Introduction of migrant health surcharge
The provision for recovering NHS costs from migrants, outlined in the Immigration Act 2014, is to be implemented with effect from 6 April 2015.
From this date, nationals coming to the UK from outside the EEA for longer than six months will be required to pay a 'health surcharge' when they make their immigration application. This surcharge will also need to be paid by non-EEA nationals already in the UK who are applying to extend their stay.
Further information can be viewed here.
Non-compliance with the biometric registration regulations
A new draft version of the code of practice about the sanctions for non-compliance with the biometric registration regulations laid in Parliament on 3 March 2015, which will replace the original version issued in 2008 once it has been approved.
The draft code of practice can be viewed here.
Curtailment of Leave
UKVI have made revisions to their modernised guidance for how they consider curtailing a migrant's leave in the UK.
The revised guidance can be viewed here.
Introduction of migrant health surcharge
The provision for recovering NHS costs from migrants, outlined in the Immigration Act 2014, is to be implemented with effect from 6 April 2015.
From this date, nationals coming to the UK from outside the EEA for longer than six months will be required to pay a 'health surcharge' when they make their immigration application. This surcharge will also need to be paid by non-EEA nationals already in the UK who are applying to extend their stay.
Further information can be viewed here.
From this date, nationals coming to the UK from outside the EEA for longer than six months will be required to pay a 'health surcharge' when they make their immigration application. This surcharge will also need to be paid by non-EEA nationals already in the UK who are applying to extend their stay.
Further information can be viewed here.
Non-compliance with the biometric registration regulations
A new draft version of the code of practice about the sanctions for non-compliance with the biometric registration regulations laid in Parliament on 3 March 2015, which will replace the original version issued in 2008 once it has been approved.
The draft code of practice can be viewed here.
The draft code of practice can be viewed here.
Curtailment of Leave
UKVI have made revisions to their modernised guidance for how they consider curtailing a migrant's leave in the UK.
The revised guidance can be viewed here.
The revised guidance can be viewed here.
Naturalisation as a British Citizen: report by Migration Observatory
The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford has published a report about how many foreign citizens acquire British citizenship, their demographic characteristics, and the various bases for their grants of British citizenship.
The key findings of this report were as follows:
- In 2014, just less than 125,800 foreign nationals were naturalised as British citizens. This was the lowest number since 2002, following a period of higher recorded naturalisations from 2009 to 2013.
- 5% of citizenship applications were rejected in 2014. The majority of naturalisation refusals since 2002 have been due to failure to meet either the residence or the 'good character' requirements. English language requirements and the Life in the UK test were only responsible for a small percentage of rejected naturalisation applications.
- 50% of naturalisation applications in 2014 were from foreign nationals who have lived in the UK for the required five years, plus one additional year as a settled resident. The remaining half is split between spouses and civil partners of British citizens and minor children registering as citizens.
- The largest groups of newly naturalised UK citizens in 2013 had prior citizenship from India (17% of the 2013 total), Pakistan (10%), the Philippines (5%) and Nigeria, Bangladesh, Nepal and China (4% each).
British citizenship: children of British citizen fathers
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have published updated guidance of Section 65 of the Immigration Act 2014 concerning children of British citizen fathers.
Section 65 will be commenced on 6 April 2015 and will insert new registration provisions into the British Nationality Act 1981 for persons born before 1 July 2016.
Section 65 will be commenced on 6 April 2015 and will insert new registration provisions into the British Nationality Act 1981 for persons born before 1 July 2016.
Guidance for Syrian nationals in the UK on how to extend their visa
UKVI have updated their guidance on how Syrian nationals in the UK can extend their visa based on the concessions to the Immigration Rules. The revised guidance can be viewed here.
General grounds of refusal - updated guidance
UKVI have updated and republished their modernised guidance on general grounds for refusal, which is valid from 25 March 2015. The revised guidance can be downloaded here.
