Immigration news

The Home Office has announced that UK visa rules will be temporarily eased for the partners and children of British nationals looking to leave Ukraine amid a looming Russian invasion. It’s understood that those eligible will be exempt from UK visa fees and other requirements – such as meeting minimum income thresholds and English language requirements.

 

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced proposals for a new US immigration public charge rule that would make it easier for immigrants in receipt of US benefits to obtain a green card. The new rule would mark a significant reversal on a 2019 Trump administration policy, which is no longer in effect since Biden took office.

 

The UK Home Office has scrapped the Tier 1 investor visa program with immediate effect amid fears of money laundering and corruption. The Tier 1 investor visa scheme is no stranger to scrutiny and has constantly been under review in recent years. Ironically, on 6 December 2018, the Home Office wrongly announced the suspension of the so-called ‘golden visa’.

 

The UK government has been forced to defend plans to introduce Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) checks at the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

 

US L1B visa denial rates continue to remain high, even without Donald Trump as US President, according to a report published by Forbes. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is reportedly denying a significant number of L1B visas, much to the frustration of employers looking to transfer overseas staff with specialist knowledge to the US.

 

The UK government has strongly hinted that it will extend its flagship BNO visa scheme – currently reserved for Hong Kong nationals who hold a British National Overseas (BNO) passport – to Hongkongers aged 18 – 24 who have been most embroiled in civilian protests in Hong Kong over security rules imposed on the former British territory by China.

 

The current BNO visa scheme was launched last year and is only available to BNO passport holders born before 1997, the year that Hong Kong was handed back to China and ended the BNO scheme.