On 15 July, the House of Commons issued an open call for written evidence on the Immigration and Asylum Bill, the government’s flagship legislation to overhaul the UK migration system. The Public Bill Committee begins line-by-line scrutiny on 10 September and may close submissions early, prompting businesses and NGOs to act quickly. Headline measures include creation of an Independent Immigration Appeals Authority, tighter Article 8 (right to family life) thresholds, and replacement of multiple leave categories with a single ‘core protection’ status. The Bill also introduces a requirement for asylum recipients to make financial contributions once in employment and empowers the Home Office to levy civil penalties on sponsors who breach salary obligations. For global-mobility programmes, the most significant clause would widen the definition of “temporary migrant” to cover the first 10 years of residence, affecting access to public funds and potentially NHS surcharges. Employers may need to revise relocation policies and long-term assignment budgets. Legal experts believe the appeals authority could shorten waiting times—now averaging 49 weeks—by removing cases from the general tribunal system. However, migrant-rights groups fear the Bill reduces judicial oversight and could make it harder for trafficking survivors to secure protection. Stakeholders have until early September to submit evidence; HR, travel-management and relocation firms are urged to highlight operational impacts, particularly around sponsor-licence compliance and employee family reunion.
Source: UK Parliament News
