Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 7 March 2025
This week has seen significant developments across UK immigration policy and case law. From extensions to eVisa grace period to landmark court decisions on trafficking claims and visa procedures.
This week, the Home Office has extended the eVisa ‘grace period’ from 31 March 2025 to 1 June 2025, providing additional time for visa holders to transition to the digital system. This extension aims to ensure no one is disadvantaged during the implementation process. In parallel, the UK is completing the final stage of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rollout. From today, eligible Europeans can apply for an ETA, which will become mandatory for travel to the UK from 2 April 2025. This follows last year’s successful implementation for non-European nationals, with approximately 1.1 million ETAs already issued.
The immigration advice setting is also evolving, with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) launching new promotional materials aimed at helping individuals understand the importance of seeking regulated immigration advice. These resources include digital posters and leaflets, available in 24 languages, which can be freely downloaded and shared with clients to help them navigate the immigration advice landscape and avoid unregulated advisors.
The past week has seen several notable court decisions with significant implications for immigration practice. In R (AAM) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 447 (Admin), the High Court determined that kidnapping for ransom can constitute human trafficking, overturning the Home Office’s rejection of a Syrian national’s trafficking claim. The judgment clarifies that victims of kidnapping may qualify for trafficking protections, with each case requiring individual assessment. This ruling may benefit migrants who experience abduction and ransom situations during their journeys.
In a related development regarding trafficking victims, the Court of Appeal in Secretary of State for the Home Department v S & VLT [2025] EWCA Civ 188 ruled that the Home Office can legitimately exclude victims of trafficking who are subject to deportation proceedings from benefiting from special transitional provisions available to other trafficking victims. The court found this distinction lawful and not discriminatory, confirming Parliament’s prioritisation of removing those subjects to deportation orders.
Procedural correctness has also been emphasised by the Court of Session in Owusu v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] CSOH 22, which overturned a Home Office decision denying entry to a Ghanaian student. Lady Haldane ruled that officials incorrectly attempted to “refuse” a visa that had already been granted, rather than properly “cancelling” it. The case establishes that immigration authorities must follow the correct legal procedure based on an individual’s actual immigration status when they arrive at the UK border.
Meanwhile, a concerning report by Together with Migrant Children and the Public Law Project titled “Experiences of accessing education in asylum accommodation” has revealed significant delays for asylum-seeking children accessing education. Based on responses from 49 organisations, 76% reported issues with school placement, with delays commonly exceeding four weeks and sometimes extending beyond a year. Key issues identified include the Home Office’s failure to consider school place availability when allocating accommodation, placement of families in areas with already oversubscribed schools, lack of alternative educational provision, financial barriers including transport costs and uniform requirements, and frequent relocations disrupting children’s education. The research is being used to prepare a potential judicial review challenging the Home Office’s housing policy on grounds it may violate sections 14 and 19 of the Education Act 1996.
Alongside these policy developments, the government continues its robust approach to illegal migration and working. Between July 2024 and 31 January 2025, immigration enforcement conducted more arrests than ever. The Home Office also issued 1,090 civil penalty notices, with employers facing potential fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker. These intelligence-led operations have targeted individuals who entered the UK through various routes, including Channel crossings and visa overstayers, with recent operations in the Southeast resulting in continued arrest of individuals for working in breach of their entry conditions.
Amid heightened enforcement, employers must now ensure efficient right to work checks and proper Certificates of Sponsorship for all overseas staff. Additionally, the Home Office has significantly increased scrutiny of employment relationships, challenging many self-sponsorship arrangements. Advisors engaged in these complexities will benefit from HJT’s specialist online courses on Skilled Worker Masterclass and The Myth of Self-Sponsorship, led by Sacha Wooldridge, which cover the latest regulatory changes and practical scenarios.
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As immigration practitioners, staying informed about these developments is essential for providing accurate advice and effective representation to clients navigating the UK’s increasingly complex immigration system.
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.
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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
Millions have now taken action to access their eVisa
To support a continued smooth transition to eVisas, and ensure no one is disadvantaged, the Home Office is extending the ‘grace period’ announced in December 2024. We committed to keep this transitional measure under review and we are extending the end date from 31 March 2025 to 1 June 2025.
For full report, click here
New resources to help access reliable immigration advice – UKVI News
The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) has launched a range of new promotional materials aimed at helping people understand the importance of seeking regulated immigration advice, the risks of unregulated advice, and how to report poor or illegal advice. These materials, available for free download, include digital posters and leaflets. To ensure accessibility, they have been translated into 23 languages, alongside English, to reach communities across the UK.
For full report, click here
UK to extend electronic travel to European visitors – UKVI News
The UK government is taking the last major step in the rollout of Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for the millions of visitors who pass through the UK border every year. From today, eligible Europeans can apply for an ETA and will need one to travel to the UK from Wednesday 2 April 2025.
For full report, click here
UK expands campaign to stop migrant smugglers and their lies – UKVI News
Digital advertising launched today in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) as part of the government’s international campaign to warn prospective migrants about people smugglers’ lies, expanding on the campaigns in Vietnam and Albania.
For full report, click here
‘Stop the boats’ slogan was too stark, says Rishi Sunak – The Guardian
The “stop the boats” slogan was “too stark”, Rishi Sunak has said, reflecting on his time in office, adding that he even regrets ever using the phrase because it was “too binary”. The former prime minister, who led the Conservative party to one of its worst election defeats in history, described it as one of the main lessons he had learned from his time in Downing Street.
For full report, click here
Channel migrant dinghy tragedy ‘entirely predictable’, inquiry hears – The Guardian
An inquiry into the biggest ever loss of life in a migrant dinghy in the Channel has heard that it was “entirely predictable” that a catastrophic event involving mass casualties would occur. The Cranston inquiry began hearing evidence on Monday into how at least 27 people drowned on 24 November 2021 in the narrow stretch of water separating the UK from France.
For full report, click here
Asylum seekers being forcibly expelled at EU borders, says top rights lawyer – The Guardian
Europe’s most senior human rights official has said there is evidence of asylum seekers being forcibly expelled at EU borders, as he urged mainstream politicians not to concede to populists on migration.
The commissioner for human rights at the Council of Europe, Michael O’Flaherty, told the Guardian he was concerned about the treatment of asylum seekers at the EU’s external borders in Poland and Greece, as he warned against a “securitisation response” that goes too far.
For full report, click here
Keir Starmer to carry out largest cut to UK overseas aid in history – The Guardian
Sir Keir Starmer is to take UK overseas aid to its lowest level as a percentage of national income since records began, even if he manages to halve the current £4.5bn cost of housing asylum seekers.
The extraordinary finding, a complete reversal of Labour manifesto pledges and its historical commitment to helping the world’s poorest, is made by Ian Mitchell, the co-director of the respected London-based thinktank the Centre for Global Development.
For full report, click here
How migrant workers are saving the NHS from crisis – BBC News UK
New figures show hospitals across the West Country are being kept running partly thanks to migrant workers. About 25% of staff at Bristol’s Southmead and Swindon’s Great Western Hospital are from overseas. This equates to about 1,375 jobs in GWH and 3,250 roles in Southmead, according to NHS data.
For full report, click here
‘Wanting immigration controlled doesn’t make me racist’ – BBC News UK
Streets of empty shops, homelessness and crime rates are just some of the things casting a shadow over the seaside town of Bournemouth. Known as a holidaymaker’s haven, the Dorset town last year also became the venue of a number of anti-immigration demonstrations and counter protests.
For full report, click here
Staff from 100 countries working at Devon hospital – BBC News UK
People from 100 different countries are working for a hospital trust in Devon. International clinicians hired to roles in Devon include consultant cardiologist Ash Kotecha who has worked in the NHS since 2003 and at the Royal Devon and Exeter (RD&E) Hospital for 15 years.
For full report, click here
Mayors call for PM to visit Calais migrant camps – BBC News UK
Mayors in northern France have called on Sir Keir Starmer to visit the region to better understand the impact of small boat crossings in the region. In a message to the prime minister, the mayor of Ambleteuse, Stéphane Pinto, said co-operation between the two countries was “a must”.
For full report, click here
Man living in UK since 1995 fighting to bring wife – BBC News UK
A man from Kenya who has lived in the UK for 30 years is taking the next step in a long and expensive legal battle to bring his wife and family here. Henry Maina got married in 2020 and said he had spent £25,000 trying to bring his family together, including his daughter and his wife’s two sons from a previous relationship.
For full report, click here
‘South West labour market has shifted since Brexit’ – BBC News UK
A North Devon charity which provides English language lessons has noticed a shift in the demographic of the South West labour market since Brexit, bosses say. Latest government figures show a decline in the number of National Insurance Numbers (NINos) being issued to people born in the EU and an increase in those for people born in Africa and Asia.
For full report, click here
Migration: How many people come to work and study in the UK and what are the rules? – BBC News UK
Official figures show that 728,000 people came to the UK in the year to June 2024 – fewer than in the previous 12 months. The fall was greater than expected because the estimated number of people who came in the year to June 2023 was revised up sharply, to 906,000.
For full report, click here
How many people cross the Channel in small boats and how many claim asylum? – BBC News UK
Almost 37,000 people crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2024. The number of people claiming asylum in the UK during the year to December 2024 was the highest since records began, in 1979.
For full report, click here
Facts on migrants key to cohesion – charity boss – BBC News UK
Work to bring people together in Plymouth is “more needed than ever” six months after violent immigration-related protests, a local community group leader says. David Feindouno is the founder of Plymouth Hope, a charity which runs events to strengthen bonds between people from different cultures.
For full report, click here
Illegal workers told ‘you will be arrested’ – BBC News UK
During recent operations in the Southeast, three Romanians were arrested at a factory in east Kent on suspicion of working in breach of their entry conditions and overstaying.
For full report, click here
Case Law
R (AAM) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 447 (Admin)
The High Court ruled that kidnapping for ransom can constitute human trafficking, overturning the Home Office’s rejection of a Syrian man’s trafficking claim. The judgment confirms that victims of kidnapping may qualify for trafficking protections, with each case to be assessed on its specific facts. This decision will likely benefit many migrants who experience similar abduction and ransom situations during their journeys.
For full decision, click here
Owusu v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] CSOH 22
The Court of Session overturned the Home Office’s decision to deny entry to a Ghanaian student. Lady Haldane ruled that officials incorrectly attempted to “refuse” a visa that had already been granted, rather than properly “cancelling” it. The Home Office’s reasoning was deemed inadequate and legally flawed as they wrongly considered the visa had been “issued in error” and had been previously “refused”. The case clarifies that immigration authorities must follow the correct legal procedure based on an individual’s actual immigration status when they arrive at the UK border.
For full decision, click here
Secretary of State for the Home Department v S & VLT [2025] EWCA Civ 188
The Court of Appeal ruled that the Home Office can legitimately exclude victims of trafficking who are subject to deportation proceedings from special transitional provisions that benefit other trafficking victims. While some victims can have their cases assessed under more favourable previous guidance, those facing deportation must be considered under current policy. The court found this distinction is lawful and does not constitute discrimination, as Parliament has clearly prioritised the removal of those subject to deportation orders.
For full decision, click here
Independent Reports
Experiences of accessing education in asylum accommodation, report by Together with Migrant Children and the Public Law Project
A new report reveals asylum-seeking children face severe delays accessing education, with 76% of surveyed organisations reporting placement issues exceeding four weeks, sometimes extending beyond a year. The research highlights that the Home Office fails to consider school availability when allocating accommodation, often placing families in oversubscribed, economically deprived areas. Additional barriers include lack of alternative education, financial constraints, language difficulties, and frequent relocations disrupting children’s education. The findings are being used to prepare a potential judicial review challenging Home Office policy on grounds it may violate the Education Act 1996.
For full report, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Form: Windrush Scheme application form (UK) has been updated 05th March 2025. To view the updated Form, click here
Guidance: Criminal casefiles: caseworker has been updated on 05th March 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 05th March 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 05th 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 05th march 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Check if you can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) has been updated on 05th march 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Visa concessions for government staff in Ukraine: caseworker has been updated on 04th March 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Sri Lanka: country policy and information has been updated on 04th March 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Asylum claims from UK visa applicants: caseworker has been updated on 03rd March 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Biometric registration regulations: draft code of practice has been Published on 03rd march 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Powers and operational procedure: caseworker has been updated on 28th February 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Algeria: tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 28th February 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Illegal working penalties: UK report has been updated on 28th February 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Illegal working civil penalties: anonymous UK report has been updated on 28th February 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.
