News Update – 5 June 2026
This week has brought several significant developments, mostly touching on, student sponsor compliance, worker migration rules, and employer obligations.
The Home Office published updated caseworker guidance on illegal working as a breach of asylum support conditions on 2nd June 2026. The new Guidance formalises the position that illegal working can now be treated as a trigger for suspension or withdrawal of asylum support under sections 98, 95, 4(2) and 4(3) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
The Guidance is directed at caseworkers and asylum accommodation providers and sits within a broader policy shift, following an earlier update in March 2026 which added illegal working as a discrete ground for stopping or suspending support.
Whilst the published page does not yet set out detailed procedural steps or evidence requirements, its practical significance is clear; where a client’s work history is in question, advisers must now assess that history alongside the specific category of asylum support in place.
Also taking effect on 1st June 2026 are revised Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) metrics for universities holding student sponsor licences, accompanied by a new Red, Amber, Green (RAG) rating system.
First trailed in the 2025 immigration White Paper, the framework measures institutions against three performance indicators: visa refusal rates, enrolment rates, and course completion rates. To remain compliant, a university must keep its visa refusal rate below 5%, its enrolment rate at or above 95%, and its course completion rate at or above 90%. Institutions seeking a Green rating face even tighter thresholds, a refusal rate below 4%, enrolment of at least 96%, and completion of at least 92%. Critically, an institution’s overall RAG status is determined by its weakest performance area, not an average across the three. Universities falling into the Red category risk UKVI intervention and could ultimately lose the ability to sponsor international students altogether.
The new framework as places universities within the most demanding sponsorship compliance environment of any sector in the country. Particular concern has been raised about the spike in credibility-based visa refusals seen during the January 2026 intake, many of which were reportedly subjective or inadequately reasoned. If that trend continues, it will feed directly into RAG scores, a point of acute concern given that administrative reviews can take up to six months, often outlasting the start date of a student’s course.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has expressed disappointment that its representations to government do not appear to have been reflected in the published guidance and has committed to monitoring the system’s operation closely. The sector is broadly supportive of robust compliance, but the consensus among practitioners is that the current framework leaves institutions exposed to factors entirely outside their control.
The tightening of immigration compliance requirements is not confined to England and Wales. The Isle of Man’s Manx Government brought updated rules for its Worker Migrant Route into force on 2 June 2026, broadly realigning its immigration framework with the UK’s Skilled Worker Visa.
Under the revised rules, all vacancies must first be advertised within the Isle of Man for 14 days and across the Common Travel Area for a further 14 days before any overseas recruitment can commence. Only workers on a higher-skilled visa are now permitted to bring dependent family members, and new salary thresholds have been introduced alongside a restriction on changing employers within the first 12 months of a visa.
The changes are designed to protect against low-wage migration and exploitation, whilst preserving employers’ access to essential skills. Those already resident and working in the Isle of Man under a valid Worker Migrant visa will not be affected by the new requirements. A landmark employment tribunal ruling handed down in May 2026 has cast a spotlight on the exploitation of migrant workers within the UK’s sponsored work regime. An overseas worker who came to the UK through the post-Brexit skilled worker visa route to take up a care role, was awarded nearly £30,000 after his sponsor, Swan Care Solutions Ltd, failed to provide him with a single day of work across an entire year.
A migrant care worker paid £17,000 to agents and moved to the UK for a sponsored job, but his employer gave him no work for a year. Because his visa limited him to 20 hours a week with another employer, he had no realistic way to support himself and had to rely on charity and food banks.
The employment tribunal found the employer had treated him unfairly and ordered it to pay wages, holiday pay, and compensation. The employer’s sponsorship licence had already been revoked. The case has led to calls for changes to the skilled worker visa system so migrant workers can switch employers more easily if they are mistreated.
Rounding off this week’s developments, a Bradford takeaway has lost its late-night licence and jeopardising its sponsor licence following a Home Office raid which uncovered three individuals working illegally on the premises. Bradford Council’s licensing panel revoked the licence of Salah’s on Leeds Road after the raid, which had taken place earlier in May 2025.
All three men were found in the kitchen or wearing staff attire, yet each denied being employed there. One had an outstanding asylum appeal and was permitted only to work in Shortage Occupation List roles a category that does not include takeaway work. The business had been fined £80,000 in connection with the illegal workers and had yet to pay.
The Home Office representative at the hearing emphasised that access to illegal work remains a key driver of irregular migration and leaves vulnerable individuals open to employer exploitation. The panel found no confidence that the licence holder would uphold the licensing objective of preventing crime and disorder and revoked the licence accordingly.
The case is a further reminder that right-to-work checks are not optional, and that failure to carry them out carries serious and lasting consequences for a business.
Sponsor compliance is firmly in the spotlight this week, and the risks for licence holders are real. As an immigration advisor, if you are dealing with business clients that is inclusive of sponsor licence, sponsored workers or student sponsors, HJT Training’s live 90 minutes webinar Managing Home Office Audits on Thursday 25 June 2026, is not one to miss. Led by Sacha Wooldridge, the session covers what Home Office compliance teams are actively looking for and how to conduct an effective internal audit before they come to you. For more information or to book, visit HERE
For assistance with booking or enquiries, contact enquiries@hjt-training.co.uk or 075 4416 4692.
For the full list of updates on media news SEE BELOW
News
International court rejects Rwanda’s claim over UK migration deal
An international court has ruled that the United Kingdom does not need to pay Rwanda more than 100 million British pounds ($134m) in compensation over a scrapped migrant deportation deal. The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration on Monday rejected all financial claims brought by Kigali, which had argued that Britain should honour the terms of the controversial asylum plan, which was cancelled by London in 2024. To read the full article, visit here
Home Office sends letters to children as young as five saying they must leave UK – The Guardian
Children as young as five who are living legally in the UK are being told by the Home Office they must leave the country even if their parents have been given permission to remain. To read the full article, visit here
Migrant worker rules tightened to reduce exploitation risk – The Guardian
The Manx Government has updated its Worker Migrant Route to broadly align its immigration system with the UK’s Skilled Worker Visa. The key changes see priority given to those with higher skilled roles, as well as prioritising recruitment locally and from within the British Isles, ahead of those from outside the common travel area (CTA) made up of the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. To read the full article, visit here
New UKVI compliance metrics for universities takes effect – PIE News
Highly anticipated and controversial new compliance requirements for UK universities come into force this week, with immigration specialists warning the measures could have “potentially devastating consequences” for institutions that fail to meet increasingly stringent benchmarks. To read the full article, visit here
The Guardian view on migrant workers’ rights: a tribunal win has shone a light on a broken system – The Guardian
The risk of mistreatment for overseas workers recruited for jobs in the UK on health and care visas is well established. Examples range from rip-off agents’ fees and illegally low pay to conditions akin to debt bondage, with passports and wages withheld. To read the full article, visit here
Indian man awarded almost £30,000 after UK employer failed to provide work – The Guardian
An Indian citizen who came to the UK to work as a care worker through the post-Brexit visa scheme has been awarded nearly £30,000 in a landmark case, because his employer failed to give him a single day of work for a year. To read the full article, visit here
UK Government acted unlawfully by forcing torture survivors to share rooms, court rules -The Guardian
Shabana Mahmood’s plan to house more asylum seekers in former army barracks is facing a major hurdle after the high court ruled that a policy change forcing torture victims to share rooms was unlawful. To read the full article, visit here
Takeaway loses licence over illegal workers – BBC News
A takeaway in Bradford has had its late-night food licence revoked after three illegal immigrants were found working in the kitchen. Bradford Council’s licensing panel stripped Salah’s on Leeds Road of its right to open this week. To read the full article, visit here
Key people smuggler arrested after BBC uncovered identity – BBC News
A high-level people smuggler identified in a BBC investigation has been arrested in Iraqi Kurdistan. A network run by Kardo Jaf, who operates under the alias Kardo Ranya, is believed to have transported thousands of illegal migrants in small boats across the English Channel into the UK in recent years. To read the full article, visit here
EU pushes through migration overhaul with more deportations and detention centres abroad – Independent
The European Union has pushed through a sweeping overhaul of its migration policy, a move designed to accelerate deportations and establish contentious detention centres abroad. To read the full article, visit here
Case Law
Davis, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 1329 (Admin)
The High Court found that the Claimant was unlawfully detained at Heathrow Airport on 20 August 2023 due to the SSHD’s failure to remove a STOP marker, despite the Claimant holding valid leave to remain, a breach constituting false imprisonment. Although the SSHD’s broader detention policy was upheld and the Claimant’s Articles 5 and 8 ECHR claims were dismissed. The Court found that the SSHD had breached the Public Sector Equality Duty under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 by failing to consider equality impacts when exercising powers under the Immigration Act. To view the full decision, visit here
Freedom from Torture v SSHD [2026] EWHC 1278 (Admin)
The High Court ruled that the Home Office acted unlawfully when it removed long-standing accommodation protections for torture and trafficking survivors without consulting specialist charities Freedom from Torture and the Helen Bamber Foundation, without properly assessing the equality impact on vulnerable asylum seekers, and without making adequate inquiries into the likely harm caused by the changes. To view the full decision, visit here
Home Office Guidance and Policy Updates
Guidance: Cameroon- tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 3rd June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: About country policy and information notes has been updated on 3rd June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors -workers has been updated on 3rd June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors – students has been updated on 3rd June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Form AN has been updated on 3rd June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Kazakhstan- tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 2nd June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Collection: Asylum support (asylum instructions) has been updated on 2nd June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Caseworker Guidance: Illegal working as a breach of conditions has been updated on 2nd June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Iran- country policy and information notes has been updated on 1st June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Promotional material video: Apply for a UK visitor visa has been updated on 1st June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Student Sponsor has been updated on 1st June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Moldova tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 1st June 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Facial age estimation has been published on 29th May 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: UKRI endorsement: employing or hosting institutions (Global Talent visa) has been updated on 29th May 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Illegal working penalties: UK report has been updated on 29th May 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Illegal working civil penalties – anonymous UK report has been updated on 29th May 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Form RR: Correct a registration or naturalisation certificate has been updated on 29th May 2026. To view the updated Form, visit here
Guidance: Ukraine – tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 28th May 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Collection: Funding instructions for resettlement programmes has been updated on 28th May 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Written by Shareen Khan- Legal Content Writer, HJT Training
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.