Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 29 August 2025
This week has delivered a cascade of developments that collectively signal the most significant transformation of UK immigration, when it comes to asylum policies and regime.
The Home Office has published new statistics showing asylum approval rates have dropped to 48% – the first time they’ve fallen below 50% in years. This is down from 77% in September 2022. The change comes from tougher evidence requirements under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
Different nationalities are seeing very different outcomes. Afghan applicants now have only a 40% success rate, down from 96%. Turkish applicants have dropped from 51% to 19%. However, people from Sudan and Syria still see 98% approval rates, whilst Eritreans maintain 87%.
Despite lower approval rates, more people are applying for asylum than ever before. The UK received 111,084 asylum claims this year – the highest number on record. Pakistan leads with 11,234 claims, followed by Afghanistan with 8,281. Interestingly, 37% of asylum seekers first entered the UK legally on visas, compared to 39% who arrived by small boat.
The Government has managed to reduce the backlog of people waiting for initial asylum decisions by 18%, bringing it down to 70,532 cases. However, this has created a new problem as more people are now appealing negative decisions, creating pressure in the appeals system.
To tackle this, the Government is creating a new independent body to handle asylum appeals. This will replace the current tribunal system, which has 106,000 cases waiting and average wait times of 53 weeks. The new system will prioritise cases involving people in asylum accommodation and foreign criminals.
At the same time, enforcement activity has increased. Operation Equalize targeted illegal working in the delivery industry, stopping 1,780 people and making 280 arrests. The operation focused on delivery riders working without proper permission. As a result, 53 people are having their asylum support reviewed, which could mean losing accommodation or payments.
The Government has given Immigration Enforcement an extra £5 million to increase these operations. This comes from a larger £100 million investment in border security. The Home Office has also made agreements with Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat to share information about asylum hotel locations to help identify illegal working.
Work visas have also been affected, with grants falling by 32%. Work-specific visas are down 48%, and Health and Care Worker visas have dropped by 77%. This reflects tougher checks on employers in healthcare and social care.
The Government is making these changes permanent through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. This will require all employers, including gig economy companies, to check workers’ right to work. It will also tighten rules around human rights appeals.
These changes are part of the Government’s plan to reduce asylum hotel use. Hotel numbers have fallen from over 400 to just over 200, cutting costs by 11%. The aim is to process cases faster and return people more quickly.
For immigration advisors, these changes mean adapting to tougher evidence requirements for asylum cases and new appeals procedures. The increased enforcement activity also means advising clients more carefully about compliance requirements.
This ever-changing system means immigration advisors need to stay updated across all areas of practice. HJT offers a range of courses for the new season to help with this.
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For the full list of updates on media news, reports and Home Office Guidance and Policy updates, SEE BELOW
Immigration News
Home Office plans to halve time asylum seekers given to find accommodation – The Guardian
Refugee charities have said thousands of people in the UK could find themselves homeless on the streets this winter after the Home Office quietly reversed its asylum accommodation policy. The ministers plan to halve the time asylum seekers are given to find new accommodation after getting a decision on their case, from 56 to 28 days. For full report, click here
More than 100 people detained for removal after arriving in small boats, says UK Government – The Guardian
More than 100 people who have crossed the Channel on small boats have been detained before potential removal to France, under the new “one in, one out” scheme. No one has yet been granted a safe route to the UK, a Government source told the Guardian, after reports that migrants in Calais were becoming frustrated with a lack of response when they tried to apply. For full report, click here
Reform councillor works on asylum claims for Home Office, investigation reveals – The Guardian
Campaigners have complained to the Home Office after it was revealed a councillor for Reform UK also works for the Government department processing asylum and immigration claims. Paul Bean, who serves as a councillor for Crook ward at Durham County council, declared his day job as a civil servant at the Home Office in his register of interests. For full report, click here
Home Office promises ‘big surge’ in asylum hotel closures in new year – The Guardian
The Home Office has promised a “big surge” in asylum hotel closures in the new year, with five more to shut in the coming months, as ministers face mounting pressure over the Government’s record on immigration. The Home Office minister Angela Eagle said the Government had inherited a “border security system in tatters” and accused opposition parties of offering “the fag packet plans without the substance on delivery” For full report, click here
Nigel Farage rolls back on vow to deport all small-boat arrivals to the UK – The Guardian
Nigel Farage has rolled back on his pledge to deport “absolutely anyone” arriving in the UK on small boats just 24 hours after making it at a combative press conference in Oxford that led to accusations of ugly and destructive rhetoric. For full report, click here
Home Office to overhaul asylum appeals system as it tries to clear claims backlog – The Guardian
Yvette Cooper will prevent judges from hearing appeals from rejected asylum seekers as part of Government plans to clear the claims backlog more quickly. The Home Secretary will set up a new system of “professional adjudicators” to hear cases brought by people who have had their asylum claims turned down as the Government looks for ways to process tens of thousands of cases. For full report, click here
Protests expected at asylum hotels across UK as tensions mount – The Guardian
Dozens of protests outside hotels used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers are expected over the weekend across Britain amid mounting tensions over the issue. Figures released this week showed there were more than 32,000 asylum seekers in hotels, marking a rise of 8% during Labour’s first year in office. For full report, click here
Chinese restaurant loses licence after illegal worker fine
The White Horse in Sandhurst, near Gloucester, was visited by Home Office inspectors in August last year. They found three workers from Indonesia who had no right to work in the UK. The Home Office handed the £135,000 civil penalty to the owner’s company R&R (Gloucester) and called for the restaurant’s council-issued licence to be revoked. For full report, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Guidance: Restricted leave: caseworker has been updated on 27th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 27th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 27th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Giving evidence in court: caseworker has been updated on 27th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Offender management: caseworker has been updated on 27th August 2025. To view the update Guidance, click here
Statistical data set: Migration transparency data has been updated on 26th August 2025. To view the updated Statistical data set, click here
Transparency data: Country returns guide has been updated on 26th August 2025. To view the updated Transparency data, click here
Guidance: Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT) has been updated on 26th August 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.
