09 April 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> The Graduate Route will be reviewed by the MAC on the 14th May 2024
Anything is on the cards: the route may be recommended to b abolished, reduced to PhD only etc.
12 April 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Important changed in relation to the Long Residence Rule: Long residence (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Note the following changes:
“… transitional arrangements preserve the position that continuous residence will be broken if an applicant has been absent from the UK for more than 184 days at any one time or for more than a total of 548 days overall, where that absence started before 11 April 2024. This means that:
• any single absences started before 11 April 2024 must be no longer than 184 days
• a 10-year period completed before 11 April 2024 must not have total absences of more than 548 days - ***** for 10-year periods which extend beyond 11 April 2024, there is no 548-day limit *****
• ***** from 11 April 2024 the applicant must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period *****
>>> Naturalization fees go up for the 2nd time in one year: Fees for citizenship applications and the right of abode from 4 October 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
19 April 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Person with indefinite leave unable to return to the UK for over 15 years after Home Office mistake: Ali v Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) & Anor [2024] EWCA Civ 372 (17 April 2024) (bailii.org)
The Home Secretary has lost a case where it was argued that a refugee who held indefinite leave to remain in the UK should not be permitted to return to the UK based on his right to a private life. The refugee in question had lost his travel document while outside the UK, tried unsuccessfully to get another one from the British embassy but failed to do so because the Home Office had not kept a record of his grant of indefinite leave.
Remarkably, this was a Cart judicial review (where a decision of the Upper Tribunal to refuse permission to appeal can be challenged by judicial review) that had been appealed to the Court of Appeal, indicating a litany of judicial failures at earlier stages. The case is Ali v Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) & Anor [2024] EWCA Civ 372.
24 April 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> A man from Belarus: 26 years with no legal status in the UK or the Supreme Court finds no human right to legal status if it’s your own fault you can’t be removed
See R (on the application of AM (Belarus)) (Respondent) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Appellant) - The Supreme Court
In AM (Belarus) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] UKSC 13, in a judgment delivered by Lord Sales, the Supreme Court has held that a man living in the United Kingdom for twenty six years with no immigration status was not entitled to status on human rights or other grounds because it was his own fault. He had repeatedly been found by the Home Office and judges to be a national of Belarus but when removed there in 2001 had claimed to the Belarussian authorities not to be a citizen. They refused to accept him and he was therefore returned to the UK. Since then, he had continued to obstruct efforts to redocument him as Belarussian and remove him there.
Normally a person with twenty years of illegal residence can apply for legal status under the immigration rules. This was not open to AM, though, because he had committed several criminal offences and was therefore excluded from succeeding by the suitability criteria that apply to that route. He was therefore left relying on human rights grounds.
In the meantime, AM could not legally work, rent accommodation, access anything other than emergency NHS care, open a bank account or claim benefits other than destitution-level asylum support. He had developed very serious mental health and addiction issues and committed further offences. One was a false identity offence, perhaps rather unsurprisingly in the circumstances. This was described with considerable, arguably insulting, understatement by the Supreme Court as not “an especially enviable life”.
The Upper Tribunal held that AM was entitled to leave to remain on human grounds, his being a genuinely exceptional case. His example was hardly likely to inspire others to emulate him, given how miserable his existence in the UK had become. The Home Office appealed but the Court of Appeal agreed with the Upper Tribunal.
Allowing the Home Office appeal, the Supreme Court disapproved guidance from the Court of Appeal on limbo cases from the earlier case of RA (Iraq) v Secretary of State the Home Department [2019] EWCA Civ 850.
29 April 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Upper Tribunal confirms that appellants lost their rights under EU law once sponsor lost his EU citizenship: Secretary of State for the Home Department v Nagdev & Anor (Procedural safeguards; expulsion; Chenchooliah) [2024] UKUT 101 (IAC) (15 February 2024) (bailii.org)
Headnote
The decision of the CJEU in Chenchooliah v Minister for Justice and Equality [2019] EUECJ C-94/18 (10 September 2019); [2020] Imm AR 80 extended the procedural safeguards in the Citizens’ Rights Directive to protect third country nationals against decisions to expel them, where expulsion was on the ground that they no longer have a right of residence under the Directive. Where there has been no expulsion decision, the procedural safeguards are of no application and no question of proportionality arises.
14 May 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) says Graduate route should be kept in its current form: Graduate route: rapid review - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Migration Advisory Committee has today published its “rapid review” of the Graduate route, concluding that the route is not being abused and should remain in place in its current form. The letter from the Chair states:
“We have not found evidence of widespread abuse on the Graduate route, where we define abuse as deliberate non-compliance with immigration rules, and we conclude that the route is not undermining the integrity and quality of the UK higher education system. However, we have reason to believe that some agents and subagents recruiting international students are mis-selling UK higher education and exploiting students in the process. We expect the impact on public finances of Graduate visa holders on the route to be small but positive, as most appear to work, are young, and have no recourse to public funds.”
Three recommendations were made:
• that the Graduate route is retained in its current form
• that a mandatory registration system is set up for international recruitment agents and subagents and that universities should be required to publish annual data how much they have spent on recruitment agents and the number of international students who are recruited this way
• recommendations on data and monitoring for the route and the wider immigration system, including that the government only opens new routes or makes significant policy changes when it has a plan for how it will collect and monitor data to assess the effectiveness of the route and understand wider impacts
The Home Office has today published “Analysis of migrants use of the Graduate route” which they say “seeks to complement” the committee’s report. See Analysis of migrants use of the Graduate route - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
15 May 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Rwanda scheme amended to include failed asylum seekers: Returns preparation: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
On Monday the Home Office updated the guidance documents relating to removals to Rwanda and retroactively amended the Rwanda agreement to include the possibility of sending failed asylum seekers there. This was done via a letter from the British High Commissioner in Rwanda to Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
В то же время, ЗАЯВИТЕЛЬ НЕ ДОЛЖЕН ПОКИДАТЬ ВЕЛИКОБРИТАНИЮ ВО ВРЕМЯ РАССМОТРЕНИЯ ИММИГРАЦИОННОГО РЕШЕНИЯ. Если аппликант Великобританию в тот момент, когда его/ее иммиграционное заявление рассматривается, заявление будет АННУЛИРОВАННО на основании параграфа 34K Иммиграционных Правил.
21 May 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Updated List of the Referees who can sign the Naturalization application Referees Declaration: Countersigning passport applications and photos: Accepted occupations for countersignatories - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
21 May 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> High Court finds use of electronic monitoring to be unlawful: ADL & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 994 (Admin) (15 May 2024) (bailii.org)
The High Court has determined that the Home Secretary’s use of electronic monitoring was unlawful in respect of four claimants and the principles applied in the case will have a wider impact. The court also found that the Home Secretary can lawfully use data collected through electronic monitoring to decide application for leave made by people who have been tagged. The case is ADL & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 994 (Admin).
While the findings on the lawfulness of electronic monitoring are useful, the court’s decision on the lawfulness of the Home Office using the monitoring data in deciding leave applications is concerning.
23 May 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Unsuccessful challenge to entry clearance refusal by man who claimed not to have received curtailment notice: Escobar v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 1097 (Admin) (10 May 2024) (bailii.org)
A man who had lived in the UK for over 20 years and was married to a British national before the relationship broke down has been unsuccessful in his challenge to an entry clearance refusal on the grounds that he had not received the notice of curtailment.
24 May 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Upper Tribunal considers citizenship deprivation on grounds of deception and good character test: Onuzi (good character requirement: Sleiman considered) Albania [2024] UKUT 144 (IAC) (16 April 2024) (bailii.org)
In Onuzi (good character requirement: Sleiman considered) Albania [2024] UKUT 144 (IAC) the Upper Tribunal makes a reference to the case of Sleiman:
1. Each case is fact sensitive. In the absence of a statutory definition of ‘good character’, the starting point is for the Secretary of State to decide, subject to general principles of administrative law, whether a person is of good character for the purpose of granting citizenship under section 6(1) and Schedule 1 of the British Nationality Act 1981 (‘BNA 1981’).
2. Any negative behaviour that might cast doubt on whether a person is of good character is likely to be directly material to the assessment of the statutory requirement, whether it played a role in the application for naturalisation itself or took place before the application.
3. In the majority of cases where negative behaviour that might cast doubt on whether a person is of good character has been dishonestly concealed from the Secretary of State, the fact that the negative behaviour might not have been directly relevant to an earlier grant of leave is unlikely to make any material difference to the assessment under section 40(3) BNA 1981. It is for the Secretary of State to decide, subject to general principles of administrative law, whether the negative behaviour might have made a material difference to the assessment of good character under section 6(1) BNA 1981 had the information been known at the time.
4. The omission of a fact that might have cast doubt on whether a person is of good character when they applied for naturalisation is likely to be material to the question of whether a person ‘obtained’ citizenship by the dishonest concealment of a material fact for the purpose of section 40(3) BNA 1981.
5. The concept of a chain of causation being broken is only likely to be relevant in cases where there was full disclosure and the Secretary of State exercised discretion to grant leave to remain or naturalisation while in full possession of the facts.
6. The decision in Sleiman was based on limited argument and should be read in the full context of the statutory scheme and other relevant case law.
This certainly narrows down the available arguments in these citizenship deprivation cases. The Onuzi determination is a strange one, though. There’s no sign of recognition that the exercise the tribunal is supposed to be undertaking here is a review of the original Home Office decision on public law grounds only. This is unsurprising for the original First-tier determination, which predates the case of Chimi. It’s more surprising of the Upper Tribunal’s decision, which reads a lot like a forbidden merits review.
В то же время, ЗАЯВИТЕЛЬ НЕ ДОЛЖЕН ПОКИДАТЬ ВЕЛИКОБРИТАНИЮ ВО ВРЕМЯ РАССМОТРЕНИЯ ИММИГРАЦИОННОГО РЕШЕНИЯ. Если аппликант Великобританию в тот момент, когда его/ее иммиграционное заявление рассматривается, заявление будет АННУЛИРОВАННО на основании параграфа 34K Иммиграционных Правил.
30 May 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> The Home Office will be extending the EU Pre-Settled Status not for 2 but for 5 years now: Home Office confirms changes to the EU Settlement Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Another successful legal challenger again the Home office.
The result ? See below:
The Home Office will change the duration of pre-settled status extensions from 2 to 5 years. The Home Office will also remove the pre-settled status expiry date from the digital profiles shown to third parties in the online checking services for Right to Work, Right to Rent and View and Prove.
Alongside this change, employers, landlords and letting agents will not be required to conduct a further right to work or rent check where the individual remains in their employment or as part of that tenancy agreement.
31 May 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Certain group of Ukrainian (irregular) migrants may now be removed to Rwanda
From the conference with the Home Office yesterday
I asked the question in relation to possible removal of some Ukrainians to Rwanda under the new Rules from January 2022:
Q: What about some Ukrainian applicants arrived with no LTR*, illegally or through the Irish Republic etc before 2022 or after Feb 2022 and who are trying to claim asylum now ? Will they fall into the inadmissibility** cases group ?
A: If they meet the criteria of having claimed asylum since 1 January 2022, their journey can be described as dangerous, and they otherwise fall within the discussed during the conference groups, then in principle YES
==
* Visas
** Liable to be removed to Rwanda, simply speaking
"A relationship can still be recognised as meeting the requirement for a durable relationship where, for example, there is a good reason the partners are living apart which is still consistent with them having a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership. For example, they may currently live apart because one party is studying in another country, or they have to live apart for work reasons, or while applying for immigration permission in another country. In such circumstances a durable relationship can still meet the requirements, but you will need to be satisfied the relationship is durable and genuine and subsisting even though they are living apart. For example, there may be evidence that although they are currently living apart, they have lived together in a durable relationship in the past and intend to do so again in the future."
05 June 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024 to make it easier for Irish citizens to become British: British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024 (legislation.gov.uk)
The British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024 was one of the final pieces of legislation passed by the government before dissolution and when brought into force it will provide an entitlement to registration as a British citizen to Irish citizens who meet the requirements. The Act is a short one, which inserts a new section into the British Nationality Act 1981:
4AA Acquisition by registration: Irish citizens
(1) An Irish citizen is entitled to be registered as a British citizen if—
(a) an application for their registration is made under this section, and
(b) they satisfy the requirements specified in subsection (2).
(2) The requirements are that—
(a) the person was in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the period of five years ending with the date of their application;
(b) the person was absent from the United Kingdom for—
(i) no more than 450 days in the period of five years ending with the date of their application, and
(ii) no more than 90 days in the period of 12 months ending with the date of their application; and
(c) the person was not in the United Kingdom in breach of the immigration laws at any time in the period of five years ending with the date of their application.
(3) If in the special circumstances of a particular case the Secretary of State thinks fit, the Secretary of State may treat the person as satisfying a requirement specified in subsection (2), even if they did not in fact satisfy the requirement.
(4) This section is subject to sections 31, 32 and 36 of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 (restriction of eligibility for citizenship etc).
Section 41A(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 will also be amended to add the good character requirement to these applications. As this is a registration application and not naturalisation, there is no requirement for the Life in the UK test to be passed or need to evidence English language.
The Act did not come into force on Royal Assent. Provision is made at section 2(3) of the Act for regulations to be made by the Home Secretary to bring it in at a later date. Two important, currently unknown elements are therefore when these changes will actually be made and what the cost of the application will be. Both issues were raised as concerns in the House of Lords.
13 June 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> From the Home Office – Economic Migration:
- Skilled Workers can now do supplementary work in any occupation in Tables 1-3 of the Appendix Skilled Occupations, instead of same profession and level
- A standard Sponsorship License application takes on average 8 weeks
- How long does it take to get the Skilled Worker Annual Allocation for 1 year ?
"Requests for Premium Service for the Annual Allocation Service are taking some 3-4 weeks to be considered. Otherwise under the Standard Service option it mat take some 18 weeks".
- Can a Skilled Worker application be lodged without the CoS number ? Only in exceptional cases, namely:
“The reference number for the CoS should be provided in the application. If the applicant has not supplied the reference number, they must provide an explanation. If you are not satisfied the sponsor has assigned a CoS to the applicant, you may reject the application. If the reason the sponsor has not yet assigned a CoS is because of delays by UKVI (for example, a delay in processing a sponsor licence application or a request for a CoS), you may exceptionally place the case on hold pending the outcome.”
14 June 2024
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Tribunal statistics show a 330% increase in asylum appeals compared with previous year: Tribunals statistics quarterly: January to March 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The latest quarterly statistics for the tribunals covering the period January to March 2024 have been published today and in news that should not surprise anyone, the clearing of the legacy asylum backlog and increase in refusals has had a huge impact on the number of asylum appeals pending in the tribunal. The summary says that in the period January to March 2024 overall appeals lodged in the First-tier Tribunal increased by 57% compared to the same period in 2023, for asylum appeals specifically this increase was 330% to 10,000 cases. 49% of asylum appeals were allowed.
The average time to disposal of an appeal is reported to be 43 weeks across all appeals. That number is expected to start increasing substantially in statistics releases later this year. Unless action is taken extremely quickly to resolve this, it will have a massive impact on the cost of asylum support, particularly if the prohibition on people being able to work while waiting for the resolution of their asylum claim remains in place.
Home Office начал использовать не задокументированные правила в отношении граждан Украины при подаче заявлений на т.н. статус "частной жизни", даже несмотря на наличие у этих граждан Украины виз и BRP.
Home Office в отказах утверждает, что не обязаны выдавать гражданам Украины статус в Великобритании т.к. эти граждане Украины могут получить статус в другой стране в Европе или даже вернуться в Украину".
К сожалению, опять не очень хорошие новости для заявителей с Украины.
На основании параграфа 355 Иммиграционных Правил, граждане Украины МОГУТ НЕ ИМЕТЬ ПРАВА НА ПОДДЕРЖКУ/ЗАЩИТУ/СТАТУС В ВЕЛИКОБРИТАНИИ ЕСЛИ У НИХ ЕСТЬ СТАТУС В ДРУГИХ СТРАНЫХ ЕВРОСОЮЗА.
Будьте очень аккуратны когда Вы пытаетесь получить документ, освобождающий Вас от сдачи тестов по английскому языку, иначе Вы рискуете потерять (на сегодняшний день) госпошлину у размере £1500.
Уровень семейного врача скорее всего не подойдет. Такие формы обычно должны заполняться старшим лечащим специалистом/ (глав) врачом из больницы (Eng.: Consultant), а не GP из местной Medical Practice.
Комментарии
Заявление на гражданство рассмотрели и одобрили за 4 месяца.
Делюсь статистикой ежедневных одобрений заявлений клиентов.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> The Graduate Route will be reviewed by the MAC on the 14th May 2024
Anything is on the cards: the route may be recommended to b abolished, reduced to PhD only etc.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Important changed in relation to the Long Residence Rule: Long residence (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Note the following changes:
“… transitional arrangements preserve the position that continuous residence will be broken if an applicant has been absent from the UK for more than 184 days at any one time or for more than a total of 548 days overall, where that absence started before 11 April 2024. This means that:
• any single absences started before 11 April 2024 must be no longer than 184 days
• a 10-year period completed before 11 April 2024 must not have total absences of more than 548 days - ***** for 10-year periods which extend beyond 11 April 2024, there is no 548-day limit *****
• ***** from 11 April 2024 the applicant must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period *****
>>> Naturalization fees go up for the 2nd time in one year: Fees for citizenship applications and the right of abode from 4 October 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Person with indefinite leave unable to return to the UK for over 15 years after Home Office mistake: Ali v Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) & Anor [2024] EWCA Civ 372 (17 April 2024) (bailii.org)
The Home Secretary has lost a case where it was argued that a refugee who held indefinite leave to remain in the UK should not be permitted to return to the UK based on his right to a private life. The refugee in question had lost his travel document while outside the UK, tried unsuccessfully to get another one from the British embassy but failed to do so because the Home Office had not kept a record of his grant of indefinite leave.
Remarkably, this was a Cart judicial review (where a decision of the Upper Tribunal to refuse permission to appeal can be challenged by judicial review) that had been appealed to the Court of Appeal, indicating a litany of judicial failures at earlier stages. The case is Ali v Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) & Anor [2024] EWCA Civ 372.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> A man from Belarus: 26 years with no legal status in the UK or the Supreme Court finds no human right to legal status if it’s your own fault you can’t be removed
See R (on the application of AM (Belarus)) (Respondent) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Appellant) - The Supreme Court
In AM (Belarus) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] UKSC 13, in a judgment delivered by Lord Sales, the Supreme Court has held that a man living in the United Kingdom for twenty six years with no immigration status was not entitled to status on human rights or other grounds because it was his own fault. He had repeatedly been found by the Home Office and judges to be a national of Belarus but when removed there in 2001 had claimed to the Belarussian authorities not to be a citizen. They refused to accept him and he was therefore returned to the UK. Since then, he had continued to obstruct efforts to redocument him as Belarussian and remove him there.
Normally a person with twenty years of illegal residence can apply for legal status under the immigration rules. This was not open to AM, though, because he had committed several criminal offences and was therefore excluded from succeeding by the suitability criteria that apply to that route. He was therefore left relying on human rights grounds.
In the meantime, AM could not legally work, rent accommodation, access anything other than emergency NHS care, open a bank account or claim benefits other than destitution-level asylum support. He had developed very serious mental health and addiction issues and committed further offences. One was a false identity offence, perhaps rather unsurprisingly in the circumstances. This was described with considerable, arguably insulting, understatement by the Supreme Court as not “an especially enviable life”.
The Upper Tribunal held that AM was entitled to leave to remain on human grounds, his being a genuinely exceptional case. His example was hardly likely to inspire others to emulate him, given how miserable his existence in the UK had become. The Home Office appealed but the Court of Appeal agreed with the Upper Tribunal.
Allowing the Home Office appeal, the Supreme Court disapproved guidance from the Court of Appeal on limbo cases from the earlier case of RA (Iraq) v Secretary of State the Home Department [2019] EWCA Civ 850.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Upper Tribunal confirms that appellants lost their rights under EU law once sponsor lost his EU citizenship: Secretary of State for the Home Department v Nagdev & Anor (Procedural safeguards; expulsion; Chenchooliah) [2024] UKUT 101 (IAC) (15 February 2024) (bailii.org)
Headnote
The decision of the CJEU in Chenchooliah v Minister for Justice and Equality [2019] EUECJ C-94/18 (10 September 2019); [2020] Imm AR 80 extended the procedural safeguards in the Citizens’ Rights Directive to protect third country nationals against decisions to expel them, where expulsion was on the ground that they no longer have a right of residence under the Directive. Where there has been no expulsion decision, the procedural safeguards are of no application and no question of proportionality arises.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> List of the Legal Aid providers: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/directory-of-legal-aid-providers
Immigration included.
Заявление SET(LR) было одобрено за 4 часа.
Делюсь статистикой ежедневных одобрений заявлений клиентов.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) says Graduate route should be kept in its current form: Graduate route: rapid review - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Migration Advisory Committee has today published its “rapid review” of the Graduate route, concluding that the route is not being abused and should remain in place in its current form. The letter from the Chair states:
“We have not found evidence of widespread abuse on the Graduate route, where we define abuse as deliberate non-compliance with immigration rules, and we conclude that the route is not undermining the integrity and quality of the UK higher education system. However, we have reason to believe that some agents and subagents recruiting international students are mis-selling UK higher education and exploiting students in the process. We expect the impact on public finances of Graduate visa holders on the route to be small but positive, as most appear to work, are young, and have no recourse to public funds.”
Three recommendations were made:
• that the Graduate route is retained in its current form
• that a mandatory registration system is set up for international recruitment agents and subagents and that universities should be required to publish annual data how much they have spent on recruitment agents and the number of international students who are recruited this way
• recommendations on data and monitoring for the route and the wider immigration system, including that the government only opens new routes or makes significant policy changes when it has a plan for how it will collect and monitor data to assess the effectiveness of the route and understand wider impacts
The Home Office has today published “Analysis of migrants use of the Graduate route” which they say “seeks to complement” the committee’s report. See Analysis of migrants use of the Graduate route - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Rwanda scheme amended to include failed asylum seekers: Returns preparation: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
On Monday the Home Office updated the guidance documents relating to removals to Rwanda and retroactively amended the Rwanda agreement to include the possibility of sending failed asylum seekers there. This was done via a letter from the British High Commissioner in Rwanda to Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Online immigration status (eVisa): help videos
See Online immigration status (eVisa): help videos - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and Online immigration status (eVisa): help videos - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Это первый отказ какого рода из моей практики.
В то же время, ЗАЯВИТЕЛЬ НЕ ДОЛЖЕН ПОКИДАТЬ ВЕЛИКОБРИТАНИЮ ВО ВРЕМЯ РАССМОТРЕНИЯ ИММИГРАЦИОННОГО РЕШЕНИЯ. Если аппликант Великобританию в тот момент, когда его/ее иммиграционное заявление рассматривается, заявление будет АННУЛИРОВАННО на основании параграфа 34K Иммиграционных Правил.
Обратите внимание !
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Updated List of the Referees who can sign the Naturalization application Referees Declaration: Countersigning passport applications and photos: Accepted occupations for countersignatories - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> High Court finds use of electronic monitoring to be unlawful: ADL & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 994 (Admin) (15 May 2024) (bailii.org)
The High Court has determined that the Home Secretary’s use of electronic monitoring was unlawful in respect of four claimants and the principles applied in the case will have a wider impact. The court also found that the Home Secretary can lawfully use data collected through electronic monitoring to decide application for leave made by people who have been tagged. The case is ADL & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 994 (Admin).
While the findings on the lawfulness of electronic monitoring are useful, the court’s decision on the lawfulness of the Home Office using the monitoring data in deciding leave applications is concerning.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Can a human rights, protection, or Appendix EU application be made when an appeal is pending?
The answer is “Yes”.
Note that ONLY a protection or human rights claim or an Appendix EU application can be made whilst an appeal is pending.
Other application types usually CANNOT BE MADE while the appeal is pending.
This is set out in paragraph 34KC of the Immigration Rules
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Unsuccessful challenge to entry clearance refusal by man who claimed not to have received curtailment notice: Escobar v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 1097 (Admin) (10 May 2024) (bailii.org)
A man who had lived in the UK for over 20 years and was married to a British national before the relationship broke down has been unsuccessful in his challenge to an entry clearance refusal on the grounds that he had not received the notice of curtailment.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Upper Tribunal considers citizenship deprivation on grounds of deception and good character test: Onuzi (good character requirement: Sleiman considered) Albania [2024] UKUT 144 (IAC) (16 April 2024) (bailii.org)
In Onuzi (good character requirement: Sleiman considered) Albania [2024] UKUT 144 (IAC) the Upper Tribunal makes a reference to the case of Sleiman:
1. Each case is fact sensitive. In the absence of a statutory definition of ‘good character’, the starting point is for the Secretary of State to decide, subject to general principles of administrative law, whether a person is of good character for the purpose of granting citizenship under section 6(1) and Schedule 1 of the British Nationality Act 1981 (‘BNA 1981’).
2. Any negative behaviour that might cast doubt on whether a person is of good character is likely to be directly material to the assessment of the statutory requirement, whether it played a role in the application for naturalisation itself or took place before the application.
3. In the majority of cases where negative behaviour that might cast doubt on whether a person is of good character has been dishonestly concealed from the Secretary of State, the fact that the negative behaviour might not have been directly relevant to an earlier grant of leave is unlikely to make any material difference to the assessment under section 40(3) BNA 1981. It is for the Secretary of State to decide, subject to general principles of administrative law, whether the negative behaviour might have made a material difference to the assessment of good character under section 6(1) BNA 1981 had the information been known at the time.
4. The omission of a fact that might have cast doubt on whether a person is of good character when they applied for naturalisation is likely to be material to the question of whether a person ‘obtained’ citizenship by the dishonest concealment of a material fact for the purpose of section 40(3) BNA 1981.
5. The concept of a chain of causation being broken is only likely to be relevant in cases where there was full disclosure and the Secretary of State exercised discretion to grant leave to remain or naturalisation while in full possession of the facts.
6. The decision in Sleiman was based on limited argument and should be read in the full context of the statutory scheme and other relevant case law.
This certainly narrows down the available arguments in these citizenship deprivation cases. The Onuzi determination is a strange one, though. There’s no sign of recognition that the exercise the tribunal is supposed to be undertaking here is a review of the original Home Office decision on public law grounds only. This is unsurprising for the original First-tier determination, which predates the case of Chimi. It’s more surprising of the Upper Tribunal’s decision, which reads a lot like a forbidden merits review.
Это первый отказ какого рода из моей практики.
В то же время, ЗАЯВИТЕЛЬ НЕ ДОЛЖЕН ПОКИДАТЬ ВЕЛИКОБРИТАНИЮ ВО ВРЕМЯ РАССМОТРЕНИЯ ИММИГРАЦИОННОГО РЕШЕНИЯ. Если аппликант Великобританию в тот момент, когда его/ее иммиграционное заявление рассматривается, заявление будет АННУЛИРОВАННО на основании параграфа 34K Иммиграционных Правил.
Обратите внимание !
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Can I apply for eVisa if I have a paper ILR visa ?
According to the Home Office, now you cannot. You first need to be the BRP card, and the move onto the eVisa status.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> The Home Office will be extending the EU Pre-Settled Status not for 2 but for 5 years now: Home Office confirms changes to the EU Settlement Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Another successful legal challenger again the Home office.
The result ? See below:
The Home Office will change the duration of pre-settled status extensions from 2 to 5 years. The Home Office will also remove the pre-settled status expiry date from the digital profiles shown to third parties in the online checking services for Right to Work, Right to Rent and View and Prove.
Alongside this change, employers, landlords and letting agents will not be required to conduct a further right to work or rent check where the individual remains in their employment or as part of that tenancy agreement.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Certain group of Ukrainian (irregular) migrants may now be removed to Rwanda
From the conference with the Home Office yesterday
I asked the question in relation to possible removal of some Ukrainians to Rwanda under the new Rules from January 2022:
Q: What about some Ukrainian applicants arrived with no LTR*, illegally or through the Irish Republic etc before 2022 or after Feb 2022 and who are trying to claim asylum now ? Will they fall into the inadmissibility** cases group ?
A: If they meet the criteria of having claimed asylum since 1 January 2022, their journey can be described as dangerous, and they otherwise fall within the discussed during the conference groups, then in principle YES
==
* Visas
** Liable to be removed to Rwanda, simply speaking
==
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationship-with-a-partner-caseworker-guidance/relationship-with-a-partner-accessible#Durable_relationship
Namely,
"A relationship can still be recognised as meeting the requirement for a durable relationship where, for example, there is a good reason the partners are living apart which is still consistent with them having a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership. For example, they may currently live apart because one party is studying in another country, or they have to live apart for work reasons, or while applying for immigration permission in another country. In such circumstances a durable relationship can still meet the requirements, but you will need to be satisfied the relationship is durable and genuine and subsisting even though they are living apart. For example, there may be evidence that although they are currently living apart, they have lived together in a durable relationship in the past and intend to do so again in the future."
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024 to make it easier for Irish citizens to become British: British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024 (legislation.gov.uk)
The British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024 was one of the final pieces of legislation passed by the government before dissolution and when brought into force it will provide an entitlement to registration as a British citizen to Irish citizens who meet the requirements. The Act is a short one, which inserts a new section into the British Nationality Act 1981:
4AA Acquisition by registration: Irish citizens
(1) An Irish citizen is entitled to be registered as a British citizen if—
(a) an application for their registration is made under this section, and
(b) they satisfy the requirements specified in subsection (2).
(2) The requirements are that—
(a) the person was in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the period of five years ending with the date of their application;
(b) the person was absent from the United Kingdom for—
(i) no more than 450 days in the period of five years ending with the date of their application, and
(ii) no more than 90 days in the period of 12 months ending with the date of their application; and
(c) the person was not in the United Kingdom in breach of the immigration laws at any time in the period of five years ending with the date of their application.
(3) If in the special circumstances of a particular case the Secretary of State thinks fit, the Secretary of State may treat the person as satisfying a requirement specified in subsection (2), even if they did not in fact satisfy the requirement.
(4) This section is subject to sections 31, 32 and 36 of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 (restriction of eligibility for citizenship etc).
Section 41A(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 will also be amended to add the good character requirement to these applications. As this is a registration application and not naturalisation, there is no requirement for the Life in the UK test to be passed or need to evidence English language.
The Act did not come into force on Royal Assent. Provision is made at section 2(3) of the Act for regulations to be made by the Home Secretary to bring it in at a later date. Two important, currently unknown elements are therefore when these changes will actually be made and what the cost of the application will be. Both issues were raised as concerns in the House of Lords.
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> From the Home Office – Economic Migration:
- Skilled Workers can now do supplementary work in any occupation in Tables 1-3 of the Appendix Skilled Occupations, instead of same profession and level
- A standard Sponsorship License application takes on average 8 weeks
- How long does it take to get the Skilled Worker Annual Allocation for 1 year ?
"Requests for Premium Service for the Annual Allocation Service are taking some 3-4 weeks to be considered. Otherwise under the Standard Service option it mat take some 18 weeks".
- Can a Skilled Worker application be lodged without the CoS number ? Only in exceptional cases, namely:
“The reference number for the CoS should be provided in the application. If the applicant has not supplied the reference number, they must provide an explanation. If you are not satisfied the sponsor has assigned a CoS to the applicant, you may reject the application. If the reason the sponsor has not yet assigned a CoS is because of delays by UKVI (for example, a delay in processing a sponsor licence application or a request for a CoS), you may exceptionally place the case on hold pending the outcome.”
Important UK Immigration News and Updates from the Legal Centre
www.legalcentre.org +44 77 911 45 923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype)
>>> Tribunal statistics show a 330% increase in asylum appeals compared with previous year: Tribunals statistics quarterly: January to March 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The latest quarterly statistics for the tribunals covering the period January to March 2024 have been published today and in news that should not surprise anyone, the clearing of the legacy asylum backlog and increase in refusals has had a huge impact on the number of asylum appeals pending in the tribunal. The summary says that in the period January to March 2024 overall appeals lodged in the First-tier Tribunal increased by 57% compared to the same period in 2023, for asylum appeals specifically this increase was 330% to 10,000 cases. 49% of asylum appeals were allowed.
The average time to disposal of an appeal is reported to be 43 weeks across all appeals. That number is expected to start increasing substantially in statistics releases later this year. Unless action is taken extremely quickly to resolve this, it will have a massive impact on the cost of asylum support, particularly if the prohibition on people being able to work while waiting for the resolution of their asylum claim remains in place.
Home Office в отказах утверждает, что не обязаны выдавать гражданам Украины статус в Великобритании т.к. эти граждане Украины могут получить статус в другой стране в Европе или даже вернуться в Украину".
Обратите внимание !
На основании параграфа 355 Иммиграционных Правил, граждане Украины МОГУТ НЕ ИМЕТЬ ПРАВА НА ПОДДЕРЖКУ/ЗАЩИТУ/СТАТУС В ВЕЛИКОБРИТАНИИ ЕСЛИ У НИХ ЕСТЬ СТАТУС В ДРУГИХ СТРАНЫХ ЕВРОСОЮЗА.
См. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-part-11a-temporary-protection#:~:text=354.,mass influx of displaced persons.
Похоже на то, что именно на основании этой статьи Home Office начал выдавать больше отказов в последние время.
Обратите внимание !
Уровень семейного врача скорее всего не подойдет. Такие формы обычно должны заполняться старшим лечащим специалистом/ (глав) врачом из больницы (Eng.: Consultant), а не GP из местной Medical Practice.
Заявление на гражданство рассмотрели и одобрили за 2.5 месяца.
Делюсь статистикой ежедневных одобрений заявлений клиентов.
Вот так сейчас выглядит т.н. eVisa/Digital Status: