Friday, 2 May 2014

Immigration News - May 2014





Education


Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors - Managing and issuing CAS

UKVI have updated their guidance for sponsors for managing and issuing Certificates for Acceptance of Studies (CAS).

The following guidance has been updated:




Sponsor change of circumstance form

An interactive form has been published by UKVI for those sponsors who do not have access to the sponsorship management system (SMS) to appoint a new level 1 user.

The interactive form can be viewed here.



Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors - Managing sponsorship licence

UKVI have updated their guidance for sponsors on managing their sponsorship licence.




Guidance for dependants of UK visa applicants (Tier 4)

UKVI have published revised guidance for dependants of UK visa applicants under the points based system (PBS dependants).

The updated guidance can be viewed here.





Working in the UK


Guidance for Tier 2 sponsors - Managing and issuing CoS

UKVI have published revised guidance for Tier 2 sponsors for issuing Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

The following guidance has been updated:



Sponsor change of circumstance form

An interactive form has been published by UKVI for those sponsors who do not have access to the sponsorship management system (SMS) to appoint a new level 1 user.

The interactive form can be viewed here.




Guidance for Tier 2 sponsors - Managing sponsorship licence

UKVI have updated their guidance for sponsors on managing their sponsorship licence.



Tier 1 Guidance

UKVI has published updated guidance for people applying to come to the UK or extend their stay under Tier 1 of the points based system.

The following guidance has been updated:




Guidance for dependants of UK visa applicants (Tiers 1 and 2)

UKVI have published revised guidance for dependants of UK visa applicants under the points based system (PBS dependants).

The updated guidance can be viewed here.

General Immigration Matters


New International enquiry service for visa applications

A new international enquiry service will be available from 1st April 2014 for visa customers to find information about the visa application process.

The service is to be provided by Hinduja Global Solutions (HSG) in partnership with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

The online link for the new international enquiry service can be found at:

Further information about this new enquiry service can be viewed at:


Immigration fees: 2014 to 2015

The government has introduced new fees for visas, immigration and nationality applications, and associated premium services.

There has been a 4% increase for most fees, including the short-term visitor visa and most work, study and settlement applications.

Further information can be viewed here.



Net migration underestimated by ONS

A failure to monitor many new arrivals at regional ports has led to the number of eastern European immigrants coming to Britain being underestimated.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed that net immigration was 346,000 higher than they had previously thought between 2001 and 2011 because surveys had missed a substantial number of arrivals.





UK e-Borders Programme

The Home Office have advised the Public Administration Select Committee (PAC) that the e-Borders programme, designed to check people coming in and out of Britain, cannot now be used to estimate immigration.

The £500m e-Borders programme has taken more than 10 years to develop.

The Home Office has also advised that it would be illegal under European Union legislation on free movement to routinely ask passengers how long they intend to stay or their purpose in entering the UK.

Further information can be viewed here.




Guidance for dependants of UK visa applicants (Tier 5)

UKVI have published revised guidance for dependants of UK visa applicants under the points based system (PBS dependants).

The updated guidance can be viewed here.


Veristat Services



HTS Health-Check


The Veristat Health Check is a one-day objective, external review covering key areas likely to arise during a Home Office visit together with examples of good practice drawn from over 4 years' experience of conducting compliance audits for schools, colleges and universities.

For further information please contact don@veristat.co.uk


Training for employers


We are increasingly being asked to provide training on Right to Work and/or Tier 2 sponsor duties.  If you think your organisation would benefit from training in either or both of these areas, please contact us for a no commitment discussion of your requirements at enquiries@veristat.co.uk.


LinkedIn 'HR Immigration' Group


We have set up a 'HR Immigration' group on LinkedIn, which aims to provide a networking space for UK employers and HR/recruitment professionals to share and discuss news and best practice about current UK immigration issues.

To join this group please go to http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=6537658

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