
Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 19 July 2024
This past week has seen a flurry of developments in UK immigration, highlighting both ongoing challenges and potential shifts in policy. The Home Office continues to grapple with issues surrounding asylum seekers and refugees, while new concerns arise about the impact of immigration policies on various sectors of British society.
A recent report has shed light on a deeply troubling situation involving asylum-seeking children placed in Home Office hotels. Despite previous assurances from the government, the study concludes that these children are at an increased risk of trafficking.
The challenges extend beyond unaccompanied minors. Ukrainian refugees, who fled to the UK following Russia’s invasion, now face risks of homelessness and exploitation according to a British Red Cross report. While the government’s schemes have provided a lifeline for many families, weaknesses in safeguarding procedures and insufficient support for hosts have left some Ukrainians in precarious situations
Discontent among asylum seekers is also evident in the recent sit-down protest on the Bibby Stockholm barge. Overcrowding, delays in processing asylum claims, and difficulties accessing medical treatment have led to growing frustrations among the approximately 400 residents. One asylum seeker described the vessel as a “hell barge,” underscoring the urgent need for improvements in temporary accommodation facilities.
The aftermath of Brexit continues to present challenges for EU citizens in the UK. Campaigners are urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to address issues with the EU settlement scheme, warning of potential parallels to the Windrush scandal if left unresolved. This call for action reflects ongoing concerns about the Home Office’s implementation of the Brexit withdrawal agreement and its impact on long-term residents.
On the education front, UK universities are facing a significant decline in international student applications, with figures showing a 28% drop compared to the previous year. This downturn is attributed to visa restrictions implemented by the previous government, potentially leading to financial challenges for higher education institutions heavily reliant on international student fees.
The labour market is also feeling the effects of changing immigration policies. Over 100 migrants employed by a care agency in Brighton now face the prospect of becoming illegal residents after the agency’s license to sponsor visas was revoked. This situation highlights the precarious position of many migrant workers and the potential impact on sectors reliant on foreign labour.
Looking ahead, the government has announced the second ballot for the India Young Professional Scheme 2024, offering opportunities for young Indian nationals to live and work in the UK for up to two years. However, this initiative comes against a backdrop of broader concerns about skills shortages in key industries, particularly in construction and renewable energy sectors crucial to Prime Minister Starmer’s plans for economic revitalization.
With the constant revisions to policies updates to the immigration landscape, it has become increasingly vital that immigration advisors remain fully abreast of the developments.
HJT continues to support immigration practitioners through its ‘Mastering Immigration Law’ subscription service. The latest edition, edited by Mark Symes, offers comprehensive coverage of recent changes, including explanations, examples, and practical guidance.
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For the full list of updates on media news, reports and Home Office Guidance and Policy updates, visit our blog below
Immigration News
Children missing from Home Office hotels likely to have been trafficked, report finds – The Guardian
Scores of asylum-seeking children are still missing from the UK’s Home Office hotels as a new report reveals that many are likely to have been trafficked.
The most recent figures show that 118 unaccompanied children remain unaccounted for, some as young as 12. The study, released on Wednesday, is the first to conclude that children placed inside the hotels were at “increased risk of trafficking”, contradicting Home Office claims that the youngsters were not exploited.
For full report, click here
Ukrainian refugees at risk of homelessness and exploitation in UK, report finds – The Guardian
A report by the humanitarian organization found that while overall the UK government’s schemes provided a lifeline to families seeking sanctuary, some Ukrainians faced weaknesses in safeguarding procedures and a lack of sufficient training and ongoing support for hosts.
For full report, click here
Asylum seekers on Bibby Stockholm barge stage sit-down protest – The Guardian
Dozens of asylum seekers living on the Bibby Stockholm barge are staging a sit-down protest over delays in processing their asylum claims, overcrowding conditions and trouble accessing medical treatment.
A man this week described the boat in Dorset as the “hell barge”. There are about 400 asylum seekers onboard, one of the highest rates of occupancy since it opened in 2022.
For full report, click here
Keir Starmer urged to quickly fix ‘broken’ EU settlement scheme – The Guardian
Keir Starmer must take quick steps to fix the “broken” Home Office settlement scheme for EU citizens who were in the country before Brexit to avoid a repeat of the Windrush scandal, campaigners have said.
The grassroots organization the3million and 75 other organizations including immigration law firms, civil rights groups and NGOs have written to the prime minister seeking a wholesale review of the Home Office’s implementation of the Brexit withdrawal agreement (WA).
For full report, click here
‘Sheer torment’: Home Office apologizes after asylum approvals retracted – The Guardian
The Home Office has apologized to asylum seekers granted leave to remain in the UK who then had their decisions retracted.
In some cases applicants were sent residence permits before being told by officials to cut them up.
For full report, click here
Four people drown trying to cross Channel near Boulogne-sur-Mer – The Guardian
Four people died overnight trying to cross the Channel to reach Britain, French officials have said.
For full report, click here
UK universities face growing struggle to recruit international students – The Guardian
UK universities face financial turmoil as figures from the Home Office show plunging numbers of international students applying for courses starting in the next academic year.
Applications for sponsored study visas have fallen by 28%, suggesting the visa restrictions applied by the previous government continue to hamper recruitment. The Home Office received 28,200 applications last month, compared with 38,900 in June 2023.
For full report, click here
More than 100 migrants face being in UK illegally as care agency is stripped of ability to endorse visas – SKY News
Foreigners employed by care agency Renaissance Personnel in Brighton have just weeks to find a new sponsor or return home before their legal right to be in the country runs out. The Home Office revoked the license of Renaissance to bring in migrant workers over concerns about whether vacancies were genuine and whether staff were being paid.
For full report, click here
How many people cross the Channel in small boats and how many claim asylum in the UK? – BBC News UK
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated he plans to curb small boat arrivals to the UK by taking tougher measures to “smash” criminal people smuggling gangs. Mr Starmer’s Labour Party has pledged to use investigators and counter-terror powers against people smugglers.
For full report, click here
UK announces second ballot for India Young Professional Scheme 2024 – The Economic Times
The UK Home Office has unveiled details for the second and final ballot of 2024 under the India Young Professional Scheme, aimed at facilitating young Indian nationals to live, work, and study in the United Kingdom for up to 24 months.
The ballot period opens on July 16, 2024, at 13:30 Indian Standard Time and closes on July 18, 2024, at the same time. Interested applicants, aged between 18-30 years old or turning 18 by the travel date, with a bachelor’s degree or higher, savings of GBP 2,530, and no dependent children under 18, are eligible to apply.
For full report, click here
UK’s new PM has a plan to rebuild Britain. But he’s short on one crucial thing skilled workers- The Economic Times
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s promise to “get Britain building again” will quickly face a shortage of skilled workers in the very industries he’s hoping will power the turnaround.
The UK is facing a supply crunch of builders, solar-panel installers and engineers, raising questions about who will carry out Starmer’s mission to radically expand clean power and build 1.5 million homes over the next five years. While the Labour Party has pledged to expand training in key sectors, the scale of the shortages suggest they will slow early efforts to ramp up activity in those sectors.
For full report, click here
Case Law
Secretary of State for the Home Department v Rexhaj [2024] EWCA Civ 784.
The Court of Appeal’s decision in SSHD v Rexhaj [2024] EWCA Civ 784 clarified a key point in the interpretation of the EU Settlement Scheme rules. The court held that individuals who were granted a family permit under Appendix EU (Family Permit) based on assumed dependency prior to July 1, 2021, must provide evidence of actual dependency when applying for leave to remain under Appendix EU after that date.
The court further that Appendix EU and Appendix EU (Family Permit) are separate appendices of the immigration rules, despite working in tandem to some degree. Consequently, a grant under Appendix EU (Family Permit) does not constitute a grant under Appendix EU itself, meaning applicants like Mrs. Rexhaj are not exempt from the post-July 1, 2021, requirement to evidence their dependency on their sponsor.
For full decision, visit here
Home Office Guidance and Policy Document updates
Guidance: Transferring refugee status – interim notice: caseworker has been updated on 16th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Exemptions for visa applications: caseworker has been updated on 16th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors workers has been updated on 16th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors students has been updated on 16th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: India Young Professionals Scheme visa ballot system has been updated on 16th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Zimbabwe country policy and information notes has been updated on 15th July 2024. To View updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Powers and operational procedure caseworker has been updated on 15th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: China tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Applications, renewals and services SMS guide 3 has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Customer services safeguarding strategy caseworker has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Albania: country policy and information notes has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Tuberculosis testing in the UAE has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Malaysia country policy and information notes has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: UK tuberculosis test clinics has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: South Korea tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Brazil country policy and information notes has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Iraq country policy and information notes has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Nepal tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Pakistan country policy and information notes has been updated on 12th July 2024. To view updated Guidance, click here