Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 28 March 2025
UK immigration developments this week reveal significant judicial oversight of Home Office decisions alongside mounting challenges for prospective migrants and educational institutions. The Court of Appeal in R (Tomlinson) v Secretary of State for the Home Department established that the Home Office is bound by previous tribunal findings in law unless circumstances significantly change, with judges emphasising that this principle applies regardless of whether decisions relate to different immigration categories. The case highlighted the tragic human costs of administrative delays when Mr Tomlinson’s appeal against a spouse visa refusal succeeded only after his British wife had died.
Meanwhile, the High Court confirmed in R (Secretary of State for the Home Department) v First-tier Tribunal (Asylum Support) that asylum seekers can challenge decisions deeming their claims withdrawn when appealing against termination of support. This ruling is particularly relevant given the reported increase in implicitly withdrawn claims from 12% in 2022 to 18% in 2023, providing vulnerable asylum seekers with access to the tribunal’s expedited 14-day appeal process rather than relying on judicial review.
Against this backdrop of judicial scrutiny, the University of Lincoln has joined calls for reconsideration of visa restrictions preventing international students from bringing families to the UK. The university reported a 51% drop in international student allocations following these changes, despite Home Office figures showing numbers still 46% higher than 2019 levels. Students from countries including Nigeria, Afghanistan and Vietnam described paying up to £30,000 annually for UK education, with currency exchange rates amplifying these costs.
Further pressure on migrants will come from visa fee increases announced this week, taking effect from 9 April. Health and Care Worker visas will see the sharpest jump at 28.2%, while Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation visas increase by 26.3%. Student visas will rise from £490 to £524, and the Electronic Travel Authorisation fee will increase by 60% from 2nd April 2025.
These developments collectively indicate increasing complexity and costs within the UK immigration system, with judicial challenges exposing potential systemic issues in Home Office decision-making. For immigration advisors, these changes suggest closer attention must be paid to precedent in tribunal decisions, while universities’ concerns about falling international student numbers reflect significant immigration policy implications beyond economic concerns alone.
In response to the sweeping UK immigration changes taking effect on 9th April 2025, HJT Training is offering essential bite-size courses to help immigration advisors navigate the current developments.
HJT’s targeted sessions include the timely Skilled Worker Masterclass (26th March) and The Myth of Self Sponsorship (30th April), alongside upcoming courses on Judicial Review for IAA Advisors (3rd June), Travelling to the EU and Schengen Area (11th June), and the Sponsor Licence Masterclass (9th July).
These compact professional development opportunities are specifically designed to address recent precedent-setting judgments, fee increases, and practical strategies for challenging flawed Home Office decisions, ensuring advisors can confidently guide clients through these complex changes whilst maintaining regulatory compliance.
With limited spaces available, early booking is recommended to secure this crucial training.
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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
Post-Brexit reliance on NHS staff from ‘red list’ countries is unethical, Streeting says – The Guardian
Brexit has left the NHS increasingly dependent on doctors and nurses from poor “red list” countries, from which the World Health Organization says it is wrong to recruit. The health service in England has hired tens of thousands of health staff from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe since the UK left the EU single market at the end of 2020.
For full report, click here
UK visa fees for visitors, students, workers to rise by up to 28% in April – Business Standard
Come April, and travelling or studying in the United Kingdom will become costlier for Indians. The UK government on March 19, 2025 announced higher visa fees across all categories, including student and visitor visas, as well as electronic travel authorisations. The changes will take effect from April 9, 2025.
For full report, click here
UK government considering offshore ‘migrant hubs’ for failed asylum seekers – Arab News
LONDON: The UK government is exploring the possibility of sending failed asylum seekers, including small boat arrivals, to overseas “migrant hubs”. A Home Office source told political correspondent Amanda Akass that discussions were in the “very early stages,” with ministers closely examining Italy’s agreement with Albania, where two facilities process asylum seekers offshore.
For full report, click here
UK issues travel warning for US – News Nation
The United Kingdom updated its advice for travel to the United States on Thursday, warning of harsh consequences for British passport holders who violate U.S. immigration laws. The notice comes just a day after Germany updated its travel advice after three of its citizens were detained trying to enter the U.S.
For full report, click here
Government to drop asylum hotel provider – BBC News UK
The government will end a contract with Stay Belvedere Hotels (SBHL) provides around a quarter of Home Office asylum accommodation across 51 hotels in England and Wales, and also operates Napier Barracks in Kent – which houses people awaiting asylum decisions and is due to close in September.
For full report, click here
Numbers drop in overseas student applications – BBC News UK
The University of Lincoln is joining other universities across the country calling for the government to reconsider its decision to impose visa restrictions on international students. The restrictions, introduced at the start of 2024, prevents some students from bringing their families with them to the UK. The government said the new rules were part of measures to curb immigration.
For full report, click here
CASE LAW
R (Tomlinson) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWCA Civ.
This Court of Appeal ruled that the Home Office was unlawfully bound by a previous First-tier Tribunal decision when it refused Mr Tomlinson’s spouse visa application on the same grounds (his criminal conviction) that had already been addressed in the tribunal’s Article 8 assessment.
For full report, click here
R (Secretary of State for the Home Department) v First-tier Tribunal (Asylum Support) [2025] EWHC 694 (Admin)
The High Court decision confirmed that the First-tier Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear appeals against the withdrawal of asylum support under section 103 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, crucially allowing the tribunal to examine whether an asylum claim was validly treated as withdrawn by the Home Office.
For full report, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Guidance: Botswana: tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 24th March 2025. To View the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Kazakhstan: tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 24th March 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 24th March 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 24th March 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Paraguay: tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 24th March 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 24th March 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Biometric information: caseworker has been updated on 24th March 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Form: Worker and Temporary Worker priority service request has been updated on 21st March 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.
