a Final Rule [pdf] in the Federal Register revising its regulations affecting highly‑skilled workers in the nonimmigrant classifications for specialty occupation from Chile, Singapore (H–1B1), and Australia (E–3) and the immigrant classification for employment-based first preference (EB–1) outstanding professors and researchers. The Rule will also make changes … Continue Reading
To follow our previous posting here, the US Department of State announced that its visa system is up and running but visa issuance is currently at half-speed as they work through the backlog. Please see the updates posted at travel.state.gov as well as the FAQs for more information. For assistance with urgent situations, please contact your … Continue Reading
In a recent New South Wales decision, the Supreme Court of Australia found that television company Seven Network (Operations) Limited (Seven) was entitled to final injunctive relief against UK former Spice Girl Mel B(rown), who sought to work on a competing television talent program in breach of her contract to provide exclusive services to Seven … Continue Reading
