Migrant nurses warn new 10-year settlement rule will split families
Four-hour passport queues loom for British travellers as EU biometric system falters
Airports call for power to pause EES roll-out to avert ‘five-hour’ queues
Latest News
Home Office email blunder risks locking BRP holders out of new e-Visa system
A registration-link mix-up means many BRP holders never received the email needed to create their digital e-Visa account. Lawyers say thousands risk losing legal-status proof when physical permits are scrapped next year, potentially grounding travellers and costing employers.
Airlines accuse Heathrow of ‘blank-cheque’ approach as £33 bn expansion costs spiral
Airlines have launched an unprecedented campaign urging regulators to rein in Heathrow’s £33 bn third-runway scheme, saying passengers will end up footing the bill through higher charges. The CAA will decide this summer whether to overhaul the airport’s cost-recovery model.
Home Office schedules 2026 ‘migration transparency’ and visa-application data releases
The Home Office has confirmed publication dates for its 2026 migration-performance dashboards and monthly visa-application statistics, giving businesses advance sight of processing-time data that will underpin planning for next year’s ETA enforcement.
Dependants left in limbo under UK’s proposed ‘earned settlement’ income test
Oxford University researchers say the government’s draft ‘earned-settlement’ rules would bar many non-working or lower-earning partners of skilled migrants from permanent residence. Business groups warn the policy will deter global talent and disproportionately hit women, while ministers argue settlement should reflect economic contribution.
India-UK Young Professionals Scheme: February ballot dates confirmed
Guidance updated on 10 February confirms the first 2026 ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme will run 17–19 February. With 3,000 slots on offer, UK employers gain a cost-effective route to hire Indian graduates for up to two years without sponsorship obligations.
Home Office schedules February & March entry-clearance statistics releases
Official Home Office notices dated 10 February set provisional publication dates for the February and March 2026 entry-clearance statistics. Monthly visa data are increasingly vital for employers tracking processing times and planning global assignments.
Migration Observatory updates analysis on ‘earned settlement’ implications
An updated Migration Observatory commentary released on 10 February quantifies how the draft ‘earned settlement’ rules could delay permanent residence for up to 425,000 migrants. The analysis stresses the need for transition safeguards and flags retention risks for UK employers.