Information for travellers As we start the new year, there are changes on the horizon with the pre-travel requirements (Electronic Travel Authorisation – ETA) to non-Europeans and full implementation of the digital immigration status. If you have not already done so, we would recommend that you ensure all migrant and sponsored employees and students are aware of these changes. We are here to support you with any immigration matters and remove some of those challenges associated with Immigration compliance. Should you need any advice or support with anything, please do not hesitate to contact us .

Information for employers and their employees on BRPs and eVisa UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are developing a digital immigration system, which means replacing physical documents with an online record of the migrant or sponsored worker’s immigration status. This is referred to as an eVisa. Due to this change, physical BRP cards are no longer being issued. The UKVI have provided guidance for overseas applications, their employers and sponsors, on Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) to include information about the UKVI’s plan to replace physical documents with an online record of their immigration status (eVisa). Employers and sponsors may wish to inform or remind any migrant / sponsored workers who have BRPs expiring on 31 December 2024 that they should create a UKVI account now if they have not already done so. This is imperative if they are looking to travel outside the UK and Common Travel Area (CTA) over the festive period and return after January 2025. A UKVI account must be created for the migrant / sponsored worker to access their eVisa and share information about their immigration status and conditions, such as their right to work or rent in the UK. Where an employee has indefinite leave to enter or remain (also known as settlement) and they currently prove their rights through a different type of physical document, such as a wet-ink stamp in their passport or a vignette sticker, then they should make a free ‘ no time limit ’ (NTL) application. Once their NTL application has been decided, they will receive an eVisa. They will be told how to access their eVisa in their decision email or letter. Once the employee sets up their UKVI account, it is important that this is updated if there are any changes of circumstance or they obtain a new passport / travel document, as the eVisa will be linked to the passport on their account. If their passport / travel document changes and they do not update their UKVI account and link their eVisa to this new document, this could cause issues for them when travelling and returning to the UK. Further information about creating and updating their UKVI account can be viewed here . A UKVI account can be created here . The Home Office (UKVI) has also published help videos explaining what an eVisa is and how to access and use one – this can be viewed here . https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biometric-residence-permits-overseas-applicant-and-sponsor-information https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-immigration-status-evisa-help-video Illegal Working Penalities - published Quarterly Report (Q3 2024) The Home Office (UKVI) have published their quarterly report on the total number of fines (civil penalties) for illegal working issued to non-compliant employers in the UK. The quarterly report shows that during the period 1 April to 30 June 2024 a total of 568 penalties were issued, a total of 861 illegal workers were found, and the total value of penalties issued was £21,485,000. The quarterly report on civil penalties issued can be viewed here .   https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employers-illegal-working-penalties   Current Visa Processing Times - Work visas The Home Office (UKVI) have published their current decision waiting times for those applying from inside or outside the UK. Those applying to switch or extend their work visa from within the UK, should receive a decision within 8 weeks of attending their biometric appointment or the date the application / documents were received by the UKVI (if no appointment is required). Applications made under the Health and Care Visa normally receive a decision within 3 weeks  if applied for from inside the UK. The latest processing times for those applying from inside the UK can be viewed here . Those applying for a work visa from outside the UK, should get a decision within 3 weeks once they have either attended their appointment at the visa application centre (VAC)or used the ID Check app and submitted their application/supporting documents. The latest processing times for those applying from outside the UK can be viewed here . Applicants may be able to pay an additional fee to expedite their applications for a quicker decision. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-processing-times-applications-outside-the-uk https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-processing-times-applications-inside-the-uk

Information for education providers and their students on BRPs and eVisas UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are developing a digital immigration system, which means replacing physical documents with an online record of the migrant or sponsored worker’s immigration status. This is referred to as an eVisa. Due to this change, physical BRP cards are no longer being issued. The UKVI have provided guidance for migrant students and their sponsors on Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) to include information about the UKVI’s plan to replace physical documents with an online record of their immigration status (eVisa). Education providers and sponsors may wish to inform or remind any migrant / sponsored students who have BRPs expiring on 31 December 2024 that they should create a UKVI account now if they have not already done so. This is imperative if they are looking to travel outside the UK and Common Travel Area (CTA) over the festive period and return after January 2025. A UKVI account must be created for the migrant / sponsored student to access their eVisa and share information about their immigration status and conditions, such as their right to study and right to work or rent in the UK. Once the student (or their family) sets up their UKVI account, it is important that this is updated if there are any changes of circumstance or they obtain a new passport / travel document, as the eVisa will be linked to the passport on their account. If their passport / travel document changes and they do not update their UKVI account and link their eVisa to this new document, this could cause issues for them when travelling and returning to the UK.  Further information about creating and updating their UKVI account can be viewed here . A UKVI account can be created here . The Home Office (UKVI) has also published help videos explaining what an eVisa is and how to access and use one – this can be viewed here . https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biometric-residence-permits-overseas-applicant-and-sponsor-information https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-immigration-status-evisa-help-video   Financial evidence for Students and Child Student visa applicants (maintenance requirements) The Home Office (UKVI) have published revised maintenance requirements for those applying under the Student or Child Student route. If applying on or after 2 January 2025, applicants will need £1,483 per month to support themselves on a course in London and £1,136 per month if on a course outside London. Education sponsors may wish to ensure any Students or families of Child Students are aware of the requirement to provide evidence of meeting these increased maintenance costs (as well as any outstanding course / boarding / accommodation fees of up to 9 months) when they apply for their visas, unless they are exempt from providing financial evidence. The updated guidance on financial evidence for Student and Child Student applicants can be viewed here . https://www.gov.uk/guidance/financial-evidence-for-student-and-child-student-route-applicants   Current Visa Processing Times - Study visas The Home Office (UKVI) have published their current decision waiting times for those applying from inside or outside the UK for a study visa. Those applying to switch or extend their study visa from within the UK, should receive a decision within  8 weeks  of attending their biometric appointment or the date the application / documents were received by the UKVI (if no appointment is required). The latest processing times for those applying from inside the UK can be viewed  here . Those applying for a Student/Child Student visa or Short-term study visa from outside the UK, should get a decision within  3 weeks  once they have either attended their appointment at the visa application centre (VAC) or used the ID Check app and submitted their application/supporting documents. The latest processing times for those applying from outside the UK can be viewed  here . Applicants may be able to pay an additional fee to expedite their applications for a quicker decision. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-processing-times-applications-outside-the-uk https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-processing-times-applications-inside-the-uk   French-UK school trips - updated guidance The Home Office (UKVI) have published updated their guidance for those visiting the UK as part of a French-UK school trip. The updated guidance can be viewed here . The information has been updated to confirm that children do not need a visa or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), but adults may need a visa or an ETA, depending on their nationality. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-the-uk-as-part-of-a-french-school-trip

Worker and Temporary Worker Priority Sponsor Change of Circumstances service The Home Office (UKVI) have published updated guidance for Worker or Temporary Worker sponsors on the Priority change of circumstances service. The priority service is now open from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Any requests made outside of this time will not be considered. Additionally, there is now a maximum of 100 priority service requests that will be accepted each day. These changes will undoubtedly be welcome news for sponsors who have struggled to use the priority service in recent months. The updated guidance on the Priority change of circumstances service can be viewed here . https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-change-of-circumstances-for-sponsors Unexpected / scam calls claiming to be from the Home Office / UKVI If your Level 1 or Level 2 user receives an unexpected email, telephone call or letter from someone claiming to be from the Home Office (UKVI), it may be a scam. Please be vigilant! The Home Office (UKVI) will never contact you to ask you for, or to verify your SMS user ID or password OR to provide you with a link to log into the SMS system. If you are contacted by the Home Office (UKVI) and you have any concerns, you should call them on 0300 123 4699. There is also some useful guidance on Fraud, tricks and scams on the GOV.UK website, which can be viewed here . https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/frauds-tricks-and-scams/fraud-tricks-and-scams   Applying for a Student sponsor licence - updated guidance The Home Office (UKVI) have updated their guidance for education providers / sponsors on applying for a sponsor licence. The key changes were as follows: Definitions for Private providers and Overseas HEIs have been added to the Glossary. References to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) have been replaced. with the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (Medr). References to the sponsor licence renewal process have been removed. References to the Premium Customer Service have been removed. A broken link to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in Table 3 on para. 6.13 has been fixed. The updated guidance can be viewed here . https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/student-sponsor-guidance/applying-for-a-student-sponsor-licence-accessible   Pre-licence priority service - updated guidance The Home Office (UKVI) have published updated guidance to sponsors and prospective sponsors on applying to use the Pre-licence Priority service. The ‘How to apply’ section has been updated to reflect that the pre-licence priority service is available between 9am and 23.59pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. You can either request the priority service when you make your application for a sponsor licence and pay the priority service fee with your application fee, subject to the eligibility criteria, or you can request priority service after you have submitted your application and paid your application fee by logging back into your sponsor application account and selecting ‘Finish incomplete applications’. Where you are successful in prioritising your licence application, normally you would receive a decision within 10 working days unless your application raises complex issues, and UKVI requires further time to assess these fully. The updated guidance can be viewed here . https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pre-licence-priority-service-guidance   Sponsorship Transparency Statistics (Q3 2024) The Home Office (UKVI) have published their Q3 2024 Sponsorship Transparency statistics. The key statistics from this quarterly report are as follows: As of Q3 2024, there were a total of 106,215 Skilled Worker sponsors, 1,053 Student sponsors, and 4,535 Temporary Worker sponsors registered with the UKVI. The number of new sponsor licence applications made in each route during this period were as follows: 9139 Skilled Worker licence applications, 318 Temporary Worker licence applications, 159 Skilled Worker / Temporary Worker joint licence applications, 18 Student licence applications, 4 Skilled Worker / Student joint licence applications, 1 Skilled Worker / Student / Temporary Worker joint licence application, and 1 Student / Temporary Worker joint licence application. The percentage of Student sponsors with full ‘Student Sponsor’ status was 95.5%. The average length of time taken (days) to process a sponsorship application was 29 days. The following actions were taken against sponsors during Q3 2024: 509 Skilled Worker licences were suspended / 513 were revoked, 49 Temporary Worker licences were suspended / 46 were revoked, and 4 Student sponsors were issued with an intention to revoke / 2 were revoked. The Q3 2024 Sponsorship Transparency Statistics can be viewed here . https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sponsorship-transparency-data-q3-2024