Home Office quietly expands right-to-work checks for UK sponsor-licence holders
London Underground strikes set to snarl Heathrow access and disrupt international business travel
Arora Group pitches phased ‘Heathrow West’ plan to fast-track third-runway capacity
Latest News
UK-France ‘One-In, One-Out’ Channel Returns Pilot Extended Until October
The Home Office and Élysée Palace have agreed to keep the ‘one-in, one-out’ small-boats returns scheme running until 1 October 2026, extending the contentious pilot by almost four months. While the government claims the policy is cutting crossings, critics warn it endangers asylum-seekers and could trigger tougher transport checks that disrupt legitimate cross-border travel. Mobility managers should monitor any new carrier-liability rules and factor in longer processing times on the Dover–Calais route.
Home Office Confirms 2026 Visa Fees: Skilled Worker Now £769, Visitor £135
The 2026 Home Office fee schedule, published on 17 May, raises the cost of most UK visas: a six-month visitor visa climbs to £135, while an overseas Skilled Worker application reaches £769 (or £1,420 for grants over three years). In-country extensions remain far pricier and, together with a £1,035 annual health surcharge, could add thousands to mobility budgets.
People-Smuggling Arrests Jump 55 % as NCA Ramps Up Organised-Crime Blitz
New NCA data reveal 300 people-smuggling arrests in the year to April 2026, a 55 % rise on the prior period. The surge reflects extra resources devoted to dismantling Channel-crossing gangs and could bring tighter freight and right-to-work checks that affect UK employers and their assignees.
Tourist Survival Guide Issued Ahead of 19–22 May London Tube Strikes
A 17 May guide warns tourists and business travellers that RMT Tube strikes from 19–22 May will coincide with the Chelsea Flower Show, disrupting Heathrow connections and central London commutes. Employers should prepare for crowded Elizabeth line trains, consider remote meeting options and factor higher taxi costs into relocation budgets.