Immigration news

The UK Home Office has announced that COVID-19 adjusted UK immigration digital right to work checks will be extended to 31 August, 2021. The announcement comes following the government’s decision on 14 June, 2021 to delay the easing of lockdown restrictions and social distancing by four weeks.

 

This means that employers will not be required to resume face-to-face meetings or physical document checks until 1 September, 2021. A Home Office statement said: “This will ensure employers have sufficient notice to put measures in place to enable face-to-face document checks.”

The Biden administration has expanded a program that allows legal US immigration for Central American minors. The move comes as the government continues to grapple with a surge in the number of migrant children crossing the US southern border with Mexico, illegally.   

“The expansion of the program is part of the Biden administration’s effort to find more pathways for Central Americans to migrate legally. The move could make tens of thousands of children newly eligible to participate in the program,” said US State Department spokesperson Jalina Porter.

The UK government has snubbed recommendations for COVID hospitality visas despite a growing staff crisis across the sector. Instead, ministers want employers to focus on training and investing in the domestic workforce and branded the idea of a coronavirus recovery visa as ‘inappropriate’ while thousands of staff remain on furlough.

 

A Trump-era US immigration policy that made it harder for immigrants fleeing violence to qualify for asylum – mostly from Central America – has been ended by the Biden administration. Attorney General Merrick Garland has issued a new policy saying immigration judges should cease following Trump-era rules concerning US asylum.  

The move, celebrated by immigrant advocates, could make it easier for immigrants who are the victims of domestic and gang violence to secure asylum in the United States.

The entry deadline to qualify for the new UK post-study work (PSW) visa has been extended. The move has been welcomed by Indian students - the largest group of international students enrolling at UK universities. The PSW visa, allows overseas students to work, or look for work, for two years after completing their studies.  

The revamped PSW visa was announced by Home Secretary, Priti Patel, in 2020 and is set to open for applications in July 2021.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new US immigration policy that will allow access to US work permits and deportation relief to some immigrants who are crime victims while their US visa cases are pending. The new policy will see a process created that could allow tens of thousands of U visa applicants to apply for work permits.

 

It’s understood that this will be on the condition that an applicant’s claim is in good faith and without the intention of defrauding the US immigration system.