- Introduction of a Visit visa requirement on Trinidad and Tobago effective as of 3pm 12 March 2025. There are transitional arrangements for some travellers between 12 March and 23 April 2025
- The Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE) launched on 4 February 2025 and provides a route for Ukrainians (and their eligible family members) who have already been living in the UK with Ukraine Scheme permission to make a further application to extend their temporary sanctuary in the UK whilst the conflict in Ukraine remains ongoing. The Homes for Ukraine guidance was updated on 31 January 2025 to enable the parents to be considered eligible sponsors, and therefore allow the children of those parents to apply under the Homes for Ukraine route going forward
- Removing step-parent from the Home for Ukraine Scheme definition to ensure consistency across the schemes
- Administrative changes to EUSS scheme – the two more significant changes out of five are enabling a non-EEA national applicant to the EUSS to use a UK-issued biometric residence card or permit which has expired by up to 18 months and confirming that a person who became an EU, other EEA or Swiss citizen after the end of the transition period cannot sponsor an EUSS family permit application
- Adding children (aged 18 and under), visiting the UK as part of a French school group, to the list of those who do not need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
- British Nationals (Overseas) are being removed from the list of nationalities requiring an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to travel to the UK
- ‘Genuine intention to study’ requirement added for Short-term Study visa applicants
- Skilled worker changes are being made to update the minimum salary floor from £23,200 per year (or £11.90 per hour) to £25,000 per year (or £12.82 per hour)
- Care workers and senior care workers working in England only – The changes require sponsors to try to recruit from the pool of workers who no longer have sponsorship, because their sponsors have been unable to offer sufficient work and/or have lost their sponsor licences and who are seeking new employment before seeking to sponsor new recruits from other immigration routes or from overseas. To enforce this requirement, sponsors must provide confirmation from the relevant regional or sub-regional partnership that they have tried to recruit in this way, and confirm that no suitable workers were available from this pool. The changes also do not apply to workers in England who were already sponsored in these occupations before the changes take effect (including those changing employers), or those switching from other immigration routes who have been working lawfully for their sponsor for at least three months
- Changes are also being made to the rules concerning deductions from a Skilled worker applicant’s salary. These changes are being made:- for consistency with how paid allowances for the same purposes are treated,
– to mitigate against sponsorship costs being passed on to applicants, and
– to close an unintended loophole whereby applicants could effectively pay towards their own salary through investing in their sponsor’s business - A change is being made to confirm that, where a Skilled worker applicant is claiming a ‘new entrant’ salary reduction based on training towards a recognised professional qualification, this must be a UK qualification
- Global Talent – notable change would be for applicants working as fashion designers. At the request of Arts Council England and their sub-endorsing body, British Fashion Council, the requirements are being amended to ensure an applicant can provide evidence of media recognition of work they produced as a contributing designer, for example for a brand or fashion organisation, rather than solely work produced as an individual.
As with all Immigration applications, it is always recommended that advice is sought from an immigration solicitor. Our experienced immigration solicitors at DMH Stallard are able to provide more detailed advice on a range of immigration applications. For more information please email or call us on +44 (0)207 822 1636
