Refugee meaning

In this issue Key developments UK immigration control: how it works Sponsored work Work sponsorship: sponsors Students EU law rights and EU settlement Challenging immigration decisions and enforcement Preventing illegal working Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content New Q&As Key developments Future developments—Immigration calendar Our Immigration calendar sets out key forthcoming developments for business immigration advisers. UK immigration control: how it works IHS rises to come into force from 6 February 2024 The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2024, SI 2024/55, was made on 16 January 2024. Under article 1(2) of the Order, it comes into effect 21 days later, on 6 February 2024. The measure increases the Immigration Health Surcharge from £470 to £776 per annum for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and children under 18. For all other applications that must pay the Health Charge, the annual IHS rises from £624 to...

In this issue: Key developments UK immigration control: how it works Family members under Part 8 and Appendix FM Challenging immigration decisions and enforcement Citizenship applications Daily and weekly news alerts New Q&As Key developments Future developments—Immigration calendar Note that our Immigration calendar sets out key forthcoming developments relevant to business immigration advisers. UK immigration control: how it works Home Secretary statement on direction of legal migration policy The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, addressed Parliament on the direction of the new Labour government’s future policy on legal migration. She reaffirmed a focus on aligning migration policy with skills and the labour market—a ‘new approach’—to be delivered through a cross‑government programme set out in the pre‑election manifesto and the newly announced Skills England body highlighted in the King’s speech. She also confirmed that ministers will press ahead with the majority of the previous administration’s ‘five‑point plan’ measures. This reflects the government’s view—shared with its...

Brexit headlines Defra sets out scope of legislative alignment under UK-EU SPS Agreement The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has outlined the EU legislation it considers to sit within the scope of the proposed UK‑EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement. The statement confirms the government’s intention to seek legislative alignment with EU rules, including dynamic alignment, to lessen administrative burdens and reduce costs associated with agrifood trade. It indicates that, in most cases, alignment is anticipated to substitute for, rather than add to, current domestic requirements, despite the limited divergence since EU exit. Defra also signals that the referenced EU measures, together with related implementing and delegated acts, presently set the expected boundaries of the agreement’s scope, and that further updates and detailed guidance for businesses will be issued following the conclusion of negotiations...

Sources of immigration law in the UK For the UK, immigration law draws on multiple sources. Beyond many Acts of Parliament and the frequently revised Immigration Rules, there is an extensive range of statutory instruments, procedural frameworks and regulations, together with directions, instructions and guidance issued by the Home Office, plus a substantial body of judicial decisions and precedent. Alongside pertinent international law and those parts of European Union law still applicable to individuals protected under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, these materials collectively form the immigration law landscape in practice. This Practice Note examines the principal categories of sources and explains their legal standing. Be aware that immigration and nationality are reserved (or excepted) matters for the devolved settlements of Scotland and Northern Ireland. As a rule, immigration and nationality law extend across the whole United Kingdom, covering immigration Tribunal practice and procedure. The key divergence arises in non-Tribunal litigation, since Scotland and Northern Ireland operate distinct court structures beneath the Supreme Court. Accordingly, references in...

Appendix Child Relative route The standard Refugee Family Reunion pathway, used by sponsors to bring together their pre-flight spouse or partner and children, has been halted at the moment while a review takes place. The Home Office has said replacement Rules will appear before the close of 2025. In the interim, Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules was revised to permit people on a protection route to sponsor their pre-flight family members. This Practice Note examines the Appendix Child Relative route in depth, addressing eligibility, relationship criteria, and the practical evidence needed to satisfy the requirements. The Note highlights key elements of Home Office policy and Article 8 European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) case law, and outlines the length and conditions of leave granted under this route. The Child Relative route aims to enable those with temporary status on a protection route in the UK to sponsor a close child relative who has no other close relative who could reasonably be expected to care for them...

Claim for asylum A claim for asylum is an application made by someone outside their state of nationality or usual residence who contends that being forced back would constitute refoulement, ie it would violate the UK's duties under the 1951 Refugee Convention by returning them to a place where they face a genuine risk of persecution. Asylum claims frequently overlap with requests for humanitarian protection. An asylum claim also encompasses a claim under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) where the applicant asserts that, if removed to their country of origin, they would be tortured or exposed to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. See Practice Note: Dealing with a human rights challenge. From 6 April 2015, the right to bring an in-country appeal against refusal of an asylum claim arises under section 82(1)(a) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (NIAA 2002) (as amended by the Immigration Act 2014), as a determination by the Secretary of State 'to refuse a protection claim' in...

You have now been granted entry clearance (a visa) valid until [ insert date ] as the [ fiancé(e) OR proposed civil partner ] of a person with [ British citizenship OR settled status in the UK OR pre–settled status under Appendix EU OR limited leave as a Turkish worker or business person OR refugee leave in the UK OR permission as a stateless person OR leave in the UK under the humanitarian protection provisions ]. This note highlights the key conditions of your stay in the UK and your continuing responsibilities to the Home Office. It is vital that you understand these conditions. If you have any queries, please contact us. Please note that, while correct as at today’s date, UK immigration law is frequently updated. Arrival in the UK Do not travel to the UK before the ‘valid from’ date shown on your entry clearance. If you intend to visit the UK earlier than that date, please contact us first. On arrival,...