Nine EU states postpone full roll-out of Entry/Exit System, prompting fresh concerns for UK travellers
Home Office issues safeguard for adult social-care visa holders after sponsor licence revocations
Assistive-services strike at Gatwick suspended after improved pay offer
Latest News
Heathrow issues multiple Operational Advice Notices for 14-15 September power outages
Heathrow has circulated new OANs confirming overnight maintenance power cuts in Terminals 3 and 5 on 15 September, with contingency procedures for airlines and handlers. Although passenger impact should be modest, travellers with tight connections and shippers of time-critical cargo are advised to plan for possible delays.
Freight forwarders warn Heathrow cargo delays to linger after ATC outage
BIFA has told members that knock-on cargo delays from the 8 September ATC failure at Heathrow are likely to persist for several days, with perishable and high-value goods most affected. Forwarders are re-routing via EU hubs and advising shippers to provide precise ready-times to minimise hold-ups.
Exercise Cobra Warrior triggers UK airspace restrictions from 14 September
NATS has activated temporary restricted airspace for Exercise Cobra Warrior, running 14 September–1 October. Flights below FL 245 may face rerouting and brief delays, so operators and mobility planners should review NOTAMs, add contingency fuel and reconfirm slots—especially for business-aviation missions in eastern England.
Home Office introduces mandatory multi-factor authentication and phases out Level 2 users on Sponsor Management System
Version 08/26 of the Sponsor Guidance makes multi-factor authentication compulsory for all Sponsor Management System users and begins retiring the Level 2 user role. Employers that fail to adapt risk licence suspension, but revocations for dormant accounts will no longer trigger a full cooling-off period. HR and mobility teams must audit users, upgrade permissions and embed MFA into their compliance frameworks.
Report Finds Asylum Seekers Injured During UK-France ‘One-in-One-out’ Deportations
French medical charity Samusocial has documented fractures, bruising and psychological trauma among migrants returned from the UK under the ‘one-in-one-out’ scheme. NGOs say the evidence points to mistreatment in UK detention facilities and are pressing for legal action. The revelations raise litigation and reputational risks for UK contractors and could trigger operational disruption at border points, making them highly relevant for corporate mobility teams.
Nine EU states push back full roll-out of EES border checks, easing pressure on UK travellers
France, Germany and seven other EU countries have won another reprieve from Brussels to finish installing biometric hardware for the Entry/Exit System, postponing mandatory fingerprinting of non-EU visitors. The move averts peak-season bottlenecks for UK travellers while giving carriers more time to embed the voluntary ‘Travel to Europe’ pre-registration app. Businesses should still prepare staff for full EES compliance in 2027, because overstays will be automatically logged once the system is live.
UNISON Warns Visa-Settlement Reform Will Push Overseas Care Staff Out of UK
At the TUC, UNISON branded Home Office plans to extend the settlement period for many public-service visa holders from 5 to 15 years an ‘attack’ on essential workers. The change would raise sponsorship costs and exacerbate staff shortages in health and social care, posing strategic and budgeting challenges for UK employers who rely on overseas recruits.
Home Office Updates Employer Guide on Right-to-Work Checks Ahead of ‘Extended Liability’ Regime
A revised draft Employer’s Guide confirms wider civil-penalty exposure from 1 October 2026, extending right-to-work liability to contractors and gig-platform engagements. New evidential standards for remote ID checks and tighter rectification deadlines mean UK sponsors and global mobility teams must update onboarding processes urgently.
Nine EU States Push Back EES Roll-out, Offering Temporary Relief for UK Travellers
France and eight other EU countries have postponed full biometric border checks under the Entry/Exit System, citing technical concerns. The 14 September decision averts severe congestion for UK holiday-makers and business travellers this autumn, but only buys limited time before phased roll-out resumes.
Guidance on Curtailing Leave for Adult Social-Care Sponsors Overhauled
On 14 September 2026 the Home Office shortened the grace period for sponsored adult-care workers to find a new employer after their sponsor loses its licence, and introduced digital service of curtailment notices. The move heightens compliance risk for care providers and could create sudden staffing gaps affecting service delivery.
Afghan Veterans Forced to Transit Tajikistan as Self-Move Policy Bites
The Independent reveals that Afghan veterans eligible for UK resettlement are stranded in Tajikistan, facing high living costs and family separation due to the MoD’s ‘self-move’ policy. Rising visa charges and closed Pakistan borders compound delays, shrinking an important skilled-labour source for UK defence contractors and fuelling criticism of the government’s handling of ARAP.
Parliament Publishes Immigration Fees Amendment, Adding Human-Rights Exemptions
A statutory instrument published on 14 September introduces new fee waivers for immigration detainees and families in the returns process, removes obsolete Start-up visa fees and harmonises Isle of Man charges with UK Global Business Mobility routes. While core work-visa fees stay flat, sponsors should note possible processing delays and update cost forecasts.
ICIBI launches inspection into Home Office handling of high-harm foreign national offenders on UK streets
The border watchdog has begun a formal inspection of how Immigration Enforcement tracks and manages high-risk foreign offenders living in the UK. Findings, expected early 2027, could reshape curtailment policy and thereby affect employer duties to monitor workers’ immigration status.
Heathrow Issues 14 September Operational Notices on Terminal 5 Power Outage
Heathrow’s 14 September Operational Advice Notices detail overnight power-outage works at Terminal 5 Stands and associated road closures later in September. Airlines will have to adjust gate plans and deploy ground-power units, and travellers on late flights may face gate changes or bus transfers.
Removal of dental nurses from Skilled Worker route sees sponsored visa grants collapse 95 %
Home Office data published on 14 September reveal that only six sponsored visas were issued to overseas dental nurses in the past three quarters, down from 122 before the role became ineligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship in July 2025. The sudden drop highlights staffing risks for UK dental practices and the rising compliance bar for any employers that still hold sponsor licences.
Report finds physical injuries among asylum seekers returned to France under UK ‘one-in, one-out’ pilot
Healthcare evidence presented to French lawmakers records multiple cases of bruising, fractures and psychological trauma among migrants deported from the UK under the ‘one in, one out’ returns trial. The findings intensify pressure on the Home Office ahead of talks on a long-term agreement and highlight potential operational knock-ons for businesses reliant on smooth cross-Channel travel.