News

Jan 19, 2016 - Super Premium appointments now available on Saturday’s

Due to increasing demand and also to benefit our clients’, the Super Premium Service in Croydon is now offering appointments on each Saturday, apart from the last Saturday of each month.

If this new weekend service will be of benefit to you then we would be delighted to arrange this for you at either our comfortable office in central London or at a location more convenient for you.

Jan 18, 2016 - Migration Advisory Committe Tier 2 Review

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has now published its long awaited review of Tier 2 of the points-based system. In June 2015, the government commissioned the MAC to review the route and to address concerns the government has with the rising number of migrants in the Tier 2 route.

Unsurprisingly, given the government’s commitment to reduce net migration, the MAC has recommended radical changes to the Tier 2 route that can be found summarised below:

  • The minimum salary threshold should be raised from the current £20,800 to £30,000;
  • For public sector migrant workers there should be a phase...

Jan 17, 2016 - David Cameron announces plans to introduce a further English langauge requirment for spouse visa extensions

At present for spouse visas applicants must meet an English language requirment by passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening, by having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by UK NARIC as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country.

However, David Cameron has now announced that he will change the rules and make an additional requirement that your English must have improved, most likely by requiring at least CEFR level B1 at the two and half extens...

Jan 14, 2016 - Reminder, right to rent checks for private landlords start on 1st February 2016

Further to our article of 20/10/2015

This is a reminer that the right to rent check for all private landlords in England starts on 01/02/2016 for all tenancies that start on or after this date.

Within 28 days before the start of a new tenancy, private landlords in England must make checks for:

  • people aged 18 and over living in their property, whether they’re named in the tenancy agreement or not;
  • all types of tenancy agreements, written or oral.

There are four stages to the right to rent check:

1. Check which adults will live at your property as their only or main home;

2. See the original d...

Jan 10, 2016 - The Home Office have announced new fees

The Home Office have announced new fees that will be implemented in April of this year.

As is common practice the Home Office have raised their fees.

The increase is intended to reduce taxpayer contributions towards the border, immigration and citizenship system and ensure that by 2019–2020 the system is self-funded by those who use it.

The increases include:

  • 2% for visit, study and work visas;
  • fees for settlement, residence and nationality will increase by 25% in 2016–17;
  • targeted increases have been applied to premium services, such as the priority visa service.

 We will continue to kee...

Dec 06, 2015 - Stamp duty rise for buy to let properties and second homes and tax changes for landlords

Over the past years the popularity of buy-to-let properties remained high. Raising property prices, constantly increasing demand for rented properties, and low interest rates all contributed to the popularity of the scheme, allowing more and more landlords to receive profit from their buy-to-let portfolios. However, the upcoming changes might significantly change this situation. The landlords will have to plan in great details their future buy-to-let purchases to increase profit, and avoid likely potential losses.

Recently announced changes will see 3 % charge being added on purchases of addit...

Nov 26, 2015 - Significant changes to visit visas for Chinese Nationals

As a show of the UK’s strong ties with China, the Prime Minister has announced that from January 2016, new visitor visas for tourist’s from China will be valid for two years, 4 times the usual 6-month limit for standard visit visas.

The UK will also increase the mobile fingerprinting service that they have in China to collect the biometrics needed for visa applications from 9 Chinese cities to 50, in order to make it easier to apply for a UK visa in China. 

The UK and Chinese governments are also in discussions to increase the 12 UK Visa Application Centres in China, already more than any othe...

Nov 25, 2015 - Migration Statistics Quarterly Report

The Office for National Statistics has published its quarterly report on migration statistics. The report makes a number of points, most significantly that net migration to the UK reached a record 336,000 in the year to June. There are a number of reasons for this, incuding a reduction in emigration. 

Since the end of 2012, net migration has continuously increased despite the governments aim to bring it down to below 100,000 by 2020 and the significant changes they have made to the Immigration Rules.

The report made the following points:

  • Net long-term international migration = +336,000 (up 82...

Nov 24, 2015 - Autumn Statement 2015: key announcements

Chancellor George Osborne has delivered the Autumn Statement. Here’s a summary of what was announced.

The Spending Review sets out how £4 trillion of government money will be allocated over the next five years, so the government can invest in priorities like the NHS, defence and housing.

On average, departmental spending will fall at less than half the rate of the previous five years.

1. A £10 billion surplus by 2019-20. Last year, the deficit was halved compared to its 2009 to 2010 level. Next year, it will be down by three quarters. Over the next four years, the deficit will have been elimin...

Nov 16, 2015 - Migration Advisory Committee: Tier 1 Entrepreneurs – Review of the Tier 1 Entrepreneur and Graduate Entrepreneur routes

Some time ago the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published its report into the Tier 1 Entrepreneur and Graduate Entrepreneur routes. Given our participation with the MAC’s consultation we consider it necessary to inform our readers, subscribers, and prospective clients on the major provisions of the report, as the recommendations may be incorporated into the Immigration Rules shortly.

The MAC has been commissioned by the Government to review the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route with a view to ensuring that the potential economic benefit of the route is maximised and that the route is attractive...