New Resources to tackle unregulated immigration advice

Digital posters and leaflets are now available in three additional languages for regulated organisations, ambassadors, and charities to download and share. The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) has updated its range of promotional materials to help advice seekers understand why regulated immigration advice matters, the risks of unregulated advice, and how to report poor or illegal … Continue reading New Resources to tackle unregulated immigration advice →

A fairer pathway to UK settlement

The Home Secretary's statement setting out significant reforms to the UK’s legal migration model. Oral statement to Parliament 20th November 2025 Madam Deputy Speaker, with your permission I will make a statement on a fairer pathway to settlement for migrants. The story of migration in this country is woven through my own. My father came … Continue reading A fairer pathway to UK settlement →

Crackdown on legal visa abuse

…action led to a 10% fall in student asylum claims. The significant growth in asylum claims from legal migration routes has been stemmed following tough new measures introduced in the first year of this government. The crackdown included a record number of credibility interviews and mandating a genuine study requirement for short-term student routes, as … Continue reading Crackdown on legal visa abuse →

New UK eVisas for Pakistani students and workers

Most main applicants travelling to the UK on study or work-related visas will no longer need a physical sticker visa in passports from 15th July 2025 The UK Government is replacing physical immigration documents for most student and worker visas with a digital proof of immigration status, an eVisa. An eVisa is an online record … Continue reading New UK eVisas for Pakistani students and workers →

Immigration reforms restore order and control

New rules to be laid in Parliament see skills and salary thresholds rise, overseas recruitment for care workers end, and more than 100 occupations no longer granted access to the immigration system. These changes, the first to be rolled out from the Immigration White Paper, represent a fundamental shift in the UK’s approach to immigration and restore … Continue reading Immigration reforms restore order and control →

Right to Work – guidance updated

The Home Office has issued revised guidance to employers on Right To Work checks (Wednesday 12th February 2025). Who has to check a right to work? Employers must conduct right to work checks before they employ a person to ensure that they are legally allowed to work. If an individual’s right to work is time-limited, … Continue reading Right to Work – guidance updated →

Visa holders should switch to an eVisa now

Home Office statistics published show that over 3 million people have now made the switch from using physical immigration documents to an eVisa. eVisas are a key element of the move to a digital, streamlined border and immigration system, replacing physical immigration documents with digital proof of immigration status. This transformation should enhance people’s experience … Continue reading Visa holders should switch to an eVisa now →

Rogue employers to be banned from hiring overseas workers

Businesses who commit serious offences will be banned from sponsoring overseas workers to crack down on visa abuse and prevent exploitation. Businesses that repeatedly flout visa rules or commit serious employment breaches, such as not paying the National Minimum Wage, will be barred from hiring overseas workers. Currently, employers who flagrantly flout visa rules can … Continue reading Rogue employers to be banned from hiring overseas workers →

UK to expand digital travel to more visitors

By April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa will need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK. The UK government is taking major steps towards delivering its ambitious aim to digitise the UK border and immigration system and has set out new implementation dates for the electronic travel authorisation … Continue reading UK to expand digital travel to more visitors →

eVisa transition

Physical immigration document holders urged to take action to access their eVisa now The government is urging all those across the UK who use a physical immigration document to take immediate action to transition to an eVisa, as part of plans to digitise the UK border and immigration system. In addition, up to £4 million … Continue reading eVisa transition →

eVisa rollout begins

Millions invited to switch from physical immigration documents to an eVisa – a key step in creating a modernised and digital border. The next stage in the government’s plan to modernise the border and introduce a digital immigration system is under way, as the Home Office moves closer to the implementation of eVisas for nearly … Continue reading eVisa rollout begins →

New laws to cut migration and put British workers first

Changes now in force to slash migration and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers looking to recruit cheap labour from overseas. UK businesses are now required to pay overseas workers coming to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa significantly more, as the government clamps down on cut price foreign labour and continues … Continue reading New laws to cut migration and put British workers first →

Right to work code update from 13th Feb 2014

The Home Office has published an updated Code of Practice for the Right to Work Scheme, which will come into force on the 13th February 2024. It can be found at: This sets out the prescribed checks and information that must be retained by employers to obtain a statutory excuse against liability for a civil … Continue reading Right to work code update from 13th Feb 2014 →

Student Visa action comes into force

From 1st January 2024, ….. most international students can now no longer bring family members to the UK. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that net migration was 672,000 from June 2022 to June 2023. In the year ending September 2023, 152,980 visas were issued to dependants of students, a more than 930% rise … Continue reading Student Visa action comes into force →

Plans to cut net migration

Plan to deliver the biggest ever cut in net migration and curb abuse of the immigration system. The Home Secretary has announced plans to slash migration levels and curb abuse of the immigration system, delivering the biggest ever reduction in net migration. Together, this package will mean around 300,000 people who came to the UK … Continue reading Plans to cut net migration →

Increased VISA fees from 4th October 2023

Increases to immigration and nationality fees …. are set come into effect on 4th October 2023. According to the UK government, increases to the immigration and nationality fees are to ‘pay for vital services and allow more funding to be prioritised for public sector pay rises’ are set come into effect on 4th October 2023, … Continue reading Increased VISA fees from 4th October 2023 →

Right to Work update: Employer’s guidance

The Home Office have asked if PAYadvice.UK would share the following information with its readership. 1 March 2023 We are writing to inform you that the ‘Employer’s guide to right to work checks’ available on GOV.UK has been updated: The most significant updates relate to: clarification for employers on the use of Identity Document Validation … Continue reading Right to Work update: Employer’s guidance →

Updates to Employer Right To Work guidance for April 2022

The Home Office have issued an updated draft version of Employer's Guide to Right to Work Checks' to reflect changes in legislation coming into force on 6th April 2022. Employers Guide to Right to Work Checks What Right to Work checking changes? The updated guidance includes: changes in the way Biometric Residence Card Biometric Residence … Continue reading Updates to Employer Right To Work guidance for April 2022 →

Brexit Freedoms Bill to cut EU red tape

A new ‘Brexit Freedoms’ Bill will be brought forward by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to mark the two-year anniversary of Getting Brexit Done. ‘Brexit Freedoms’ Bill will be brought forward to end to the special status of EU law and ensure that it can be more easily amended or removedMajor cross-government drive to cut £1 … Continue reading Brexit Freedoms Bill to cut EU red tape →

Blooms – How an employer can employ someone from outside of the UK

The following case study is issued by UK Visas and Immigration as example of how an employer can employ someone from outside of the UK and the steps they will take to apply for a sponsor licence. Blooms florists Employing someone with settled status Sole proprietor florist with a small high street shop, trading as … Continue reading Blooms – How an employer can employ someone from outside of the UK →