HAPPY NEW YEAR!
WORKING IN THE UK
Points-based system: licence applications for sponsors
The Home Office has updated its guidance for how they decide applications for a sponsor licence for Tier 2 and 5 of the points based system.
A section on Digital Technology has now been included (see page 61), which gives specific information to those companies wanting to sponsor Tier 2 (General) migrants in a digital technology job under the shortage occupation list.
You can download the full guidance here.
Restricted certificates of sponsorship (December 2017)
UKVI have published the allocations of restricted certificates of sponsorship for December 2017.
All valid applications received by 5th December were successful if they scored at least 55 points. The minimum point score for successful applications in December was significantly higher at 55 points than it has been for over a year. For over 12 months, the minimum point score has been 21 points.
You can view further information here.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employer-sponsorship-restricted-certificate-allocations
An agreement has been reached for EU citizens and their family members living in the UK, as follows:
Further information can be read here. You can also view additional information and example case studies outlining EU citizens' rights in the UK here.
A joint report has been published by the negotiators of the EU and the UK on progress made in the first phase of negotiations under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) on the UK's withdrawal from the Union.
You can read the full report here.
STUDYING IN THE UK
Home Office extend scheme for international Masters students
The Home Office pilot scheme which is looking at streamlining the process for international Masters students wanting to study in the UK has been extended to an additional 23 universities.
The Universities are given the responsibility for undertaking eligibility checks, which means that students can submit fewer documents than would be required in the current process alongside their visa applications.
Further information about the pilot scheme and those universities taking part can be viewed here.
The Home Office pilot scheme which is looking at streamlining the process for international Masters students wanting to study in the UK has been extended to an additional 23 universities.
The Universities are given the responsibility for undertaking eligibility checks, which means that students can submit fewer documents than would be required in the current process alongside their visa applications.
Further information about the pilot scheme and those universities taking part can be viewed here.
Inclusion of international students in migration figures
High-profile Conservative MPs, including a number of select committee chairs, have urged the Prime Minister, Theresa May, to remove international students from the net migration figures.
Further information can be viewed here.
High-profile Conservative MPs, including a number of select committee chairs, have urged the Prime Minister, Theresa May, to remove international students from the net migration figures.
Further information can be viewed here.
OTHER IMMIGRATION NEWS
Status of EU citizens in the UK
An agreement has been reached for EU citizens and their family members living in the UK, as follows:
- EU citizens who have been living continuously and lawfully in the UK for 5 years will be able to apply to stay indefinitely by getting 'settled status'. Those who are granted 'settled status' will be free to live here, have access to public funds and services and go onto apply for British citizenship, if they wish to do so.
- EU citizens who arrive by 29 March 2019 but won't have been here lawfully for 5 years when the UK leaves the EU, will be able to stay here until they have reached the 5-year threshold. They will then be able to apply for settled status.
- Family members of EU citizens who are living with them, or join them, by 29 March 2019 will also be able to apply for settled status after they have been in the UK for 5 years.
- Close family members (spouse, civil partners and unmarried partners, dependant children and grandchildren and grandparents) will be able to join EU citizens after exit under these rules, where the relationship existed on 29 March 2019 and continues to exist when they wish to come to the UK.
Further information can be read here. You can also view additional information and example case studies outlining EU citizens' rights in the UK here.
Article 50: Joint report on progress during phase 1
A joint report has been published by the negotiators of the EU and the UK on progress made in the first phase of negotiations under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) on the UK's withdrawal from the Union.
You can read the full report here.
VERISTAT SERVICES
Training for employers and education providers
We provide bespoke training on all aspects of immigration matters, including Right to Work, Tier 2, sponsorship, Tier 4 sponsorship, and identification of fraudulent documents.
These training sessions are conducted on the client's premises for a standard half-day rate for up to a maximum of 12 persons per session attending.
If you think your organisation would benefit from training in any of these areas, please email enquiries@veristat.co.uk for a quote.
If you would like to discuss the contents or format of our training sessions, or require a bespoke training package delivered, please either call us on 01344 624016 or email us at enquiries@veristat.co.uk.
We provide bespoke training on all aspects of immigration matters, including Right to Work, Tier 2, sponsorship, Tier 4 sponsorship, and identification of fraudulent documents.
These training sessions are conducted on the client's premises for a standard half-day rate for up to a maximum of 12 persons per session attending.
If you think your organisation would benefit from training in any of these areas, please email enquiries@veristat.co.uk for a quote.
If you would like to discuss the contents or format of our training sessions, or require a bespoke training package delivered, please either call us on 01344 624016 or email us at enquiries@veristat.co.uk.
Audits and Inspections
Veristat is hugely experienced at providing compliance audits across all immigration tiers. We have worked with hundreds of employers, ranging from small family businesses to multi-nationals, high street retailers and professional sports clubs. In the education sector, we have worker with over 30 universities and a significant number of colleges and schools.
Our audit/inspection service is full flexible and can be tailored to individual requirements, and is based on sound practical experience of UKVI's policies, culture and approach.
- For employers, we offer on-site Tier 2 compliance inspections (with staff aware or unaware to simulate a surprise UKVI visit). We also offer right to work compliance visits.
- For education providers, our service ranges from a "lite" health-check to a comprehensive review of Tier 4 activities, assessing compliance with UKVI requirements and sharing best practice. We also offer targeted inspections covering specific issues, such as BCA, policies, relationships with partner institutions, etc.
On completion, we provide a comprehensive, evidence-based report, together with an assessment of how compliant the business or institution is with UKVI's requirements. We support the introduction of change if required and offer a 'spot check' follow up service at a later date if required to reassure management that recommendations have been implemented.
If you're interested in booking an audit/inspection, please call us on 01344 624016 or email us at enquiries@veristat.co.uk.
Veristat is hugely experienced at providing compliance audits across all immigration tiers. We have worked with hundreds of employers, ranging from small family businesses to multi-nationals, high street retailers and professional sports clubs. In the education sector, we have worker with over 30 universities and a significant number of colleges and schools.
File Inspection Days
If you're unsure whether you require a full compliance audit or specific training but would like an independent check of your files to ensure they are fully compliant with Home Office requirements, we can provide a UKVI file compliance inspection of either your staff or student files.
Depending on the number of employees/students you have, we would either check all files or an agreed sample. After the inspection has taken place, we would provide a written report outlining any risks, feedback and recommendations.
If you would like a quote for a file inspection day, please email enquiries@veristat.co.uk or call 01344 624016.
If you're unsure whether you require a full compliance audit or specific training but would like an independent check of your files to ensure they are fully compliant with Home Office requirements, we can provide a UKVI file compliance inspection of either your staff or student files.
Depending on the number of employees/students you have, we would either check all files or an agreed sample. After the inspection has taken place, we would provide a written report outlining any risks, feedback and recommendations.
If you would like a quote for a file inspection day, please email enquiries@veristat.co.uk or call 01344 624016.
Presentations for European nationals (Brexit)
We can also provide sessions targeted at European nationals currently living and working in the UK. We can come to your premises and speak directly to your EU/EEA and Swiss employees, outlining their position now, and the likely situation they may find themselves in following Brexit. These practical sessions are designed to clarify the situation and more importantly their options going forwards.
If you're interested in booking a session for the European nationals working for you, please call 01344 624016 or email enquiries@veristat.co.uk.
To download this month's update as a PDF document, please go to the following URL then save this:
http://www.veristat.co.uk/CMS/FILES/Monthly_Update__January_2018.pdf
We can also provide sessions targeted at European nationals currently living and working in the UK. We can come to your premises and speak directly to your EU/EEA and Swiss employees, outlining their position now, and the likely situation they may find themselves in following Brexit. These practical sessions are designed to clarify the situation and more importantly their options going forwards.
If you're interested in booking a session for the European nationals working for you, please call 01344 624016 or email enquiries@veristat.co.uk.
To download this month's update as a PDF document, please go to the following URL then save this:
http://www.veristat.co.uk/CMS/FILES/Monthly_Update__January_2018.pdf
