UK to expand detention estate to drive record removals of illegal migrants and foreign criminals
Government outlines new Employer-Sponsorship Route for recognised refugees
15-year settlement plan for migrant care workers branded ‘cruel’ by campaigners
Latest News
Campaigners slam plan to extend care-worker route to settlement from 5 to 15 years
A leaked Home Office draft would lengthen the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain for migrant care workers from five to 15 years. Unions and NGOs say the move will deepen staff shortages and exploitation, while ministers argue it is needed to curb net migration. The dispute highlights growing political tension over the government’s strategy for plugging social-care vacancies without offering rapid settlement rights.
TLScontact to take over UK Visa & Citizenship Application Services from Sopra Steria
From autumn 2024 TLScontact will replace Sopra Steria as the UK-based provider of Visa & Citizenship Application Services, while VFS Global will take over several overseas VAC regions. The switch—announced on 29 June—foreshadows eVisa roll-out and could disrupt appointment availability, so employers should audit submission pipelines and revisit supplier agreements well ahead of the hand-over.
Home Office unveils 40 % expansion of detention estate to drive record removals
The Home Office will increase immigration-detention capacity by 40 %, enabling the deportation of some 45,000 foreign offenders and failed asylum seekers over the coming decade. The plan comes with a doubled enforcement budget and previews tougher human-rights laws in an Immigration & Asylum Bill due this session.
Commons Library flags sharp two-year fall in international student numbers and tougher visa regime
Parliamentary researchers report a 10 % drop in overseas student numbers since the 2022/23 peak, linking the fall to higher visa costs, compliance crack-downs and planned cuts to the Graduate Route. Universities face revenue risks, while employers may encounter a smaller pipeline of graduate-visa talent.
Data show 1.34 million Nigerian visa refusals since 2005 as UK tightens Skilled Worker and student rules
Home Office entry-clearance data analysed by The Star show that 1.34 million Nigerian visa applications have been refused over 21 years, with refusal rates climbing again after the UK tightened Skilled Worker salary thresholds and barred most student dependants. The trend highlights compliance challenges for UK sponsors recruiting from Nigeria and raises questions about future ‘visa-brake’ sanctions.
Government proposes new employer-sponsorship route to bring recognised refugees to the UK
The forthcoming Immigration & Asylum Bill will create a UK employer-sponsorship route for recognised refugees, according to 29 June guidance from DavidsonMorris. Businesses could soon recruit refugees directly, but licence rules and compliance duties are still to be confirmed, making early policy engagement essential.
Eurostar issues red alert as power cut and heatwave cripple services on 29 June
A power failure in Rotterdam and residual heat restrictions forced Eurostar to cancel or delay multiple services on 29 June, with the operator warning of continued disruption into 30 June. The incident complicates corporate travel plans and underscores infrastructure challenges as European summers grow hotter.
Weekly Sponsor-Licence Register update adds 71 UK employers and removes 42 for non-compliance
On 28 June the Home Office published its weekly sponsor-licence update, approving 71 new organisations and striking off 42 for compliance failures. With the total register now at 71,402, HR and mobility teams must use the 26 June version when issuing Certificates of Sponsorship and prepare for a planned shift to an API-driven system.
Severe thunderstorms delay more than 900 flights at Heathrow and Gatwick, NATS warns of rolling disruption
Lightning storms on 27–28 June forced Heathrow and Gatwick to slow arrivals and departures, delaying or cancelling more than 900 flights. With air-traffic restrictions likely to persist into Sunday, businesses face missed connections and duty-of-care costs, even though UK261 compensation may not apply.
Engineering works cut Eurostar capacity on 27–28 June, limiting London–Continent services
Over-running infrastructure works in Belgium mean Eurostar is operating a stripped-down timetable on 27–28 June, with several London-linked trains cancelled or running as ‘limited service’. Corporate travellers should expect crowded services and consider alternative routings.