Drumroll please……Major updates to UK Immigration unfolded this week.
As of April 12th, 2023, UK immigration rules have undergone significant changes in response to the latest Statement of Changes. In line with the collection of Rules, several caseworker Guidance and Appendices have also been updated.
Notably, the Skilled Worker route has been expanded, including a revised list of eligible occupations and a lower minimum salary threshold. This change reflects the UK government’s efforts to attract skilled workers, promote economic growth, and address labour market needs in key sectors.
Similarly, an important update has been made to the rules regarding Appendix FM, which relates to family members of individuals already residing in the UK. The update aims to streamline and clarify the requirements for family members, including spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, children, and dependent relatives, to join or remain with their loved ones in the UK. The changes provide additional guidance on evidentiary requirements, financial thresholds, and English language requirements, with a focus on ensuring family unity and protecting vulnerable individuals. This update to Appendix FM reflects the UK government’s commitment to facilitating family reunification, while maintaining the integrity of the immigration system.
There is an exhaustive list from the Immigration Rules which have been updated this week, comprising of various PBS routes, visitor visa, family visa and deportation. We have itemised each one of the updates in a list for ease to our readers.
Another important update comes through the Home Office meeting with PRCBC on how British Nationality Law applies to people born to EU Citizen parents between 1983-2000.
Concerning news this week, as the media reported a rise in diphtheria cases in asylum seekers, calling out for better care for the vulnerable. Activits and lawyers in the UK continue to advocate for better housing as the Government’s plan to house several migrants in Portland Port near Weymouth, which has already been criticised for poor living conditions.
This and more covered in our Immigration News Weekly Roundup for you.
NEWS
Update on confirmation of British citizenship rights following a change in the Home Office position concerning how British nationality law applies to people born to EU citizen parents between 1 January 1983 and 1 October 2000 (inclusive) – Project for Registration of Children as British Citizens
This update is provided following a recent meeting with the Home Office organised by the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens (PRCBC) and attended by Amnesty International UK, ILPA, the3million and HM Passport Office. To read the full report, click here
Calls for better care for asylum seekers after rise in diphtheria cases in Europe – The Guardian
Health experts are calling for better care for asylum seekers as research reveals small boat crossings have been linked to a sharp increase in diphtheria cases in the UK and across Europe. Reception centres in the UK have hit by a series of scandals in recent months, including outbreaks of disease and reports that offers of assistance from public health leaders have been declined by the Home Office. To read the full article, click here
UK using more of its aid budget to house refugees than most donors in OECD – The Guardian
The UK has been criticised for inappropriately loading more of the costs of accommodating and feeding refugees on to its aid budget than other countries. The housing costs largely paid out by the Home Office have been rising exponentially due to the number of Ukrainian refugees, leading to dramatic cuts in UK aid to alleviate poverty in Africa and Asia. To read the full article, click here
UN experts warn UK government over trafficking risk faced by asylum seeker children – The Guardian
UN experts have warned the UK government that its treatment of unaccompanied asylum seeker children is increasing the risk they could be trafficked and is breaching international law. A statement from the UN Human Rights Council experts expressed concern about the fate of the missing children and urged the UK government to do more to protect them. To read the full article, click here
Trained medics who could ease NHS crisis stuck in asylum limbo – The Guardian
Doctors and dentists whose skills are being squandered while they languish in the Home Office backlog tell of their frustration. To read the full article, click here
Home Office admits no evidence to support key claim on small boat crossings – The Guardian
UK government concedes it cannot substantiate assertion that majority crossing Channel are economic migrants. To read the full article, click here
Student faces deportation from UK after arriving early for course at university’s request – The Guardian
A mix-up on dates meant Rasikh Aziz travelled from Pakistan too soon. Now the University of Law has reported him to the Home Office. To read the full article, click here
Portland migrant barge will put pressure on NHS, says mayor – BBC News
The government wants to accommodate 500 asylum seekers at Portland Port near Weymouth. Housing hundreds of migrants on a barge off Dorset will negatively impact healthcare provision in the area, a local mayor has said. To read the full article, click here
HOME OFFICE DOCUMENTS UPDATE
- Ukraine Visa Schemes: visa data has been updated on 13th April 2023. To download the full data, click here
- Transparency data Migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats has been updated on 12thApril 2023. To download the report, click here
- Scale-up worker caseworker guidance has been updated on 12th April 2023. To view the Guidance, click here
- Guidance Scale-up: going rates for eligible occupations has been updated on 12th April 2023 – to view, click here
- Guidance Global Talent eligible prize lists has been updated on 12th April 2023- to view, click here
Collection of Immigration Rules has been updated on 13th April 2023. This includes updates to the following:
- Immigration Rules: Index – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Continuous Residence – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Finance – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix KOL UK – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix English Language – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix International Sportsperson – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Innovator Founder – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Start-up – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Global Talent – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix T2 Minister of Religion – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix KoLL – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Parent of a Child Student – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix FM: family members– to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix EU– to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix AR (EU) – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules part 13: deportation – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work – International Agreement – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work – Charity Worker – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work – Religious Worker – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules part 11: asylum – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work – Creative Worker -to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Scale-up to view, click here
- Immigration Rules part 9: grounds for refusal – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules part 8: family members – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix High Potential Individual – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules part 1: leave to enter or stay in the UK – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Child staying with or joining a Non-Parent Relative (Protection) – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules part 1: leave to enter or stay in the UK – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Child staying with or joining a Non-Parent Relative (Protection) – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Child staying with or joining a Non-Parent Relative (Protection) – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation has been updated on 13th April 2023 – to view, click here
- Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities has been updated on 13th April 2023 – to view, click here
