News

Mar 24, 2014 - Changes to visa centres

The UK Government is in the process of changing their visa and passport service provider, VFS.GLOBAL, to a new provider, Teleperformance, for certain countries.

During this process there will be a change of websites and addresses for the Visa Application Centre’s, however there should be no delay to any applications during this changeover process and all is working. 

Mar 18, 2014 - New provider of visa services/VAC's in Russia

VFS.GLOBAL, the UK government’s provider of visa and passport services in Russia and who also service the Russian Visa Application Centres , will no longer provide their services from the end of this month.

The Visa Application Centres and the visa and passport services will then instead be provided by a different provider, Teleperformance. Visa applications will be submitted online as usual during the change of providers, as will the booking of visa appointments online.

 

Moscow

Address

UK Visa Application Centre 

Delta Plaza, Bldg 1

2nd Syromyatnichesky Lane

Moscow, Russia

 

 

Novosibirsk

A...

Mar 18, 2014 - Budget 2014

On 19th of March 2014 the chancellor George Osborne delivered a new 2014 Budget and we would like to provide you with quick overview of key changes which were set up in this budget. 

The key changes

Level at which people start paying income tax to be increased to £10,500.

Cash and shares Isas to be merged into single New Isa with £15,000 annual limit.

All restrictions on access to pension pots to be removed, ending the requirement to buy an annuity.

New Pensioner Bond available from January.

Beer duty cut by 1p a pint while duty on spirits, whisky and ordinary cider is frozen. Tobacc...

Mar 12, 2014 - New Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules

This week the minister for Immigration and Security, James Brokenshire, announced a new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules. Minister James Brokenshire explained the reason for the new changes as ‘the government is making a package of changes to Points-Based System work routes to improve flexibility for applicants and help to boost economic growth.’ Please find below a brief summary of the changes:

  • Tier 2 migrants can be granted leave for up to five years, rather than three years at present;
  • Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route will be made simpler, the restriction of some p...

Feb 25, 2014 - Former UKBA Executive Director in Crown Court accused of criminal activity whilst in public office

A former UKBA executive director is in court this week accused of illegally accessing sensitive information about vulnerable immigrants during her time at the UKBA and passing this confidential data to her boyfriend, who is alleged to  have used this information to defraud immigrants and posing as a solicitor.

This case at the crown court comes just two weeks after Immigration Minister Mark Harper resigned, as he had employed a cleaner who did not have permission to work in the UK.

The former UKBA executive director who worked in the Case Resolution and Criminal Casework Directorate at the Hom...

Feb 23, 2014 - Tier 1 (Investor) - update

The Migration Advisory Committee has today published their long awaited report on the Tier 1 (Investor) route investment thresholds and economic benefits.

In their report they have made a number of recommendations to changing the current Tier 1 (Investor) requirements. At present they are only recommendations and will need to be considered by Government. However, it is highly likely that the Tier 1 (Investor) route rules will be changed in the coming months.

The recommendations are as follows:

Minimum investment threshold

  • That the minimum £1 million threshold be increased to £2 million;
  • That ...

Feb 12, 2014 - Concession for Syrian nationals

On the 13 February 2014 the Government has prolonged the immigration concession for Syrian nationals for another year, until 28 February 2015.

This concession offers to Syrian nationals who are in the UK on a visa more ways to extend their stay in the UK.

For those Syrian nationals who are in the UK on a visa for a limited period it can be extended for the same length of time. Also under this concession the Syrian nationals may apply to switch from inside the UK. They cannot switch into any settlement routes.

You can contact us regarding the details of the concession and exceptions.

Feb 09, 2014 - UK Government Embarrassment – Immigration Minister resigns over cleaner’s visa

Immigration Minister Mark Harper, who is a strong advocate for the Immigration Bill that is going through parliament, has resigned from the UK Government. The reason why: in 2007 he employed a cleaner who did not have permission to work in the UK.

As we have mentioned in previous articles the Immigration Bill proposes, amongst many other proposals, that all private landlords will have to check the immigration status of proposed tenants and will be at risk of a financial penalty for not doing so. The Bill also proposes the penalty for failing to check an employee’s immigration status to rise to...

Feb 05, 2014 - Tier 1 (Investor) – update

In the next few days the Migration Advisory Committee will be delivering their report to the government about the Investor route and whether in its current form, investing £1 million into UK government bonds/business, is of benefit to the UK economy.

Depending on its recommendations the government could amend the Immigration Rules regarding the Tier 1 (Investor) category. Until the report is published it is not known what the recommendations will be, however the committee could recommend that the amount of investment be increased or decreased, or they could even recommend that the investment b...

Feb 02, 2014 - New Government proposals – immigration fees and premium services

The UK government has announced proposals to change the fees it charges for its visas, immigration and nationality applications as well as introducing new premium services for applicants. If the proposals are approved by Parliament then the new fees will apply from 6th April 2014. Some fees for their premium services will be applicable from 31st March 2014.

The new premium services, and their fees, include the following:

  • a 3-5 day priority visa service costing £100;
  • a priority settlement application service for a fee of £300;
  • a super priority visa service for £600, which will expedite the app...