Avoiding Civil and Criminal Penalties

Now more than ever, employers have to ensure that they carry out the government-prescribed document checks when hiring new employees. Failing to do so exposes employers to high civil penalties and since 12 July 2016, possible criminal prosecution. The statutory excuse The law does not explicitly require employers to perform document checks on all new employees. […]

Hiring International Students – Additional Document Checks

As well as the usual Right to Work checks that all employers should perform when hiring staff, there are additional document checks specifically relevant when hiring international students holding Tier 4 (Student) Visas. Employers must carry out prescribed document checks in order to avail themselves of the ‘statutory excuse’ and avoid the possibility of a civil penalty for illegal employment […]

Global Visa Opportunities for Skilled British Workers

For British nationals with desirable qualifications or experience in a variety of fields, the dream of living and working abroad can be closer than you think. Many global visa opportunities for skilled British workers exist as companies around the world continue to recruit and mobilise talent. While the future of working in Europe is currently uncertain, opportunities further […]

Beware Emerging Markets Immigration Risks!

Emerging markets immigration is coming to the fore at a time when immigration rules across the globe are becoming increasingly protectionist. As global businesses look to developing markets in the search for new sales and customers, from an immigration compliance perspective, this raises greater challenges such as enhanced risks, procedural uncertainty and higher overall project costs. Some of […]

Visit Visa Reforms April 2015 (May Update)

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, has announced that Visit Visa reforms will be introduced in April in an effort to make it easier for business people and performing artists to enter the country. Mrs May outlined the plans to leaders of the Confederation of British Industry in a private meeting on Tuesday 10 February, she said that: […]

Withdrawl of the A1 level English language requirement exemption

All, can you hear us ? Its still sunny and we’re loving the heat, while Guidance changes continue.   The Home Office walks on, doesn’t look back more partner and parent visa applications, required to meet A1 level English language test, from countries previously listed as exempt.   Oh think twice, from 24 July these […]

UK Immigration Statistics for 2013

We thought we’d share with you key statistics from the Home Office as regards 2013 figures for those who are subject to immigration control: Employers and Employees 27,177 UK employers are registered as Sponsor Licence holders able to employ migrant workers as of January 2014. This is a 4% increase on the previous year, and […]

Immigration Minister caught out by his own laws

Immigration Minister, Mark Harper resigned over the weekend after he found out that the cleaner he had been employing since 2007 was actually working for him illegally. There are a number of ways we could have chosen to report on this news as it touches upon a variety of different and important immigration aspects. However, […]

Sanade and Others (British Children – Zambrano) [2012]

Section 32 of the UK Borders Act 2007 provides that where a person is sentenced to imprisonment of 12 months or more, he must be deported unless he falls within one of the statutory exceptions. One of the exceptions is Article 8 of the ECHR; the right to respect for private and family life. Recently 3 […]