House of Lords says proposed 10-year settlement wait is ‘manifestly unfair’
Case of two Afghan sisters illustrates human cost of Labour’s 30-month refugee status
TLScontact out, VFS Global in: UK Visa Application Centres begin worldwide switchover
Latest News
New Appendix Skilled Worker rules tighten salary deduction and fee-repayment bans
The Home Office has updated Appendix Skilled Worker to bar employers from reclaiming immigration fees from sponsored employees and to tighten how salary thresholds are calculated. Sponsors must audit deductions and ensure pay meets requirements without worker contributions, or risk licence revocation from April 2027.
Brussels steps in as ‘One-in, One-out’ Channel migrant deal nears expiry
The European Commission has issued an action plan on Channel crossings as the bilateral UK-France ‘One in, one out’ returns agreement edges towards its October expiry. While Paris hails EU involvement as a diplomatic win, businesses face renewed uncertainty over small-boat pressures on freight and passenger routes.
Frontex warns EES biometric queues may persist until 2028 – what UK travellers and employers must plan for
Frontex told journalists on 23 June that the EU’s new Entry/Exit System will take at least one – and possibly two – years to bed in, meaning lengthy biometric queues at Schengen borders will persist into 2028. For UK travellers this is critical: Britain is the largest non-EU source market and first-time enrolment remains the pinch point. Corporates should extend connection buffers, encourage pre-registration where available and log employees’ first enrolment dates ahead of the parallel ETIAS launch late next year.
All the 2026 Skilled Worker visa changes in one place – higher salaries, B2 English and tougher enforcement
A 23 June MyVisaJobs briefing summarises six rule changes that make the UK Skilled Worker visa significantly harder and costlier: salary floor £41,700, English at B2, skill level RQF 6, higher fees and a spike in sponsor-licence revocations. Employers should audit roles and budgets immediately and prepare for further ILR and salary-benchmark reforms later this year.
Commons debate presses for tighter UK-Ireland border data-sharing after rise in cross-border smuggling
MPs used a Westminster Hall debate on 23 June to demand stronger real-time intelligence and joint patrols on the UK-Ireland land border after a spike in smuggling cases. The Home Office confirmed wider API sharing trials and hinted at legislation. Companies moving staff or goods between the Republic and Northern Ireland should expect tighter checks and ensure visa/ETA compliance.
Heathrow closes Terminal 4 multi-storey car park in major redevelopment – new parking and drop-off rules from today
From 23 June 2026 Heathrow has closed Terminal 4’s short-stay/Meet-and-Greet car park, shifting all parking to a remote Park & Ride facility while a multi-year rebuild is underway. The change adds up to 25 minutes to kerb-to-gate times and alters chauffeur pick-up arrangements, so corporate travel managers should update ground-transport guidance immediately.