British Lawyer

Сегодня. Заявление на гражданки Российской Федерации на гражданство. Рассмотрели и одобрили за 9 недель. Делюсь статистикой.

03 December 2021 – Just useful and interesting UK & EEA Immigration Law news and updates from the Legal Centre – Open 7 days a week - www.legalcentre.org - +44(0)3300010342, +44(0)7791145923 (WhatsApp/Viber) >>> Can I use a designated professional referee for Naturalization if the referee is now retired ? The answer is "Yes, if they were permanent when working". Namely: "Retired professionals can be used as referees where the list of acceptable professions specifically mentions it, i.e.: “Officer of the armed services (active or retired).” Also, civil servants who were permanent when working." See https://www.forum.ukcen.com/resources/uk-citizenship/naturalisation/referees/970-professional-referees

02 December 2021 – Just useful and interesting UK & EEA Immigration Law news and updates from the Legal Centre – Open 7 days a week - www.legalcentre.org - +44(0)3300010342, +44(0)7791145923 (WhatsApp/Viber) >>> Supreme Court overturns expansion of benefits rights for EU citizens:https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2021-0008.html The Supreme Court has overturned last year’s ruling that EU citizens with pre-settled status should be able to claim Universal Credit without having to jump through hoops. The case is Fratila and another v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2021] UKSC 53. Pre-settled status allows EU citizens living in the UK before Brexit took effect to stay here legally. It lasts for five years, after which people can upgrade to full settled status. The conditions for getting pre-settled status were not particularly onerous: residence, even for a short period, was the main thing. But when it comes to claiming benefits, the government brought in regulations saying that pre-settled status was not enough to satisfy the residence condition for the likes of Universal Credit. People with pre-settled status can still claim Universal Credit, but have to prove that they have a stronger “right to reside” than pre-settled status alone — such as being a “worker” under EU law. Ms Fratila and Mr Tanase, both Romanian citizens living in the UK, challenged these regulations and eventually won a pretty bombshell ruling in their favour in the Court of Appeal. The UK government took the case to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, in July 2021, the Court of Justice of the European Union handed down a decision in a similar case that cut the rug from under their challenge. Essentially, Fratila relied on Article 18 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the Court of Justice held that Article 18 did not apply to people with pre-settled status. “As a result”, the Supreme Court held today, “the first issue in this appeal has been answered by the CJEU definitively in favour of the appellant [the DWP] and the second issue does not arise”. And that’s all she wrote, pretty much. The judgment is only a few pages long. There was a last-ditch attempt to raise different legal arguments, instead of Article 18, but the Supreme Court held it would “clearly be inappropriate” to allow that. Keen Fratila-watcher Charlotte O’Brien had anticipated this outcome in a memo written in September, and has some thoughts on other avenues of legal challenge where EU citizens in this position are facing barriers to claiming benefits. For the time being, though, the regulations stating that they have to establish a right to reside, even if they already have pre-settled status, are back.

- Законодательство (первоисточник): Standard Visitor Visa: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor - Решение этого вопроса: https://legalcentre.org/Konsultacija-s-Advokatom.html

Сегодня. Гражданка России. Жена британца. Заявление на гражданство. Рассмотрели и одобрили за 2.5 месяца. Делюсь статистикой.

01 December 2021 – Just useful and interesting UK & EEA Immigration Law news and updates from the Legal Centre – Open 7 days a week - www.legalcentre.org - +44(0)3300010342, +44(0)7791145923 (WhatsApp/Viber) >>> Skilled Worker Eligibility Calculator: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/skilled-worker-points-calculator The Skilled Worker Eligibility Checker is a new tool which enables prospective employers and workers to check if a particular job is eligible under the Skilled Worker route, giving users confidence that they may meet eligibility criteria before they apply. The changes are part of our ambitious plans to simplify and reform the UK’s border and immigration system. >>> Priority visa services – for those able to apply using the ID Check app From 30 November, priority visa (PV) services will be available to EU nationals holding a biometric passport from an EU country (including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland) and who are applying via the UK Immigration: ID Check app available both in and out of the UK for the following routes: Skilled worker Health and Care worker Student For applications made via the ID Check app, the PV processing time is usually a 5 UK working day service. PV starts on the beginning of the next working day (not including weekends) once the customer has completed all actions and have uploaded all their supporting documents. >>> Visa application fee tool: https://www.gov.uk/visa-fees The Visa fees tool on GOV.UK is a helpful guide to quickly find the cost of a visa application. By entering the country you are making your application from, the visa category and the type of visa required, a results table with the visa application fee(s) will be displayed. Any extra payments associated with visa routes, for example the health surcharge, are not displayed in the table but remain applicable in addition to the visa application fee.

Сегодня. Гражданка Латвии. Заявление на гражданство. Клиентка не работала и имела только 3.5 года частной страховки (была нужна для граждан EU кто не работал). Пришлось приложить усилия и убедить Home Office, что клиентка достойна британского гражданства. Home Office согласился с моими доводами и клиентка стала британской гражданкой. Заявление рассмотрели за 2 месяца. Делюсь статистикой. В продолжение о "Essex immigration officer who admitted visa fraud jailed". См. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-15898806

Из моей судебной практики. Столкнулся со случаем, когда один сотрудник Home Office за деньги выдавал ILR (ПМЖ). Этого сотрудника вычислили и осудили. Цитата из решения суда: "” [“ILR”] was procured irregularly by a dishonest employee of the Home Office who has since pleaded guilty and been sentenced to a term of imprisonment.”" Ссылка на судебное дело, где это упоминается: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2015/391.html Насколько я знаю, это был не единичный случай...

This is how the UK Visa Application Email looks like, advising that the Legal Centre client UK Spouse Visa application is about to be considered by the Home Office's caseworker in Sheffield. The application was lodged in Kyiv, Ukraine. Вот так выглядит Email из Британского Визового Центра, уведомляющего о том, что заявление клиентки на визу жены британского гражданина будет рассмотено сотрудником Home Office в Шеффилде. Заявленте было подано в Киеве, Украина.

Продление визы Tier 5 (Seasonal Worker) без выезда - практический пример. Вот как выглядит положительное решение о продлении визы Tier 5 (Seasonal Worker) без выезда из Великобритании. Обычно продлить визу Tier 5 ("на ферму") невозможно. Хотя бывают некоторые исключения. Например, заболевание COVID и/или срочная операция. Обратилась пара с Украины - парень и девушка. Они находятся здесь по действительной визе Tier 5 (Seasonal Worker), которая заканчивается в середине декабря 2021 года. Девушка заболела COVID и ей была сделано срочная операция. Им нужно было остаться в Великобритании на срок в несколько месяцев: девушке восстановиться после операции, а ее парню просто побыть с ней в Великобритании. Я помог подготовить заявление (кстати, ГОСПОШЛИНА = 0, т.е. БЕСПЛАТНО). Положительное решение пришло на следующий день - см. решение Home Office. ИММИГРАЦИОННЫЙ СТАТУС ПРОДЛИЛИ ДО 24 ФЕВРАЛЯ 2022. Потенциально возможно дальнейшее продление. Обратите внимание, что эта молодая пара может продолжать работать в Великобритании. Если Вы находитесь в такой же ситуации и Вам необходимо продлить Вашу Tier 5 визу - обращайтесь к нам в Legal Centre: www.legalcentre.org, +447791145923 (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram), +443300010342 (офис).

29 November 2021 – Just useful and interesting UK & EEA Immigration Law news and updates from the Legal Centre – Open 7 days a week - www.legalcentre.org - +44(0)3300010342, +44(0)7791145923 (WhatsApp/Viber) >>> EU law still applies in legacy appeals under the EEA Regulations: https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKUT/IAC/2021/285.html Geci (EEA Regs: transitional provisions, appeal rights) Albania [2021] UKUT 285 (IAC) is another appeal under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016, but with “highly unusual” facts. Mr Geci had returned to the UK in breach of a deportation order (twice). Rather than seeking to enforce the deportation order, the Home Office decided to refuse to issue a residence card pursuant to regulation 24 of the EEA Regulations. The Upper Tribunal found that it had no power to do so. The official headnote (1) The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 (“the EEA Regulations”) were revoked in their entirety on 31 December 2020 by paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 1(1) to the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020. (2) Many of the provisions of the EEA Regulations are preserved (although subject to amendment) for the purpose of appeals pending as at 31 December 2020 by the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations (SI 2020 1309), (“the EEA Transitional Regulations”). The preserved provisions and amendments made are set out in paragraphs 5 and 6 of Schedule 3 to the EEA Transitional Regulations. (3) The effect of the amendments is that the sole ground of appeal is now, in effect, whether the decision under appeal breaches the appellant’s rights under the EU Treaties as they applied in the United Kingdom prior to 31 December 2020. (4) The issue of a residence card is an administrative matter. Although the Secretary of State does have power under the EEA Regulations to refuse to issue a residence card on grounds of public policy, public security or public health, she does not have the right to do so under Directive 2004/38/EC or the EU Treaties. >>> Court of Appeal tells SIAC to pay more respect to Home Office on national security: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/1642.html Secretary of State for the Home Department v P3 [2021] EWCA Civ 1642 is about how much SIAC should defer to the Home Secretary’s view about national security concerns. The answer is quite a lot, but not too much. The background to this case is the Supreme Court decision in Begum, which was decided after the SIAC judgment under appeal. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that when assessing the Home Secretary’s view of the national security risk posed by an appellant, SIAC should apply ordinary public law principles to the decision rather than making its own assessment of the risk.

Сегодня. Клиентка, гражданка России. Заявление на ПМЖ (ILR) по категории "жена британца" - анкета SET(M). Рассмотрели за 1 день. Делюсь статистикой.

Неделя заканчивается получение супружеской (жена британца) визы для гражданки Белоруссии. Заявление рассмотрели и одобрили чуть менее чем за 6 недель. Делюсь статистикой.

Сегодня. Заявление на ПМЖ по категории "не расписанный партнер" британского гражданина (SET(M)). Заявление одобрили за 1 день. Делюсь статистикой.

Вот так выглядят Zoom конференции с участием Legal Centre и Home Office. Во время конференций возможно непосредственно задать вопросы, и получить ответы от руководства того или иного департамента Home Office. На конференции вчера обсуждались грядущие изменения в иммиграционных законах Великобритании, запуск новых иммиграционных программ (помните HSMP / Tier1(General) ?), отмена BRP (с 2025) и т.п.

23 November 2021 – Just useful and interesting UK & EEA Immigration Law news and updates from the Legal Centre – Open 7 days a week - www.legalcentre.org - +44(0)3300010342, +44(0)7791145923 (WhatsApp/Viber) >>> Which immigration form may be used to apply for the early settlement concession for young people living half their lives in the UK ? Currently, there is no clarity from the Home Office. Yet the present wording of the policy indicates that the concession will be considered at the time of an ‘application’ and refers back to the policy that ILR can be considered exceptionally where an application for further leave to remain is made if requested. Therefore, the general understanding is that as the concession is accessed, by making the request for ILR at the time of making an application for further leave to remain using Form FLR(FP) if applicants have accrued 5 years lawful residence and prior to the expiry of their existing leave. >>> Upper Tribunal revisits issue of permission for video evidence from abroad: https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKUT/IAC/2021/286.html The Upper Tribunal published its decision in Agbabiaka (evidence from abroad, Nare guidance) Nigeria [2021] UKUT 286 (IAC). The tribunal found that a party seeking to have oral evidence given from abroad needs to “make the necessary enquiries” with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to check whether the foreign government in question has any objection. The full headnote is set out below. The official headnote (1) There is an understanding among Nation States that one State should not seek to exercise the powers of its courts within the territory of another, without having the permission of that other State to do so. Any breach of that understanding by a court or tribunal in the United Kingdom risks damaging this country’s relationship with other States with which it has diplomatic relations and is, thus, contrary to the public interest. The potential damage includes harm to the interests of justice. (2) The position of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs is that it is accordingly necessary for there to be permission from such a foreign State (whether on an individual or general basis) before oral evidence can be taken from that State by a court or tribunal in the United Kingdom. Such permission is not considered necessary in the case of written evidence or oral submissions. (3) Henceforth, it will be for the party to proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal who is seeking to have oral evidence given from abroad to make the necessary enquiries with the Taking of Evidence Unit of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in order to ascertain whether the government of the foreign State has any objection to the giving of evidence to the Tribunal from its territory. (4) The First-tier Tribunal will need to be informed at an early stage of the wish to give evidence from abroad. The party concerned will need to give the Tribunal an indication of the nature of the proposed evidence (which need not, at this stage, be in the form of a witness statement). (5) The Tribunal’s duty to seek to give effect to the overriding objective may require it, in particular, to consider alternatives to the giving of oral evidence where (for example) there are delays in the FCDO obtaining an answer from the foreign State. Each case will need to be considered on its merits. (6) The experience gained by the First-tier Tribunal in hearing oral evidence given in the United Kingdom by remote means during the Covid-19 pandemic is such that there should no longer be a general requirement for such evidence to be given from another court or tribunal hearing centre. (7) The guidance given by the Upper Tribunal in Nare (evidence by electronic means) Zimbabwe [2011] UKUT 443 (IAC) is amended to the above extent.

Пожалуйста. Я был рад помочь Вам.

Пожалуйста, я рад был Вам помочь. Да, права Вашей работы подтверждается Sectin 3C Act 1981, на всякий случай (NB Разумеется, в случае, если заявление подано правильно, было validated и т.п.). PS "Все говорили" являются стабильными поставщиками клиентов после таких советов. По-видимому, я этим "Все говорили" должен быть благодарен в какой-то степени.

Сегодня. Продление супружеской визы - мама и ее дочь старше 18 лет. Заявление FLR(M). Рассмотрели и одобрили за 1 день. Делюсь статистикой.

22 November 2021 – Just useful and interesting UK & EEA Immigration Law news and updates from the Legal Centre – Open 7 days a week - www.legalcentre.org - +44(0)3300010342, +44(0)7791145923 (WhatsApp/Viber) >>> Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...nt=immediately Information on applying for a visitor visa has been updated: "Standard UK visitor visas are currently taking longer than usual to be processed due to high global demand. You should bear this in mind when making travel arrangements. UKVI are working hard to process applications as soon as possible. You will be contacted by the Visa Application Centre (VAC) when your passport is ready for collection. Do not attend the VAC until you have been invited to do so. You are not required to book any travel before you apply or before a decision is made on your application. You’ll only be refunded if we have not started processing your application."

22 November 2021 – Just useful and interesting UK & EEA Immigration Law news and updates from the Legal Centre – Open 7 days a week - www.legalcentre.org - +44(0)3300010342, +44(0)7791145923 (WhatsApp/Viber) >>> Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=c943e1df-3823-4602-954b-6ccef749e40d&utm_content=immediately Information on applying for a visitor visa has been updated: "Standard UK visitor visas are currently taking longer than usual to be processed due to high global demand. You should bear this in mind when making travel arrangements. UKVI are working hard to process applications as soon as possible. You will be contacted by the Visa Application Centre (VAC) when your passport is ready for collection. Do not attend the VAC until you have been invited to do so. You are not required to book any travel before you apply or before a decision is made on your application. You’ll only be refunded if we have not started processing your application." >>> Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=301a2e40-13ac-47d4-a899-9ed519e0db11&utm_content=immediately The list of test centres in the UK and outside the UK updated. >>> EU Settlement Scheme caseworker guidance: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwibjL2m8qv0AhWDnVwKHWVsCxwQFnoECAIQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1033149%2FEU_Settlement_Scheme_EU__other_EEA__Swiss_citizens_and_family_members.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1EA15-vJaEuKPItXHzsUnd Updated version of “EU Settlement Scheme: EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members”, which has been published. It also includes guidance from the deleted document “EU Settlement Scheme: coronavirus (COVID-19)”. >>> Chapter 08: Appendix FM family members (immigration staff guidance): https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiq-7HH8qv0AhUEQEEAHZlyBoQQFnoECAkQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F948056%2Fadult-dependent-relatives-v1.0ext.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3B8RNt9lfDUvl25AoBItbV Updated ‘Adult dependent relatives’ guidance.

Увы, уже никак. Upgrade не возможен. Нужно было подождать и "ловить" Super Priority Service. Ну, или остался 1 вариант. Все отменить (если не сдали биометрику), подать анкету заново и оплатить все заново. Refund за старое заявление придет через несколько недель.

Добрый вечер. Если заявление подали по Правилам, обычно можете.

Трудно сказать. Я в своих сопроводительных письмах простым языком объясняю Home Office что я хочу и оставляю им выбор. Возможно, у Вас получится так же все быстро.

16 November 2021 – Just useful and interesting UK & EEA Immigration Law news and updates from the Legal Centre – Open 7 days a week - www.legalcentre.org - +44(0)3300010342, +44(0)7791145923 (WhatsApp/Viber) >>> Upper Tribunal is not the place for new evidence: https://tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/2021-ukut-272 Immigration appeals can last a long time: often years and years. What happens when things change during the appeal? This is the question answered by the Upper Tribunal in Akter (appellate jurisdiction; E and R challenges) [2021] UKUT 272 (IAC). The main take away from this case is: don’t appeal to the Upper Tribunal on the basis of new evidence. Send it to the Home Office instead. This can be frustrating, as it essentially means starting the whole process all over again. But given the Upper Tribunal’s reluctance to consider anything that was not before the First-tier Tribunal, it is likely to be the only way to get anyone to look at it and consider the case afresh. The official headnote "(1) GM (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWCA Civ 1630 is not authority for the proposition that an appellate court or tribunal has a free-standing duty, derived from section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (public authority not to act incompatibly with ECHR right), to disturb a decision of a lower tribunal. The jurisdiction of the appellate court or tribunal is governed by sections 12 and 14 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, which depends on the lower tribunal having made an error of law before its decision can be disturbed on appeal. (2) A party who wishes to submit that a decision of a tribunal which is otherwise free from legal error should be disturbed on appeal on the basis identified by Carnwath LJ in E and R v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2004] EWCA Civ 49 should do so clearly, when seeking permission to appeal on that basis. (3) In deciding whether the principles in Ladd v Marshall [1954] 1 WLR 1489, as applied by E & R, should be modified in exceptional circumstances, the ability to make fresh submissions to the Secretary of State, pursuant to paragraph 353 of the immigration rules, is highly material to the question of whether those principles should be diluted."