Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 11 April 2025
We end this week with the influx of changes to all spectrums of the UK immigration policy guidance. With the Home Office unveiling significant modifications through its latest Statement of Changes (HC 733) alongside substantial fee increases. Taking effect from 9 April 2025, represent part of the government’s strategy to reduce reliance on overseas recruitment, while generating additional revenue to support immigration infrastructure.
The new rules introduce protections for care workers in England, with sponsors now required to demonstrate they’ve made reasonable attempts to recruit from the existing UK workforce before sponsoring overseas workers. This requirement aims to protect workers already in the UK who have chosen careers in adult social care, particularly those who may have lost sponsorship due to their employer’s circumstances.
To satisfy this requirement, sponsors must show they’ve tried to recruit from the pool of Skilled Workers already in England who were previously sponsored for health or education roles but need new sponsorship. Sponsors will need confirmation from their regional partnership that no suitable workers were available domestically.
Skilled Worker visa requirements are also changing, with the minimum salary threshold increasing from £23,200 (£11.90 per hour) to £25,000 (£12.82 per hour). This adjustment follows the government’s annual salary review using the latest ONS data and ensures requirements remain above the National Living Wage.
Skilled Worker visa application fees will also increase, with entry clearance applications rising to £769 (up to three years) and £1,519 (more than three years). Settlement and nationality applications face higher costs too, with Indefinite Leave to Remain fees increasing to £3,029 and naturalisation fees to £1,605.
These fee increases, first announced in January 2025, aim to reduce taxpayer funding for immigration services while supporting digital transformation of the system. However, the changes have raised concerns among employers who rely on international talent, as they significantly increase recruitment costs and may lead some businesses to leave vacancies unfilled or shift operations abroad.
The ‘New Entrant’ salary discount for Skilled Workers has been refined, with only UK-obtained ‘recognised professional qualifications’ now qualifying for this discount. Qualifications from overseas institutions will no longer be accepted.
A significant change effects salary deductions and loans. From 9 April, any amounts taken from a sponsored employee’s pay – including deductions and loan repayments related to immigration costs – must be considered when assessing whether the pay meets minimum salary requirements. This doesn’t apply to voluntary arrangements like salary sacrifice schemes where employees have a genuine choice.
The Home Office has also closed a loophole allowing sponsored employees to contribute towards their own salary costs by investing in the business. This reflects increased scrutiny of the ‘genuine vacancy’ test amid concerns about ‘self-sponsorship’ arrangements. See our course here
British Nationals (Overseas) have received good news as they’ll no longer need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter or transit through the UK. This aligns with the UK’s policy of facilitating travel for BNO passport holders.
On the fee front, significant increases will impact various applications. The ETA fee will rise by 60% from £10 to £16, while standard visitor visa fees increase from £115 to £127. For employers, the Certificate of Sponsorship fee for Skilled Workers and Global Business Mobility roles more than doubles from £239 to £525.
Trinidad and Tobago nationals will now require visitor visas, having lost their ETA exemption. A six-week transition period until 23 April will allow those with existing ETAs and confirmed travel plans to enter without a visa.
As per the immigration White Paper, sponsors should stay vigilant about compliance requirements. The Home Office can conduct unannounced compliance visits, making it essential for sponsors to ensure their reporting and record-keeping meet all obligations.
With this flood of changes being released, future applications face an increasingly challenging environment. The Home Office is clearly tightening requirements across the board, with particularly significant impacts on entry clearance applications, including visit visas. We anticipate a surge in refusals as these new policies take effect, leaving many applicants with limited recourse.
For many entry clearance applications, Judicial Review remains the only viable remedy, and the same applies to certain in-country applications where the Home Office has not granted a right to appeal. These developments will profoundly affect IAA regulated advisors handling such cases.
HJT’s live online course Judicial Review for IAA Advisors arrives at precisely the right moment. IAA regulated advisors now have a wonderful opportunity to learn how to take the reins in their own hands and process JR applications themselves, rather than always referring these matters to solicitors or barristers. This comprehensive course covers all the crucial information regarding processing JRs through IAA capacity, delivered by expert Barrister David Jones himself! Don’t miss this chance to expand your professional capabilities during these challenging times. To book your spot, visit here
Post-Brexit visa requirements for UK nationals travelling to Europe continue to evolve, creating confusion for many travellers. HJT has this covered too, with our dedicated live online course Travelling To The Eu And Schengen Area led by expert Barrister Sandra Akinbolu unpacking the latest changes and requirements. As Europeans face new ETA requirements for UK travel, UK nationals similarly navigate changing entry conditions for EU states. Get ahead of these complexities and ensure you can provide accurate, up-to-date advice to clients planning European travel. To book your spot, visit here
For more information on our other live online courses, visit here
Additionally, all significant updates on Rules, Case Law and procedural changes are covered comprehensively in Mastering Immigration Law. The comprehensive resource ensures immigration advisors can meet the everyday challenges through effective interpretation of the legal resources to accelerate their case successes.
For enquiries and FREE DEMO, contact us enquiries@hjt-training.co.uk or call 075441 64692.
For the full list of updates on media news, reports and Home Office Guidance and Policy updates, SEE BELOW
Immigration News
UK Home Office’s reform of graduate visas runs into opposition – Financial Times UK
Home Office officials have accused the Department for Education of encouraging universities to lobby against reforms to the graduate visa that are part of government efforts to cut immigration.
For full report, click here
UK needs annual migration plan to end incoherent policies – The Guardian
The Institute for Government (IfG) said that successive governments have put forward “reactive, kneejerk policies” formulated when politicians have been questioned by broadcasters over net migration figures.
For full report, click here
Immigration Adviser Finder and Register now available – UKVI News
The technical issues affecting the Immigration Adviser Finder and Adviser Register tools have now been resolved, and both services are fully operational again.
For full report, click here
Home Office spent £22,000 on failed attempt to stop Windrush report release – The Guardian
At least £22,000 was spent by the Home Office on hiring lawyers in a failed attempt to prevent the release of a hard-hitting internal report that found that the roots of the Windrush scandal lay in 30 years of racist immigration legislation, officials have acknowledged this week.
For full report, click here
Afghan rights defender told she faces ‘no risk’ from Taliban as Home Office denies asylum – The Guardian
An Afghan woman who risked her life to defend human rights in her home country before fleeing to the UK has been told by the Home Office it is safe for her to return after officials rejected her asylum claim.
For full report, click here
Rights groups urge Starmer to dial down anti-migrant rhetoric – The Guardian
More than 130 refugee and human rights organisations have called on Keir Starmer to stop using language that demonises migrants, after he made controversial remarks before an international people-smuggling summit.
For full report, click here
Johnson and Sunak may be asked to give evidence at asylum centre inquiry – The Guardian
A roll-call of former UK prime ministers, secretaries of state and ministers could be called to give evidence into a scandal at a controversial processing centre in Kent for small boat arrivals, according to an internal government memo disclosed to the Guardian, following a legal challenge.
For full report, click here
People held at UK asylum centre sue government for human rights breach – The Guardian
At least 250 people who were detained at Manston asylum centre during a period when it was dangerously overcrowded and grappling with outbreaks of infectious diseases are suing the government for unlawful detention and other breaches of their rights. These include a woman who had a miscarriage, a child whose age was recorded as five years older than he was, classifying him as an adult, and a teenager who was a victim of torture and trafficking.
For full report, click here
Labour MPs launch campaign for digital IDs to crack down on illegal migration – The Guardian
More than 40 Labour MPs from three influential backbench groups have called on ministers to introduce digital IDs, which they claim would boost productivity in delivering public services and crack down on illegal employment.
For full report, click here
Visas shortage in key sectors revealed as Downing Street defends delay to new immigration blueprint – The Standard
Home Office data shows that fewer than 181,000 visas out of a total of about 560,000 were allocated to foreign workers in the key fields identified for economic growth. Less than a third of UK visas issued have been given to the highly-skilled foreign workers needed to boost Britain’s economy it has been revealed, as Downing Street defended the delay to the Government’s new immigration blueprint.
For full report, click here
Case Law
CPH, R v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 848
The court ruled that Home Office guidance for granting Indefinite Leave to Remain was unlawful because it failed to properly consider children’s best interests as required by law. While the fee requirement itself was upheld, the decision-making process was flawed as it applied an overly restrictive test that didn’t properly weigh a child’s best interests as a primary consideration.
For full decision, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Updates to immigration rules guidance have been published on 09th April 2025
These include:
- Immigration Rules Appendix Finance
- Immigration Rules Appendix Relationship with Partner
- Immigration Rules Appendix Children
- Immigration Rules part 1: leave to enter or stay in the UK
- Immigration Rules Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation
- Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List
- Immigration Rules part 9: grounds for refusal
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Student
- Immigration Rules Appendix Short-term Student (English language)
- Immigration Rules Appendix Graduate
- Immigration Rules part 11: asylum
- Immigration Rules Appendix A: attributes
- Immigration Rules Appendix Administrative Review
- Immigration Rules Appendix AR (EU)
- Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker
- Immigration Rules Appendix T2 Minister of Religion
- Immigration Rules Appendix Global Talent
- Immigration Rules Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes
- Immigration Rules Appendix Scale-up
- Immigration Rules Appendix HM Armed Forces
- Immigration Rules Appendix International Sportsperson
- Immigration Rules Appendix Sports Governing Bodies
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work – Creative Worker
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work – Charity Worker
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange
- Immigration Rules Appendix Government Authorised Exchange schemes
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker
- Immigration Rules Appendix EU
- Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations
- Immigration Rules Appendix EU (Family Permit)
- Immigration Rules Appendix FM: family members
- Immigration Rules Appendix FM-SE: family members specified evidence
- Immigration Rules Appendix V: Visitor
- Immigration Rules Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme: eligible nationals
- Immigration Rules Appendix Ukraine Scheme
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Permission to Stay for Victims of Human Trafficking or Slavery
- Immigration Rules Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection)
- Immigration Rules Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection)
- Immigration Rules Appendix English Language
- Immigration Rules Appendix KOL UK
- Immigration Rules: Index
To access the full Guidance click here
Guidance: Terms and conditions for booking and taking the Life in the UK Test has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Collection: Archive: Immigration Rules has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the updated Collection click here
Guidance: Immigration Rules archive: 12 March 2025 to 1 April 2025 has been published on 08th April 2025. To view the Guidance, click here
Collection: Asylum decision making guidance (asylum instructions) has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the Guidance, click here
Guidance: Complexity application routing solution (family reunion): caseworker has been published on 08th April 2025. To view the Guidance, click here
Guidance: Visa processing times: applications inside the UK has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Visa processing times: applications outside the UK has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Registration as a British Overseas Territories citizen (BOTC(F)) has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Registration as British if your mother had connection to a British Overseas Territory has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Form B(OTA): has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Transparency data: Country returns guide has been updated on 08th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: South Africa: tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 07th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT) has been updated on 07th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Partners, divorce and dissolution: caseworker has been updated on 07th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Health and Care visa: guidance for applicants has been updated on 07th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Powers and operational procedure: caseworker has been updated on 04th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Written by Shareen Khan – Legal Content Writer, HJT Training
STAY TUNED FOR MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS NEXT WEEK!
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration advisors should consult the full decisions and official policy documents when advising clients on specific cases.
