Category: UK Immigration For Individual

World Wide Law are committed to helping our clients with personal immigration services. Please call us and our Immigration Advisers will be happy to assist you and your beloved ones with any Family Visa or Immigration application and required services. These permits allow you to bring your children or partner to the UK, whether they are EEA citizens or live in any other country.

EU Residence Documents as of July 1 2021 are No Longer Valid

EU Residence Documents Validity in 2021

The European Union has published a law stating that EU residence documents are no longer valid after 30 June 2021. Even if you have not yet applied for an Irish passport, this is something to be aware of. The only exception: those born before 1 January 1977 and who have lived in the European Union continuously since 31 December 2020 for at least 5 years.

Although the UK left the European Union in January 2020, certain aspects of EU free movement law continue to apply into 2021 — but not for much longer. Old EU residence documents such as permanent residence cards, UK residence cards, and derivative residence cards only remain valid until 30 June 2021.

The expiry of EU residence documents

Under EU free movement law, citizens of European Economic Area countries and their family members could apply for permanent residence documents if they had lived in the European Union continuously for at least five years.

However, these documents will no longer be valid after 30 June 2021, and holders of such a document must apply to renew their residence permit before that date or risk becoming undocumented residents without legal status within an EU country other than one’s own (e-g., Ireland). This is something worth being aware of if you lied on your Irish passport application as well – although it’s not illegal per se; this could lead to trouble with immigration authorities when traveling outside Europe because they might refuse entry back home again! The only exception: those born prior 31 December 1976 who have also resided inside any EEA member state since then too — but even so there are certain conditions.

What if I want to stay in the UK after 30 June 2021?

Those who already have an EU residence document will be able to apply through the UK-Self Assisted Scheme before 30 June 2021 to avoid becoming liable for leaving the United Kingdom. Those who already have an EU residence document will be able to apply through the UK-Self Assisted Scheme before 30 June 2021 in order not to become liable for leaving.

The Self Assist scheme is a new visa category that allows those with no other right of stay, including family members and partners who are British citizens or settled residents but have never applied themselves (for example because they were born after 31 December 1976) to make their own application without needing assistance from anyone else – this includes children under 18 years old too! The only exception: Those already residing inside any EEA member state since then as well — however there still certain conditions even so. This means you can go ahead by yourself if your circumstances meet these criteria; otherwise, it’s worth getting legal help.

What will happen to EU nationals who don’t apply by the 30th of June 2021?

After June 2030, non-EEA residents of the EU will not be able to use their residence documents after leaving the EU. There are likely thousands of people overseas from European Union countries who have not yet applied for a new residency card. It remains to be seen how many people will be affected by this change.

The EU has been in the process of updating its residency documents for a while now, and it’s likely that they’ll continue to do so as time goes on.

This is your final reminder. If you are an EEA citizen or a family member of an EEA citizen who has not applied to the settlement scheme or for British citizenship by 30 June, it will be almost impossible for you to remain in the UK after that date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the legal rights that come from holding an EU residence document?

-an EU residence document implies that I can live and work in all of the countries within the European Union.

An EU residence document is proof of a right that you have as an EU citizen when you enter Denmark, and proof of the grounds for your stay. You may reside legally in Denmark by meeting the conditions in law under EU rules without any documents at all.

Denmark is one of the many countries in Europe that won’t recognize EU residence documents after 2021. While this doesn’t necessarily change things as much as it sounds, it’s still important to know what you can and cannot do with your document and which rights a CPR number has for you.

As an EU citizen, you may freely enter Denmark and work without a permit. There is no limit on the number of hours you may work while living in Denmark or during your stay for study purposes.

You do not need an EU residence document in order to begin work. This is the case even if you have – or have applied for – a residence document as a worker, as a self-supporting individual, or for some other reason.

With an EU residence document in Denmark, you are entitled to partly user-paid Danish lessons. However, you must have turned 18 and have your Danish address registered in the Danish National Register.

Your municipality of residence is obliged to offer you Danish lessons and refer you to a language center.

If you have not been offered Danish lessons within a month after registering your address in Denmark, you can contact your municipality.

You will have lessons together with other foreign nationals who have arrived in Denmark recently.

During your stay in Denmark under EU rules, you must normally be able to support yourself and your family financially. Depending on your grounds for residence, that means you, amongst other things, may not receive cash benefits or other forms of public assistance regulated by the Active Social Policy Act.

If you or a family member receive such benefits while living in Denmark, your right of residence can be terminated and you can lose your right to be in Denmark.

Benefit payments from the municipality or any other public authority to a foreign national are reported to SIRI. SIRI will then assess whether this affects your grounds for residence.

If you meet the requirements to be a worker as defined by EU law – or if you have retained worker status despite no longer working – receiving the above-mentioned benefits will normally not in and of itself lead to termination of your right of residence. The same applies if you have grounds for residence as a family member to a worker.

If you plan to live and work in Denmark, there are several things you need to consider. Depending on your situation, there may be more important information you need to be aware of.

Q2. What should I do regarding my grounds of residence?

If you will be leaving Denmark after losing your job, you do not need to do anything about your grounds for residence. All you need to do is to inform the Civil Registration System that you will be leaving Denmark. You can do this online at lifeindenmark.dk If you would like to remain in Denmark after losing your job, and you haven’t found a new job, it is important that you sign up for the jobcentre within 14 days of your termination of employment. In some cases worker status – and thus your grounds for residence as a worker – can be retained temporarily after you lose your job. This depends on factors such as the reason why you lost your job and whether you registered with the jobcentre within the allotted time after you stopped working. How long you can maintain your worker status depends on how long you worked in Denmark before your termination of employment.

If you believe that you meet the requirements for other grounds for residence, for example, as a self-supporting person, you must submit an application on these grounds.

SIRI will write to you to inform you if it is considering making a decision that could affect your grounds for residence.

In such instances, you will have the opportunity to provide information or documentation to support extending your residence.

If you no longer meet the requirements for grounds for residence under EU rules your ties to Denmark will be considered and this may influence whether you retain your right to the residence. Among other factors, this includes how long you have lived in Denmark and your work history here.

Q3. Can my family qualify for an EU residency document?

If you are an EU citizen, you can qualify for grounds for residence based on your own qualifications. You can also qualify as the family member of someone who has grounds for residence.

You have independent grounds for residence if you, as an EU citizen, work, are self-employed, are a student or are a self-supporting person.

Your grounds for residence can be derived from a family member who is an EU citizen.

If you are a citizen of a third country, granted residence as the family member of an EU citizen, you may not yourself sponsor an individual applying for family reunification. In certain cases, the EU citizen who sponsored you for family reunification can sponsor your family members.

The above article is only for information purposes and we can not claim the correctness of all the details. For professional advice, we request you to call us.

UK Post Study Work Opens on July 1 2021

UK Students Graduate Applications 2021

The new Graduate route will open for applications on July 1 2021, allowing the UK to retain the brightest and the best international students to continue contributing to society and the economy post-study.

International students must have completed an eligible course at a UK higher education provider, with a track record of compliance with the government’s immigration requirements to apply to the Graduate route. Students on the Graduate route will be able to work or look for work for a maximum period of two years or three years for Doctoral students after they complete their University education.

With this development, you will be able to stay in the UK for another 2 or 3 years after your education. You can easily secure the status you need to continue living, working, and fulfilling your dream in the UK- says Border and Immigration Minister, Mr. Kevin Foster.

The government wants the UK to be a country of choice for the world’s brightest talent, who aspire to a career at the highest levels of business, science, the arts, and technology.

The new route will open for applications on July 1 2021, to international students who successfully complete a degree at the UK’s undergraduate level or above.

The Graduate route will be unsponsored, meaning applicants will not need a job offer to apply for the route. There will be no minimum salary requirements nor caps on numbers. Graduates on the route will be able to work flexibly, switch jobs, and develop their careers as required.

The new route will help the government achieve the ambition set out in the International Education Strategy to increase the number of international students in higher education in the UK to 600,000 by 2030.

Coronavirus concessions for students unable to travel to the UK due to the pandemic have also been extended, recognising the continuing disruption many faces due to international travel restrictions.

Applicants who began their studies in Autumn 2020 will now have until June 21, 2021, to enter the UK (updated from April 6, 2021) to be eligible for the Graduate route. Students who began their studies in January or February 2021 will need to be in the UK by September 27, 2021.

The Graduate route comes as the government unveiled plans to launch another new immigration route that will help start-ups and fast-growing firms recruit the talent they need to innovate and grow.

Also, highly skilled migrants with a job offer from a recognised high-growth firm will qualify for a visa without the need for sponsorship or third-party endorsement.

If you are in the UK and like to benefit from these generous immigration routes or you are outside of the UK but wishes to study in the UK but need quality immigration advise:

Please contact our UK Immigration Advisers at worldwide Law by visiting us at www.widelaws.com or call us on +44 (0) 2078681667 or WhatsApp +447982915910 or +447533371155.
We are happy to assist you all the way.

Legal Advice & UK Immigration Latest Updates 2021 – Corona Lockdown and BREXIT

URGENT UK Immigration Updates During Corona Lockdown

The details of the following are covered below : 1. Home office concessions updates – Due to the latest lockdown measures, including temporary visa extensions, if you can’t leave the UK in-country visa, switching, and free NHS visa extensions. 2. UK visa center closure and travel restrictions, including visa application, center closures, UK quarantine requirements, and pre-travel covered 19 medical tests. 3. Home office guidance updates – General grounds for visa refusal, including breach of immigration rules by overstaying or having outstanding debt with the NHS or UK home office. 4. Home office updates – Guidance on who qualifies for UK nationality, who can qualify automatically for British nationality, including children of European nationals born in the UK. 5. The 7 ways to submit your supporting documents to the UK home office or entry clearance officer, including newly introduced methods, to have your application and documents considered without you ever needing to leave your home.

UK immigration lawyers london corona lockdown

Uk visas and immigration concessions:

Coronavirus lockdown restrictions are back also many countries are refusing to receive passengers from the UK due to fears of a new variant of the coronavirus. So what are the homo office coronavirus concessions for people who are stuck in the UK or need to travel out to switch to another type of UK visa or have other issues such as unable to obtain the required documents due to the global pandemic?

Updated Coronavirus concessions to provide some relief to migrants and visitors.

Uk immigration lawyers legal advice during london lockdown

1. Exceptional assurance. You want to leave the UK, but you have not been able to do so and you have a visa or leave that expires between 1st of December 2020 and 31st of January 2021. You will be able to continue to remain in the UK on the same conditions as your current or most recent visa, provided you made this exceptional assurance request. As a general rule, any overstaying between the 24th of January 2020 and the 31st of august 2020 will be overlooked. Any other period you would need to provide supporting evidence to avoid adverse home office decisions in the future. If your visa is about to expire, you should seek advice and consider lodging exceptional assurance without delay. 2. Student visa from within the UK – There is no need for taking fingerprints. There are temporary policy concessions for student sponsors, students, and short-term study students in response to the outbreak of Coronavirus. Students who have previously provided their fingerprints will be notified if their bio-data could be reused. This means you will not need to attend a fingerprint appointment, thus only need to email or upload your picture and supporting documents. All these concessions will be withdrawn once the health situation returns to normal 3. Tier2 and Tier5 Work Visa applicants and Tier4 students can start work or their studies as soon as they have lodged their application and are awaiting a home office decision provided their case or the course was issued in 2020. 4. NHS Visa Extensions: If you work in healthcare and your visa expires before 31st of March 2021, you may be eligible for a free visa extension.

Large application from any visa application center

you can now lodge your UK immigration application from any country if your local visa application center is closed. This concession has been extended to the 31st of March 2021. You will still be asked about your status in the other country you are applying from, but you will not be required to show six months or more valid leave, as usually the case in order to be eligible to apply from that location. Visa vignette has expired – If your 30 days or 90 days, visa vignette to work, study or join family has expired, you will need to apply for a replacement by completing the online form. The cost of replacing an existing 90-day vignette is £ 154, and you will need to make an appointment to resubmit your biometric information

Changes in income, missing documents, and English certificates

If you have been furloughed, you can still rely on your hundred percent of your income. If you are self-employed, you will still be able to rely on 100% of your profits for the purposes of the financial requirements. If you are unable to provide the required documents due to coronavirus restrictions, you may be given more time to provide the documents or that requirement could be waived altogether. Vaccine quarantine and visa center opening and closing information

uk immigration solicitors london lockdown

Many countries are now required that you have a negative test result for COVID 19 in order to travel. Also, anyone who has recently visited south africa or have been in prolonged contact with somebody who is from South Africa is required to undergo 10 days of quarantine in the uk five days if you use the test and release scheme

VFS center opening and closure during Corona lockdown across the world

Visa application centers in Bhutan temporarily closed until further notice. UK visa application center in fiji temporarily closed, although is due to open soon and the same thing for a visa application center in Yangon Myanmar was closed, but is now due to open visa refusals

General grounds for refusal, breach of UK immigration rules or outstanding debt

As you know, every time you apply for a UK visa, the home office or the entry clearance officer will check if you have previously breached uk immigration rules. The UK home office has provided new guidance on people who overstay or have outstanding NHS debt or litigation debt. Normally, if your visa is about to expire, you either apply to extend the visa or leave the UK. If you stay beyond your visa date such that, you have no permission to remain, you are not there awaiting a decision on an extension application, etc. You’ll be regarded as an overstayer. This could reduce or diminish your chances of securing a new UK visa. The UK home office also checks if you have NHS debt or litigation debt, so this is where you are required to pay for NHS treatments or services, and you have not settled the invoice. Similarly, if you had a case against the home office and you were ordered by a judge to pay legal costs to the home office – and you have failed to pay that if your NHS debt is about £500, you risk being refused a visa because of that Debt

Further guidance on automatic UK nationality

The UK home office has recently issued guidance on automatic UK nationality. The document provides the documentary evidence required and various immigration rules that determine if, indeed, a person is entitled to British nationality. Recently, due to brexit and the introduction of new requirements from european nationals to provide specified documents, this means more children born to EU parents will not be British citizens automatically Different ways to send your supporting documents to uk visas and immigration Here are few ways to submit your supporting documents: 1. Attend the home office in person with your original bundle of documents. This was the original method and very similar to opening a bank account. Now, this is almost non-existent. 2. Send original papers to the home office by post. This is another original method and is still available for some types of applications, particularly in-country EEA, non-EU family member residence card applications. 3. Take the documents to a visa application center. They scan and upload documents for you. This is the most appropriate method for out country visa applications where the applicant has all the documents at hand. 4. Take your documents to your local town, hall or third party checking services 5. Scan the documents yourself and send the bundle by email or upload it on the mobile app or using the online portals. Generally, you’ll need to wait for the UK visas and immigrations to give you or specify directions as to who to email or which mobile app to use, or which portal to upload your documents to. Unless, of course, you have chosen the self-service option for a visa application center appointment where you should upload the documents at the portal where you booked your appointments prior to your attendance at the visa application center. As regards the biometric and fingerprints, your options are – In the UK, attend a visa application service center, home office public inquiries office or, if abroad, attend the visa application center run by the UK, visa, and immigration commercial partners, usually TLS contact or VFS Global Office to have your fingerprints and photos processed. You may also be able to skip this requirement if the UK visa navigation confirms that your fingerprints from a previous application can be reused. You may still be asked to provide a recent digital photo to complete the application process. Disclaimer: All the above information provided to you is for the information purpose and shouldn’t be considered as professional advice. Please call us for the details.

Details of the UK’s Points-based Immigration System

On 19 February 2020, the government set out the details of the UK’s points-based immigration system.

These new arrangements will take effect from 1 January 2021, once freedom of movement with the European Union (EU) has ended.

It will treat EU and non-EU citizens equally and aims to attract people who can contribute to the UK’s economy. Irish citizens will continue to be able to enter and live in the UK as they do now. Visa application process New immigration routes will open from autumn 2020 for applications to work, live and study in the UK from 1 January 2021. You’ll be able to apply and pay for your visa online. When you apply, you’ll be asked to provide your biometric information.

The process for this is: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens For most visas you’ll provide a digital photo of your face using a smartphone app. You will not have to give your fingerprints. For a small number of minor visa routes (to be confirmed later this year), you’ll need to go to an overseas visa application centre to have your photo taken. Non-EU citizens You’ll continue to submit your fingerprints and a photo at an overseas visa application centre.

Skilled workers The points-based system will include a route for skilled workers who have a job offer from an approved employer sponsor. From January 2021, the job you’re offered will need to be at a required skill level of RQF3 or above (equivalent to A level). You’ll also need to be able to speak English. The minimum general salary threshold will be reduced to £25,600. If you will earn less than this – but no less than £20,480 – you may still be able to apply by ‘trading’ points on specific characteristics against your salary. For example, if you have a job offer in a shortage occupation or have a PhD relevant to the job. Details of how the points system will work are in the policy statement. If you’re an employer planning to sponsor skilled migrants from 2021 and are not currently an approved sponsor, you should consider getting approved now.. Global talent scheme The global talent scheme will be opened up to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. It will allow highly-skilled scientists and researchers to come to the UK without a job offer.

Lower-skilled workers

There will not be an immigration route specifically for those who do not meet the skills or salary threshold for the skilled worker route. The seasonal agricultural visa pilot scheme will be expanded – recognising the significant reliance this sector has on low-skilled temporary workers. International students and graduates Student visa routes will be opened up to EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens. You’ll be able to apply for a visa to study in the UK if you: have been offered a place on a course can speak, read, write and understand English have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course A new graduate immigration route will be available to international students who have completed a degree in the UK from summer 2021. You’ll be able to work or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to 2 years.

Other visa routes

Short-term work visas in specific sectors (the current ‘Tier 5’) and investor, business development, and talent visas (the current ‘Tier 1’) will be opened up to EU citizens.

UK Immigration Health Surcharge Increase – Latest News

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) will increase from £400 to £624 a year starting October 2020.

Update (06 October 2020): The order was made today, the Immigration Health Surcharge increase will take place 21 days from now on 27 October 2020.

Update (24 September 2020): The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) increase has been delayed by the UK Government beyond 01 October 2020. The previous draft order was replaced by a new draft order stipulating that the IHS increase will take effect 21 days after the draft order is made into law. This is a very sensible approach by the UK Government, the applicants will receive a 21 days notice of the increase taking place.

The UK government has announced that the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is set to increase from £400 to £624 a year following their initial announcement in their manifesto during the 2019 election campaign. The IHS increase will come into effect for all applications submitted from October 2020 onwards.

The increase was announced by Rishi Sunak when the budget plans were presented to Parliament yesterday. The document states:

To ensure that new arrivals to the UK contribute to the funding of the NHS, the Immigration Health Surcharge will be increased to £624. The government will also introduce a new discounted rate of £470 for children in recognition of the increased financial impact on family groups.

Immigration Health Surcharge or IHS is the UK’s healthcare charge that non-EEA migrants need to pay to use the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). The charges, paid as part of the immigration application process, apply to all nationals from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland (EEA) coming to the U.K. for longer than six months to work, study, or join their family in the UK.

Tier 4 Students and migrants under the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme that had a slightly discounted rate of £300 per year will also see an increase in their charges to £470 per year.

IHS was introduced by the UK government in April 2015 urging migrants to make a fair contribution towards the costs of NHS. Initially, migrants outside of the EEA applying for more than six months of UK stay had to pay additional fees of £200 per year along with their application.

IHS was subsequently increased from £200 to £400 per year of visa on 8 January 2019. The increase was covered in our earlier article on NHS Fee increase.

Those applying for visitor visas or indefinite leave to remain (ILR) are exempt from paying the immigration health surcharge.