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Важные судебные решения и новости для иммигрантов

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06 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> Update on registration applications under s4C BNA 1981

It may assist readers to know that the Home Office will grant registration as British without a citizenship ceremony under the relatively new provision to allow registration as British under s4C where the applicant has a criminal record (following the coming into force on 25 July 2019 of the BNA 1981 (Remedial) Order 2019 which removes the usual good character requirement).

For example, by the time the applicant’s application was approved the applicant was back in prison on a long-term basis and was thus not able to attend a citizenship ceremony. It is possible to make representations to the Home Office that when the guidance about when to waive the requirement to attend a citizenship ceremony was drafted, the possibility of a candidate being in custody had not been contemplated, as all adult applications were subject to a good character requirement. The Home Office then simply sent a registration certificate by post.

>>> Mentally ill man detained for 838 days awarded £100,000 compensation: https://www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk/news/home-office-admits-unlawful-detention-of-mentally-ill-man

A mentally ill Iranian man who was kept in immigration detention for 838 days in total has secured £100,000 in compensation from the Home Office. The test case concerning a man known as AKE was settled in the High Court recently.

The settlement does mean the legal issues in the case will not now be thrashed out in court. The Court of Appeal has repeatedly held that he immigration detention system discriminates against migrants with mental health conditions, in breach of the Equality Act 2010.

>>> Risk of trauma for children not enough to prevent deportation: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2019/2051.html

“…This is not a comfortable interpretation to apply. But that is what Parliament has decided…”

So held Lord Justice Baker, giving judgment in SSHD v KF (Nigeria) [2019] EWCA Civ 2051, and yet another deportation case in the Court of Appeal.

The case considered the meaning of “unduly harsh” in family separation cases, and endorses the line taken in SSHD v PG (Jamaica) [2019] EWCA Civ 1213 following the Supreme Court case of KO (Nigeria) v SSHD [2018] UKSC 53.
KF and his son.

In appealing against a 2014 deportation order following a three-year prison sentence for burglary and two robberies, KF relied on his relationship with family members in the UK, and in particular with his British son. He argued that it would be “unduly harsh” on his son for him to be deported (see Exception 2 in section 117C(5) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002).

The First-tier Tribunal agreed, and this finding was upheld by the Upper Tribunal. In its assessment of the impact of KF’s deportation on his son the First-tier Tribunal had held:
“For [KF’s son], the adverse consequences remaining in the UK are likely to be that he would be deprived of a proper relationship with his father. I do not accept that maintaining a relationship, while living on different continents, via modern means of communication is in any way a substitute for growing up with a parent. [KF’s] son is very young. This is the time when he would normally be bonding with his father. I think I am entitled to take judicial notice of the fact that being deprived of a parent is something a child is likely to find traumatic and that will potentially have long-lasting adverse consequences for that child. I take into account that in this case [KF’s] son has limited knowledge of his father and has the benefit of a supportive extended family. However in my view that is no substitute for the emotional and developmental benefits for a 3 year old child that are associated with being brought up by both parents during its formative years. These benefits have been recognised by the courts on numerous occasions and the consequences of losing them should not be minimised.”

In November 2017, the Secretary of State applied out of time for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision of the Upper Tribunal (made in August 2017). This was granted a year later following the judgment in KO (Nigeria).

Risk of trauma? No worries!

The Court of Appeal did not dispute the facts of the case. It described the conclusions relating to the importance of being brought up by both parents as “indisputable”. But:

“…those benefits are enjoyed by all three-year-old children in the care of both parents. The judge observed that it was a “fact that being deprived of a parent is something a child is likely to find traumatic and that will potentially have long-lasting adverse consequences for that child” and that he was entitled to take judicial notice of that fact. But the “fact” of which he was taking “judicial notice” is likely to arise in every case where a child is deprived of a parent. All children should, where possible, be brought up with a close relationship with both parents. All children deprived of a parent’s company during their formative years will be at risk of suffering harm. Given the changes to the law introduced by the amendments to [the] 2002 Act, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, it is necessary to look for consequences characterised by a degree of harshness over and beyond what every child would experience in such circumstances.”

The court reinforced the finding in PG (Jamaica) that there must be something in the factual matrix of a case which distinguishes it from other cases where a family is separated. It went on to allow the appeal and restore the original deportation order.

It’s what the people want

As well as continuing a trend in which the Court of Appeal remakes deportation appeal decisions rather than remitting them to the tribunal (and here for example, not considering at all whether “very compelling circumstances” might prevent deportation under section 117C(6), a step required where neither of the exceptions apply), this decision further embeds the problematic interpretation of the “unduly harsh” test as explored in our write-up of PG (Jamaica).

In reality, then, notwithstanding the real and accepted prospect of trauma and long-lasting adverse consequences for the children of deported parents, foreign national offenders sentenced to longer than 12 months facing deportation will need to show more than this to meet the test.

It is unsurprising that this causes the judges deciding these cases some discomfort.

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09 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> General grounds for refusal: false representation: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-grounds-for-refusal-false-representation

This guidance is supplementary guidance relating to refusals on grounds of false representation under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules (the general grounds for refusal or GGfR) and the parallel provisions in Appendix Armed Forces, Appendix FM and Appendix V.

>>> UKVI update: Applying for a UK visa: approved English language tests: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiI0qfIyKjmAhXvA2MBHYeZCR8QFjAAegQIAxAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F850654%2FApproved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres__-_5_December_2019.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3L96Cma3I0MH37VOuJb-kj

Change made:

List of approved tests and providers from 7 November 2019 replaced with current list from 5 December 2019

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11 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> High Court win for Turkish citizens accused of dishonesty: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2019/3208.html

In the case of R (Karagul & Ors) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 3208 (Admin), the High Court has found that the Home Office breached the principle of procedural fairness when refusing applications under the Ankara Agreement on the basis of bad faith or dishonesty.

Refused leave to remain amid dishonesty allegations

The case involved four Turkish nationals refused leave to remain in the UK as businesspersons under the Turkish European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA), commonly known as the “Ankara Agreement”.

All four applications were refused on the ground that the Home Office did not believe the applicants had a genuine intention to establish a business. As those were not human rights claims, the only remedies available to those applicants was administrative review or judicial review. The system of administrative review did not allow them to submit further evidence in answer to the allegations of dishonesty. So they turned to judicial review, arguing that:

1.    The remedial regime for challenging the refusals violates the EU law principle of effectiveness; and
2.    The way in which the decisions were made by the Home Office was in breach of common law fairness standards.

The High Court dismissed the first argument. It held that the claimants could not explain why a judicial review was incapable of providing effective protection to their rights to an effective remedy and fair trial.

It did, however, accept the second argument, relying heavily on the recent Court of Appeal case of Balajigari v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWCA Civ 673.

Officials must interview or follow a “minded to refuse” process

When refusing the claimants’ applications for leave, on the basis that they did not have a genuine intention or wish to establish their proposed businesses, the Home Office did not afford them an opportunity to address those allegations. Once their applications were refused, the claimants could only challenge the refusals by way of administrative review.

Following Balajigari, the High Court found that, before making a refusal on the basis of bad faith or dishonesty, the Home Office should either interview the claimants; or let them know that they were minded to refuse the application, and allow them an opportunity to submit representations in response to the allegations. Not doing so denied the claimants a fair process:

“If the Secretary of State on reconsideration decides to maintain her position that she does not accept the Claimants’ statements and implicit positions as to their true and genuine intentions, she is obliged to follow a fair process in which the Claimants have the opportunity to address this allegation before a final decision by a caseworker and also without being subject to an absolute prohibition on evidence being submitted in the AR [administrative review] in a challenge to the caseworker’s decision. The way to meet fairness standards in such cases can be either by way of interview or a “minded to decide” written process.”

The fact that the applicants could challenge the refusal by way of administrative review was not enough because of the limitations on putting forward new evidence. As Mr Justice Saini put it, “they have been found to have effectively been dishonest and then face an appeal process to be conducted without any chance to rebut that allegation that they did not have the relevant genuine intention with new evidence”.

Home Office policy still too narrow

This is a good result for the claimants and anyone making an application under the Ankara Agreement. However, the Home Office should adopt a fairer and less restrictive policy on when they will use the “Minded to refuse” procedure.
In addition, we still find it hard to understand how, in view of this case and the case of Balajigari, one can still justify visit visa refusals not attracting a right of appeal or a right of administrative review. They are routinely phrased as “I am not satisfied that you are a genuine visitor”, and therefore also making an accusation of dishonesty. We hope those are next in line for a challenge on the basis of procedural unfairness.

Judges have a sense of humour

Just to end on a lighter note, this sentence from the judgment made us smile:

“The Secretary of State has made an implicit finding of some form of bad faith (in the form of applications falsely claiming a certain genuine intention) and it is no comfort to a claim that he can hunt down the Guidance and will appreciate that when the Secretary of State says X she in fact means Y according to some special dictionary of terms used in the Home Office.”

 

Помощь русскоговорящего адвоката высшей категории: консультации, проверка заявлений, ведение дел:  www.legalcentre.org  Mob/Viber/WhatsApp:+44(0)77 911 45 923, Skype: immigration_lawyer

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12 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> “Positive narrative” behind improved public attitudes to immigration

One fifth of British people have become more relaxed about immigration over the last few years, mainly because of a more “positive narrative” about immigration.

Over 20% of people surveyed by the research firm Ipsos MORI have recently become more positive, or less negative, about the impact of immigration, of which half had changed their views after becoming more aware of what migrants contribute to the country.

Research manager Charlotte Peel said that “these findings highlight the influence a positive narrative surrounding the contribution of immigrants has on public perception”.

Ipsos MORI has been surveying British adults on their attitudes to immigrants since 2015. The headline finding is that 47% of people now think that immigration has had a positive impact, compared to 29% who think it is negative. That is a significant improvement since the EU referendum.

>>> Delay policy leaving trafficking victims in limbo found unlawful: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2019/3346.html

The High Court has declared that the Home Office policy of waiting until an asylum decision is made before considering whether to grant trafficking victims Discretionary Leave to Remain is unlawful. Under that policy, a recognised victim of human trafficking who has claimed asylum might wait months or years for the asylum decision before being granted leave. In the meantime, the person would only be entitled to a basic level of asylum support, prohibited from working or studying, and denied benefits. They would also suffer from ongoing uncertainty about their immigration status. In R (JP) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 3346 (Admin), Mr Justice Murray concluded that the blanket policy of delay is unlawful.

Помощь русскоговорящего адвоката высшей категории: консультации, проверка заявлений, ведение дел:  www.legalcentre.org  Mob/Viber/WhatsApp:+44(0)77 911 45 923, Skype: immigration_lawyer

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13 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> Public interest in deporting criminals can be reduced, says Court of Appeal: https://www.freemovement.org.uk/public-interest-in-deportation-cases/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=public-interest-in-deportation-cases&utm_source=Free+Movement&utm_campaign=3be77bb958-Deportation+and+detention+updates&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_792133aa40-3be77bb958-116194677&mc_cid=3be77bb958&mc_eid=1af5cd4d48

The Court of Appeal has given judgment in Akinyemi v SSHD (No 2) [2019] EWCA Civ 2098, a long-running appeal concerning the deportation of a man who was born in the UK in 1983, and has never left.

In reversing (again) the decision of the Upper Tribunal to dismiss Mr Akinyemi’s appeal, the Court of Appeal has given important guidance on the nature of the public interest in the deportation of foreign criminals and the circumstances in which its weight might be reduced.

Помощь русскоговорящего адвоката высшей категории: консультации, проверка заявлений, ведение дел:  www.legalcentre.org  Mob/Viber/WhatsApp:+44(0)77 911 45 923, Skype: immigration_lawyer

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16 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> The Conservative plan for immigration after Brexit - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

"For too long, politicians have been out of touch with the hardworking majority’s concerns about immigration. The vote to leave the EU was, amongst other things, a vote to take back control of our borders. That is why, with a functioning Conservative majority government, we will get Brexit done, end free movement and introduce a new Australian-style points-based immigration system.

This new system will give us control over who comes to this country on the basis of the skills they have to offer – not where they come from. Only by installing proper controls and ending the preferential treatment of EEA migrants will we be able to attract the brightest and the best from around the world to come here and contribute to our society and economy, while relying on far fewer low-skilled migrants and getting overall migration down.

Here we outline three key changes a majority Conservative government would make after Brexit:

1. A points-based system

o    Our single new system will allocate points on a range of criteria. It will, de facto, allocate people into three separate categories:
    ‘Exceptional talent / contribution’ – highly educated migrants who have received world-leading awards or otherwise demonstrated exceptional talent, sponsored entrepreneurs setting up a new business or investors. These will not require a job offer and will receive fast-track entry.
    ‘Skilled workers’ – workers who meet the criteria of the points-based system and have a confirmed job offer. Special types – such as our NHS Visa – will also receive fast-track entry and reduced fees.
    ‘Sector-specific rules-based’ – made up of specific temporary schemes such as for low-skilled labour, youth mobility or short term visits (e.g., touring). These will be revised on an ongoing basis based on expert advice from the MAC. These visas will be time-limited and will not provide a path to settlement.
o    The new system will give us control of migration, allow us to reduce total net migration, while meeting the needs of our economy and improving the UK’s productivity.
o    Once we have ended free movement and introduced electronic travel authorisation (ETAs), we will be able to screen all prospective migrants on the basis of previous criminality, and bar those with serious convictions from coming here.

2. A new role for the Migration Advisory Committee (‘the MAC’)

o    The MAC will be required to publish an annual report via a public letter to the Home Secretary, advising the Government on how to deliver on its objectives – i.e. to get net migration down while addressing emerging gaps in the labour market – including sector specific advice.
o    The role of the MAC will continue to be advisory and the Home Secretary will have full discretion over decisions related to the future immigration system.
o    The MAC will also be required to monitor the needs of the labour market on an ongoing basis to ensure that the Home Secretary has the information needed to make decisions rapidly.
o    Once the new digital immigration status is in place, this will enable the MAC to better understand the impact of immigration on specific communities.
 
3. A digital immigration status to crack down on illegal overstaying beyond 2022

o    The fundamental principle of the new immigration system is that the government will be in control.
o    Beyond 2022, all migrants will have a full digital status, making it easier for legal migrants to prove their status, as well as allowing for improved enforcement.
o    All visas will be time-limited, with usual indefinite leave to remain rules applying for those who are identified as ‘exceptional’ or ‘high-skilled’. In-country switching between visas will be allowed, but overstaying a visa will count against an individual in their new application.
o    All migrants will pay the health surcharge for every year of their visa, unless and until they have gained settled status – usually not before they have been here for five years.
o    We will ensure equal treatment of EEA and non-EEA migrants’ regarding access to benefits, making sure people pay in before they can take out.  
In order to achieve this we will:
•    Immediately begin work to set up a formal exchange programme with the Australian and Canadian governments to allow experts to come to the UK and share best practice with officials during the development of the system.
•    Appoint an expert implementation group to ensure roll-out of the new immigration system from January 2021.
Commenting, Priti Patel, Home Secretary said:

“The vote to leave the EU was a vote to take back control of our borders, and that is exactly what a Conservative majority government will do by getting Brexit done and ending freedom of movement.

“Immigration will finally be subject to democratic control. We will be able to create a fairer system, which will attract the brightest and the best from around the world to come here and contribute to our society and economy, while getting overall immigration down.

“Corbyn’s Labour want uncontrolled and unlimited immigration, placing huge strain on public services like our NHS.”

>>> Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk?utm_source=ceecdd1b-e452-4cff-9511-f7e6a7373d58&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

>>>UKVI update: EUSS Caseworker Guidance Suitability requirements: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwip9cDF7rnmAhUL8BQKHXshAO0QFjAAegQIBBAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F851469%2FEUSS-suitability-guidance-v2.0.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0qMYelCCnjhl0iTxTGTuny

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18 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> Supreme Court says Zambrano test is usually a simple one: https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2019/59.html

The Supreme Court has found in the case of Patel and Shah v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] UKSC 59 that the carers of EU citizen children can derive a Zambrano right of residence only where the child will as a practical matter of fact be forced to leave the EU. The best interests of the child are not strictly relevant to that question. This stark finding is leavened somewhat by the court also holding that parental choice or preference plays no role in the assessment, contrary to the findings of the Court of Appeal.

>>> Home Office submits inaccurate witness statement in national security case: siac.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk/Documents/outcomes/documents/SR%20-%20OPEN%20Judgment%20-%2004.12.2019.pdf

SR, who is from Iraq but settled in the UK in 2002, wants to become a British citizen. The Home Office does not want to grant him citizenship, accusing SR of holding “extremist Islamic beliefs” and raising concerns about “financial irregularities”. The case came to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, SIAC, because of the national security angle: SR v Secretary of State for the Home Department (SN/71/2018).

Ms Hughes from the Home Office submitted a witness statement about the department’s decision to deny SR citizenship. In the witness statement, she said that she had reviewed the paperwork in SR’s case. But the judges spotted that the document she was referring to, a “minute sheet”, was not about SR at all.

The judges were not best pleased, expressing “our dismay at this turn of events”. They added that SIAC:

“…relies on the Secretary of State and her representatives to prepare these cases with meticulous care. It is particularly important, also, that applicants, such as SR, who are able to play only a limited part in their appeals and applications, should have complete confidence that the Secretary of State is taking every possible care in the decision making [in] their cases, and in preparing those cases for court.”.

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19 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> Court of Justice case confirms lower legal protections for Brits visiting the EU after Brexit: http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=221510&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=7338990

In all likelihood, the events of last Thursday mean the UK will be exiting the EU on 31 January 2020 with a deal. This means EU law will remain in place during a transitional period at least until 31 December 2020. After this date, either the transitional period is extended (although the government appears to be moving to legislate against this), or an agreement on the future UK-EU relationship is put in place — or there is no deal from 1 January 2021.

What future arrangements are in place matters for many obvious reasons. Perhaps not so high on the list would be British citizens’ holidays in the EU. Or perhaps we will all need a long holiday by the time this is all over.

Travelling to the EU after Brexit

Currently, holidaying in the EU is covered by the free movement directive. But if we assume that there will be no extension to the transitional period, a new regime will be in place from 1 January 2021 onwards.

Other non-EEA citizens — as British nationals will be at after Brexit — can enter the EU’s Schengen travel zone for 90 days either with a pre-obtained Schengen visa or, for nationalities that don’t need a visa, as long as they meet entry conditions broadly similar to the Schengen visa requirements. The political declaration on the future EU/UK relationship aims at putting short-term UK visitors to the EU into the visa-free category (and vice versa for short-term EU visitors to the UK).
These non-visa nationals will still have to get pre-travel authorisation from 2021 under the proposed ETIAS system, based on a similar system that already exists for the USA. The UK government has plans to introduce a similar scheme. The purpose of pre-travel authorisation is to pick up on security risks presented by non-visa nationals before they travel and enter the destination country.

But what happens if you find yourself in hot-water after you have entered an EU member state for a visit? This situation was examined by the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C 380/18 Staatssecretaris van Justitie en Veiligheid v EP.

The treatment of non-EU citizens who get in trouble in Europe
The case was about a non-EEA citizen visiting the Schengen zone under the visa-free arrangements mentioned above. He was arrested in the Netherlands for a drugs offence.

The Dutch authorities moved to expel EP on the basis that the arrest and suspicion of committing a crime alone was sufficient to show that he presented a security risk. EP tried to argue that although he was not protected by the free movement directive, the approach taken to expulsion in this directive should be applied to their situation. This would mean that expulsion has to be based on a threat to public policy; that is, the person’s conduct has to represent a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of the society. That represents a relatively high bar to removal.

The Court of Justice rejected this submission. It pointed out that, had the drafters of the Schengen legislation wanted it to set the same high standards for expulsion as under the free movement directive, they would have worded the Schengen security clauses that way. The conclusion the court came to was that:

“… Article 6(1)(e) of the Schengen Borders Code cannot be interpreted as precluding, as a matter of principle, a national practice under which a return decision is issued to a third-country national not subject to a visa requirement, who is present on the territory of the Member States for a short stay, if that national is suspected of having committed a criminal offence, without it having been established that his or her conduct represents a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of the society of the Member State concerned. [Paragraph 46]”.

Whilst we hope that no British citizens find themselves in such an unfortunate situation, this case does highlight the inferior treatment afforded to those no longer in the EU club. It also seems likely that, under the ETIAS pre-travel authorisation regime, some British citizens with criminal convictions will find themselves denied approval to visit the EU for holidays.

>>> Upper Tribunal slams Home Office for inability to read dictionary: https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKUT/IAC/2019/394.html

The Upper Tribunal has rejected an attempt by the Home Office to ignore the clear meaning of an Immigration Rule. Sahebi (Para 352(iii): meaning of “existed”) Pakistan [2019] UKUT 394 (IAC) is about paragraph 352A(iii), which covers reunion for the family members of people who have been granted refugee status in the UK. It states that in order for someone to qualify for refugee family reunion as a partner, the relationship must have existed before the refugee left their country of origin.

Mrs Sahebi is from Pakistan. She is married to Mr Sahebi, who successfully claimed asylum in the United Kingdom. Before Mr Sahebi left Pakistan, their relationship broke down due to domestic violence and they separated, but remained married. The couple reconciled after Mr Sahebi left Pakistan and applied for refugee family reunion. The First-tier Tribunal ruled that the marriage clearly “existed” before Mr Sahebi left Pakistan to come to the UK and allowed the appeal, granting the couple family reunion.

In the Upper Tribunal, the Home Office argued that the word “existed” in paragraph 352 actually means “subsisted”. Since the couple were separated at the point of Mr Sahebi’s departure, the Home Office argued that the marriage was no longer subsisting and did not meet the family reunion requirements.

The Upper Tribunal consulted the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (6th Ed, 2007) and concluded that “existed” merely refers to a condition objectively being fulfilled, whereas “subsisted” implies an additional qualitative element. When drafting the Immigration Rules the Home Office had deliberately used the term “existed”. Interpreting it to mean “subsisted” would amount to re-writing the rules. The Upper Tribunal therefore concluded:

“On its true construction, para 352A(iii) of the Immigration Rules is satisfied by showing nothing more than the formal existence of a marriage or civil partnership as at the time of the refugee’s departure from his/her country of former habitual residence. In contrast to less formal relationships, there is no requirement to show that the relationship had the qualitative character of it having subsisted at the time of the refugee’s departure.”.

>>> UKVI update: Sponsor change of circumstances form: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sponsor-change-of-circumstances-form

Interactive form for sponsors who do not have access to the sponsorship management system (SMS) to appoint a new level 1 user.

Form has been updated and edited description to reflect that the form should no longer be used to surrender part of a licence.

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20 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> £1,000 child citizenship fee found unlawful: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2019/3536.html

The High Court has ruled that charging a citizenship fee of over £1,000 to children is unlawful. The decision will be widely welcomed by campaigners who have long argued that the fee charged to register a child as British, which is set far above the administrative cost of processing applications, is “pricing children out of their rights”.

The challenge succeeded only on the limited ground of failing to assess children’s best interests, meaning that the Home Office could maintain the current fees after taking that step, or perhaps introduce a limited scheme of fee waivers. But the claimants are trying to take the matter to the Supreme Court in order to get a more substantial verdict on the lawfulness of the fee. The case is R (The Project for the Registration of Children As British Citizens & Ors) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 3536 (Admin).

Children charged £1,000 to exercise citizenship rights

Many children born in the UK or living here from an early age do not actually have British citizenship, but can get it through a process called registration. Processing applications for registration costs the Home Office an estimated £372, but it charges applicants £1,012. Analysis carried out by Free Movement last year, and not disputed by the Home Office, found that the surplus on child registration fees amounted to almost £100 million between 2012 and 2017.

Mr Justice Jay said the evidence before him showed that “for a substantial number of children a fee of £1,012 is simply unaffordable”. That includes the two children in whose name the case was taken, O and A. 12-year-old O was born in the UK and has never left the country, but is not a British citizen. She is entitled to register, but her mother can’t afford it. In O’s own words:

“I was born in this country and have lived here all my life. I feel as British as any of my friends and it’s not right that I am excluded from citizenship by a huge fee.

I want to be able to do all the things my friends can. I don’t want to have to worry they will find out I don’t have a British passport and think that means I am not the same as them.”

Three-year-old A would be entitled to automatic citizenship if not for the fact that her mother is married to someone other than her father; her family can’t afford the registration fee either.

As Jay J said, children without citizenship are “in an obviously precarious position, and in addition to their risk of being removed or deported have limited or no access to the welfare state”. But the registration fee had been unsuccessfully challenged before, in Williams [2017] EWCA Civ 98. The decision in Williams closed the door on some of the legal arguments. In particular, the claimants failed on the argument that the fee was so high as to make the right to register impossible to realise in practice.

Failure to consider children’s best interests

A different argument did land. Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 instructs the Home Office to consider the best interests of children in immigration, asylum and nationality cases. Jay J found, in short, that the Home Office had not bothered to weigh up the best interests of children in making the fees policy:

“...there is no evidence in the voluminous papers before me that his client [the Secretary of State] has identified where the best interests of children seeking registration lie, has begun to characterise those interests properly, has identified that the level of fee creates practical difficulties for many (with some attempt being made to evaluate the numbers); and has then said that wider public interest considerations, including the fact that the adverse impact is to some extent ameliorated by the grant of leave to remain, tilts the balance.”

Sir James Eadie QC for the Home Office argued that Parliament had considered, and rejected, attempts to lower the fee. It was therefore not for the courts to interfere. But the court found that “nowhere on the Government’s side” in these debates “has there been any recognition of where the best interests of children might repose”.

But Jay J rejected an argument based on the Equality Act 2010, saying that “impecuniosity is not a protected characteristic”. Nor did he quash the relevant fee regulations, granting instead a declaration that they are unlawful unless there is a best interests consideration process under section 55.

Solange Valdez-Symonds of the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens said:

“It is significant that the court has recognised British citizenship is the right of these and thousands of children and that the consequences of blocking their registration rights is alienating and harmful.”

While that recognition is a great step forward, the fact remains that tens of thousands of British children are growing up in this country deprived of their rights to its citizenship, including by this shamelessly profiteering fee.

The High Court has granted a certificate to the claimants to apply direct to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal on the point they lost on. It has also granted permission to appeal to the Home Office. In the meantime, there is no immediate basis for those who have paid a registration fee to be refunded. There may eventually be a case for refunds, though, particularly if the fee is ultimately reduced.

>>> Tier 1 (Investor) – the programme's evolution since its conception in 1994

-October 1994: Immigrant Investor scheme launched, with a minimum threshold of £1 million.

-June 2008: Tier 1 (Investor) introduced.

-February 2014: Migration Advisory Committee review finds limited economic benefit to Tier 1 (Investor) and make various recommendations for adjustments.

-November 2014: minimum investment raised to £2 million; caseworkers are empowered to refuse applications if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the money was obtained unlawfully.

-April 2015: investors required to open UK bank account, with associated money laundering checks, before applying.

- March 2019: government bonds removed as qualifying investment.

>>> Tribunal shoots down £100m investment visa loan scheme – dealing with the Russian etc investments: https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKUT/IAC/2019/393.html

The Upper Tribunal has shot down a scheme under which people looking for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa would borrow money from one company and invest in a closely related company. In a judicial review against the Home Office for refusing the Tier 1 (Investor) applications of two Chinese citizens who had availed of the scheme, the tribunal held that the money was not under their control as required by the Immigration Rules. The case is R (JW & Ors) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Tier 1 Investor; control; investments) [2019] UKUT 393 (IAC).

The case involved a woman known as A1, who was applying for an extension of her Tier 1 (Investor) visa, and another called Jiaqi Wu who was seeking indefinite leave to remain. The essence of the scheme was that a company called Maxwell Holding would lend £1 million to clients such as A1, “the express purpose of which was to enable A1 to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules as a Tier 1 (Investor)”. The owner of Maxwell Holding was Dmitry Petrovich Kirpichenko.

The clients then signed the money loaned to them over to a company called Eclectic Capital. The sole director of this company was Mr Kirpichenko’s wife, Nika Kirpichenko. Over 100 people have used this service, according the judgment. Eclectic Capital therefore ended up with a pot of over £100 million, which was mostly invested in “companies in Russia”.

The question was whether this arrangement satisfied the requirement of the Immigration Rules that money used for Tier 1 (Investor) must be under the investor’s “control”. The Home Office, in refusing A1 a visa extension and refusing Ms Wu settlement, said that the loan agreement required them to put the Maxwell Holding money into Eclectic Capital. It accordingly took the view that “the money that was lent to you is not under your control because it is evident that you are not able to invest the money anywhere other than in Eclectic”. In other words, they never had control of it in the first place.

The investors launched a judicial review, arguing among other things that “something less than complete and unfettered control is required” to satisfy the Immigration Rules. They claimed to have “effective and ultimate control” over the loans and investments, as neither were secured; they had the legal right to channel the Maxwell loan into a company of their choosing; and they had the right to redeem their shares in Eclectic after six years.

The Upper Tribunal found that the word “control” means that the person should be able to “manage and/or direct the use of the money, asset or investment” in real life, including an element of “choice and use”. It also noted that while the investors claimed to be making a business decision to invest their loaned money in Eclectic, the returns were so poor — the upfront interest payments outweighing the promised dividends after six years — that it “cannot possibly have been for good commercial reasons”. This, combined with the links between the two companies and the terms of the loan, entitled the Home Office to conclude that the investors did not choose to invest in Eclectic but were required to.

For good measure, it held that the Eclectic shares were not a qualifying investment for the purposes of Tier 1 (Investor). They were caught by paragraph 65(b) of Appendix A of the Immigration Rules, which disqualifies investments in companies that simply pool the money and invest it in other firms, rather than using it to run their own business. The tribunal also refused permission to appeal.

The official headnote

“1. The meaning of ‘control’ in paragraph 245ED(e) and in Appendix A (specifically in Table 8B and 9B) of the Immigration Rules is to be interpreted in accordance with its natural and ordinary meaning, namely that a person has the authority to manage and/or direct the use of the money, asset or investment (depending on the context).  It includes not just a question of legal or beneficial ownership but includes an element of choice of use. The money must be under a person’s control at the point of investment.
2. To determine whether a person has the requisite control, it is necessary to look at all of the facts and circumstances of the case and with reference to the overriding requirement in paragraph 245ED(e) of the Immigration Rules (at least for the purposes of an application for further leave to remain as a Tier 1 (Investor) Migrant) that the “assets and investment he is claiming points for must be wholly under his control”.
3. The terms listed in paragraph 65(b) of Appendix A to the Immigration Rules are not to be interpreted by reference to statutory definitions outside of the Immigration Rules but in accordance with the ordinary rules of interpretation applicable to the Immigration Rules, the terms bearing their ordinary and natural meaning.”

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  • Главный Модератор

Британия выйдет из Евросоюза: парламент поддержал Brexit

В пятницу, 20 декабря, парламент Великобритании поддержал законопроект по выходу из Европейского Союза во втором чтении.

Об этом сообщает BBC. "За" проголосовали 358 депутатов, против же выступили 234.

План, предложенный премьером Борисом Джонсоном, предполагает выход Соединенного Королевства из ЕС 31 января 2020 года при условии согласия на это Европарламента. Окончательное рассмотрение закона (третье чтение) планируется в январе.

Затем начнется переходный период, во время которого Лондон будет сохранять нынешние экономические отношения с ЕС и продолжит следовать правилам Союза. Он продлится 11 месяцев.

Примечательно, что законопроект, который принял парламент, содержит запрет на продление переходного периода после 31 декабря 2020 года. Если к этому времени стороны не смогут договориться, Великобритания выйдет из переходного периода без торговой сделки с ЕС.

 

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23 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)
 
>>> When voluntary return is not voluntary at all: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{"itemid":["001-198465"]}
 
In recent years the United Kingdom government has resorted to indirect measures like the hostile environment to force people to leave the UK, alongside directly removing people. The government can then claim that the person left the UK voluntarily, and may have thought that there could be no liability for any breaches of the person’s human rights after they have returned to their country of origin.
 
However, the Strasbourg court has now ruled that voluntary return must be a free and informed choice. It will not be free and informed for a failed asylum seeker who is placed under pressure to leave by the immigration system.
 
NA v Finland (application no. 25244/18) was a case brought against the Finnish government by the daughter of a man who had claimed asylum in Finland. He was originally from Iraq and had fled after an assassination attempt against him. His asylum application was refused and although he initially challenged the decision, he decided in the face of plans to detain and remove him to accept a voluntary return package offered by the International Organisation for Migration. As part of the deal, he signed a waiver stating that the Finnish government could not be held liable or responsible for his return in any way.
 
Shortly after the man returned to Iraq he was killed. His daughter brought the case alleging that Finland had breached Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Finnish government argued that the application was not admissible because the applicant’s father had voluntarily returned to Iraq and therefore the consequences of his return had nothing to do with Finland.
 
The court rejected this argument:
 
“In the light of the circumstances of the case, in particular the factual background of the applicant’s father’s flight from Iraq as acknowledged by the domestic authorities, the Court sees no reason to doubt that he would not have returned there under the scheme of “assisted voluntary return” had it not been for the enforceable removal order issued against him. Consequently, his departure was not “voluntary” in terms of his free choice.”
 
Therefore, the application concerned acts within the jurisdiction of the Finnish government.
 
The court then considered the supposed waiver of liability. It declined to consider whether it is possible in principle to waive one’s rights under Article 3 ECHR, but ruled that any waiver would have to be free and informed which was not the case here:
 
“In the present case, the applicant’s father had to face the choice between either staying in Finland without any hope of obtaining a legal residence permit, being detained to facilitate his return by force, and handed a two year entry ban to the Schengen area, as well as attracting the attention of the Iraqi authorities upon return; or agreeing to leave Finland voluntarily and take the risk of continued ill-treatment upon return. In these circumstances the Court considers that the applicant’s father did not have a genuinely free choice between these options, which renders his supposed waiver invalid. Since no waiver took place, his removal to Iraq must be considered as a forced return engaging the responsibility of the Finnish State.”
 
Having found that the application was admissible, the court went on to rule that there was a breach of Article 3. The Finnish immigration authorities failed to consider properly the cumulative effect of the various dangers in Baghdad or give sufficiently careful consideration to the previous attacks against the applicant’s father.
 
This is a very sad case and it is unfortunate that the Strasbourg court only became seized of the matter after the applicant’s father had returned to Iraq. But it is an important statement by the court that it will not tolerate attempts to use indirect removal measures against failed asylum seekers whose applications have not been considered with sufficient care and attention.

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24 December 2019 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)
 
>>> Burden of proof on internal relocation still on appellant says Upper Tribunal: https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKUT/IAC/2019/392.html
 
The Upper Tribunal has confirmed that it is for asylum seekers to disprove the possibility of safe and reasonable internal relocation if the Home Office identifies a potential safe haven. In MB (Internal relocation – burden of proof) Albania [2019] UKUT 392 (IAC), the Upper Tribunal reconsidered the earlier decision of AMM and others (conflict; humanitarian crisis; returnees; FGM) Somalia CG [2011] UKUT 445 (IAC) and concluded that it remains good law on this point. That is notwithstanding a decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union which emphasizes the need for cooperation by both parties in collating evidence for asylum appeals.
 
 
 

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08 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> Delays in child asylum decisions not the Home Office’s fault, High Court finds:

The Home Office has successfully defended its processing of asylum claims by unaccompanied children despite chronic delays in decision-making. The case is R (MK) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 3573 (Admin).

The court decided that that:

“In my judgment, the statistics and evidence show that real priority and significantly increasing resources have been, and are being, devoted to deciding UASC [unaccompanied asylum seeking children] cases. The Claimant seeks to analyse these figures in terms of percentages as against applications, but such a metric is in my judgment highly questionable. It depends upon the highly variable number of applications, which is outside the control of the Defendant.”

 

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09 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)
 
 
New visa vignettes document published. 
 
>>> Vulnerable adults in the immigration tribunal: https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKUT/IAC/2019/398.html
 
In SB (vulnerable adult: credibility) Ghana [2019] UKUT 398 (IAC) the Upper Tribunal has provided a steer on how immigration judges should approach evidence given by vulnerable adults, in addition to that provided in the Joint Presidential Guidance Note No 2 of 2010. The key point is that adverse credibility findings can be made against vulnerable adults and it is not necessary for the tribunal judge to refer to the vulnerability when making each finding.
 
Official headnote:
The official headnote
(1) The fact that a judicial fact-finder decides to treat an appellant or witness as a vulnerable adult does not mean that any adverse credibility finding in respect of that person is thereby to be regarded as inherently problematic and thus open to challenge on appeal.
(2) By applying the Joint Presidential Guidance Note No 2 of 2010, two aims are achieved. First, the judicial fact-finder will ensure the best practicable conditions for the person concerned to give their evidence. Secondly, the vulnerability will also be taken into account when assessing the credibility of that evidence.
(3) The Guidance makes it plain that it is for the judicial fact-finder to determine the relationship between the vulnerability and the evidence that is adduced.
 

 

 

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09 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> Government promises extra family reunion rights for people of Northern Ireland: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deal-to-see-restored-government-in-northern-ireland-tomorrow

White smoke rises from Stormont, where the British and Irish governments have produced a draft deal to bring back power-sharing government in Northern Ireland following lengthy talks with the region’s main political parties.

The agreement includes a promise to address the fallout from the DeSouza case. That case confirmed that people from Northern Ireland are legally British citizens as well as Irish, and so cannot rely on the more liberal rules on family visas available to EU — but not UK — citizens.

The deal says:

“14. The Government will change the rules governing how the people of Northern Ireland bring their family members to the UK. This change will mean that eligible family members of the people of Northern Ireland will be able to apply for UK immigration status on broadly the same terms as the family members of Irish citizens in the UK.

15. This immigration status will be available to the family members of all the people of Northern Ireland, no matter whether they hold British or Irish citizenship or both, no matter how they identify.”

While the UK government says that this is a unilateral measure, it is being made “in the context of an agreement being reached”. That suggests that it may be dropped if the deal is not signed off by the regional parties.

It also seems likely to become redundant once Brexit takes hold and the bonus family reunion rights of Irish citizens in the UK come to an end. The time will show.

 

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14 January 2020 – Just useful and interesting UK & EEA Immigration Law news and updates from the Legal Centre – Open 7 days a week - www.legalcentre.org - http://bit.ly/legalcentre – +44(0)3300010342, +44(0)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

 
>>> Law Commission calls for total rewrite of Immigration Rules: https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/simplifying-the-immigration-rules/
 
The Law Commission’s long-awaited report on Simplification of the Immigration Rules says that rewriting and paring down the “overly complex and unworkable” document would improve legal certainty and transparency for applicants as well as save money for the courts and the Home Office.
 
The Immigration Rules are the document that set out the precise criteria for granting or refusing permission to enter and remain in the United Kingdom. It is the single most important legal instrument for day to day immigration law. The dire drafting of the Rules has for some time been an acute source of frustration for individual applicants, the lawyers trying to help them and even the judges deciding their cases.
 
The independent law reform body recommends a rewrite of the 1,100 pages of the Rules, with a complete restructure complemented by improved drafting and fewer changes in future. The last such exercise took place in 1994, over 25 years ago, and the current version of the rules has grown hugely and chaotically since then. The two separate sections both entitled ‘Asylum’ at Part 11 and Part 11B, separated by Part 11A entitled ‘Temporary Protection’ are probably “personal favourite” among many lawyers.
 
The report’s 41 recommendations include:
 
- A new 24-part structure to the Rules, covering definitions, commons provisions and specific routes, followed by seven appendices 
- Giving each paragraph a number, rather than a confusing blend of letters and numbers
- A new drafting guide, including advice such as “get straight to the point” and “use simple, everyday English”
- An advisory committee to review the text at regular intervals
- Producing “booklets” of the Rules that apply to each visa category
- Simplifying and consolidating Home Office guidance documents in tandem with tackling the Rules themselves
- “A less prescriptive approach to evidential requirements”, with lists of accepted and acceptable evidence provided (similar to the approach in Appendix EU)
- Only two statements of changes to the Rules a year, unless there is “an urgent need for additional change”
 
A separately published impact assessment concludes that the savings across government — including reductions in unnecessary cases for the immigration tribunals and in Home Office casework costs — would be £70 million over ten years.
 
>>> Court of Session clarifies time limits for judicial review challenges in Scotland: https://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotCS/2020/2020_CSOH_2.html
 

In Odubajo v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] CSOH 2, the Court of Session has ruled that the three-month time limit for raising judicial review proceedings starts on the date of the decision, even though the person affected may not have been notified of that decision. This is a departure from what everyone previously thought in Scotland – which was that you cannot be expected to challenge a decision until you have been notified of it.

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16 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> Visa appointment fees rise with no warning

The cost of an appointment at visa application centres in the UK has risen with no warning given to applicants or their representatives.

Sopra Steria, the outsourcing company that runs UK Visa and Citizenship Services, has hiked appointment costs from £60 to £69.99 for a standard appointment and from £125 to £135 for appointments on Saturdays or out of regular office hours.

It appears to be applicable nationwide rather than to any particular UKVCAS centre.

The government website still lists the old cost, but the Sopra Steria website now says that “prices start at £69.99 per person”.

Free appointments are available, in theory, at six “core service points” in major cities, but fees are charged at the other 50 application centres.

The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association says that it has contacted the Home Office and Sopra Steria to ask for more information.

 

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20 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> New guidance: False representations – Tier 1 (General) earnings concerns: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiN1ez-_JHnAhVnA2MBHcm4AncQFjAAegQIBBAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F858658%2Ffalse-representations-tier1-_general_-cases-v1.0.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3eQJH5dMWI2Cb13VV1o2_P

UKVI has published new  supplementary guidance relating to applicants who previously held Tier 1 (General) leave where UKVI have concerns that false representations have been made regarding their earnings. This guidance must be applied in conjunction with the main guidance on False Representations and the guidance on General Grounds for Refusal (GGfR) under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules.

This guidance relates to issues decided by the Court of Appeal in Balajigari v SSHD [2019] EWCA Civ 673.

 

 

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16 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> If something is required by the Immigration Rules, it must be possible, appeal judges declare: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2019/2293.html

Prior to the closure of the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route, the main requirement was evidence that an applicant had access to funds for investment in their proposed venture.

The Immigration Rules permitted applicants to rely on their own funds, or alternatively on funds that have recently been transferred to them by third parties. In certain circumstances, the rules also permitted reliance on funds that were still held by a third party at the time of the application.

In this scenario, the applicant (and the Home Office) was relying on the third party’s promise that, if and when the visa is granted, the funds would be made available to the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) for their venture.

It is still a mystery why the drafters of the Immigration Rules permitted this funding structure at all. If the third party was serious about investing, why not require the funds to be transferred to the prospective Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) prior to the submission of the application?

Nothing is impossible

Lord Justice Davis, giving judgment in the Court of Appeal, doesn’t really address the bonkers nature of the requirement itself. Instead he sticks to the “rules is rules” theme of applications made under the Points Based System:

    "The underpinning rationale for the current requirements of the PBS under the Rules is, as I have said, clear. These requirements have been, in a context such as the present, expressly approved as workable and fair in cases such as Durrani and Iqbal (cited above). There is no reason not to apply the reasoning in those cases to paragraph 41-SD(c)(i) of Appendix A and to this particular case, and every reason for doing so. The rules here are specific in their requirements; and the applicant in this case failed to meet those requirements. As paragraph 245DD of the Immigration Rules stipulates, in such circumstances the application will be refused. That, put shortly, is the end of the matter, as I see it."

Davis LJ did not accept that such a declaration could not be obtained:

    "I should in any event make clear that I was wholly unpersuaded on the evidence that there was an impossibility of compliance here. It may be that the evidence (including the two witness statements) indicates that the Halifax Bank itself does not, as a matter of its practice, currently choose to provide letters in the required format. But that does not mean at all that it is impossible for the Halifax Bank to do so. Nor does it preclude an applicant or sponsor from going to some other regulated financial institution which does not have such a practice.".

 

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24 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)
 
>>> Note on BRP expiry dates of 31/12/2024 (23 January 2020)
 
It has become apparent that Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) which do not incorporate the next generation of encryption technology are required by the EU to have a validity date of no later than 31 December 2024. Until 1 January of this year, this issue only affected those granted indefinite leave to remain, and some measures were put in place to ensure those who were granted ILR were aware that their leave would remain extant beyond 31 December 2024.
As 31 December 2024 is less than five years away, individuals granted limited leave to remain for five years are now receiving BRPs with validity dates earlier than the expiry of their leave.
 
The Home Office's response is as follows:
 
"We are required by the EU to restrict BRPs which do not incorporate the next generation of encryption technology to a validity date of 31 December 2024, subject to the UK leaving the European Union and the outcome of any Brexit negotiations. 
 
 As the UK intends to introduce the new technology in due course, the date restriction affects only cards issued with Leave valid past the date of 31 December 2024.
 
 Any card restricted to 31 December 2024 which is still rightfully held on 01 July 2024 will be replaced free of charge, with the remainder of the leave period initially expected being issued on a new BRP.
 
 This means that anyone who has paid a fee in expectation of receiving a period of leave for longer than the 31 December 2024 date, will still do so but it will be spread over two BRPs.
 
 The date restriction does not change the entitlements of the rightful holder to work, access services/benefits or travel.
 Information on how to replace a BRP that is due to expire as a result of this restriction will be updated approximately 6 months prior to 31 December 2024 and applicants affected should consult these web pages at that time for the latest advice"
 
 
The guidance has been changed to reflect the changes to the Immigration Rules and Nationality Regulations on 17 December 2019. 
 
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27 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)
 
 
The Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa will be rebranded as the “Global Talent” route from 20 February. The science funding agency UK Research and Innovation will be able to endorse applicants for the rejigged route, according to a government press release, which adds that the system will:
 
"- Provide for a brand new fast-track scheme, managed by UKRI which will enable UK-based research projects that have received recognised prestigious grants and awards, including from the European Space Agency and the Japan Science and Technology Agency, to recruit top global talent, benefitting higher education institutions, research institutes and eligible public sector research establishments. This will enable an individual to be fast-tracked to the visa application stage.
- Double the number of eligible fellowships, such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the European Research Council and Human Frontier Science, which also enable individuals to be fast tracked.
- Continue to ensure dependents have full access to the labour market.
- Preserve the route’s flexibility by not requiring an individual to hold an offer of employment before arriving or tying them to one specific job.
- Provide an accelerated path to settlement for all scientists and researchers who are endorsed on the route.
- Provide for an exemption from our absences rules for researchers, and their dependants, where they are required overseas for work-related purposes, ensuring they are not penalised when they apply for settlement.".
 
Details will be available on 30 January, when a statement of changes to the Immigration Rules is due.
 
>>> Accountants taking the blame for tax discrepancies should give evidence in person: https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKUT/IAC/2020/27.html
 
Following another paragraph 322(5) case, where an applicant was refused indefinite leave to remain on the basis of dishonesty for disclosing different income to HMRC as opposed to the Home Office, the Upper Tribunal has issued guidance on evidence from accountants purporting to take the blame for those tax discrepancies.
 
The case of Abbasi (rule 43; para 322(5): accountants’ evidence) [2020] UKUT 27 (IAC) had seemed to be going well for the appellant, Mr Abbasi. Mr Abbasi was initially refused indefinite leave to remain but then won his appeal at the First-tier Tribunal. The tribunal found that Mr Abbasi had acted innocently and had relied on his accountants, who provided a letter claiming to have made a mistake with his tax returns.
 
The First-tier Tribunal placed significant weight on the accountants’ letter. The Home Office appealed to the Upper Tribunal, but it found in Mr Abbasi’s favour once again. That decision was promulgated in July 2019 and Mr Abbasi was granted indefinite leave to remain by the Home Office in October.
 
All’s well that ends well, you might say. But then comes the twist: on 16 September 2019, the Upper Tribunal received an email from the accountant who supposedly wrote the letter in support of Mr Abbasi’s claim, stating that she had never heard of Mr Abbasi or ever assisted him, and she had not written, let alone signed, the letter.
 
The Upper Tribunal then convened a hearing to consider whether it had the power to use rule 43 of the Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) Rules 2008 to set aside the decision. It concluded that it did have the power to apply rule 43 of its own motion, where the evidence relied upon by the tribunal in an appeal was forged or otherwise bogus.
 
In practice, though, it could not do so in this case because the appellant had been granted indefinite leave nine days before the Upper Tribunal sent its notice of hearing. The grant of indefinite leave to remain meant that the appeal proceedings had come to an end, and therefore the Upper Tribunal no longer had any jurisdiction. But it is open to the Home Office to revoke Mr Abbasi’s indefinite leave to remain, and I would be surprised if it didn’t.
 
The Upper Tribunal also concluded that accountants who admit to making a mistake with an appellant’s taxes should attend the hearing to give evidence and explain their error. If they do not, the tribunal is unlikely to be able to place any material weight on letters of this kind.
 
This is an example of when one applicant’s fraudulent actions results in making life harder for others. From now on, accountants in these cases are likely to be expected to attend hearings in person to give evidence.
 
Headnote:
 
1. The Upper Tribunal can apply rule 43 of the Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) Rules 2008 of its own motion.
 
2. The use of fraud before the Upper Tribunal constitutes an abuse of process such as to amount to a “procedural irregularity” for the purposes of rule 43(2)(d).
 
3. In a case involving a decision under paragraph 322(5) of the immigration rules, where an individual relies upon an accountant’s letter admitting fault in the submission of incorrect tax returns to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the First-tier or Upper Tribunal is unlikely to place any material weight on that letter if the accountant does not attend the hearing to give evidence, by reference to a Statement of Truth, that explains in detail the circumstances in which the error came to be made; the basis and nature of any compensation; and whether the firm’s insurers and/or any relevant regulatory body have been informed. This is particularly so where the letter is clearly perfunctory in nature.

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  • Главный Модератор

БРИТАНЦЫ ПОЛУЧАТ ПРАВО БЕЗВИЗОВОГО РЕЖИМА В УКРАИНЕ НА ГОД

резидент Украины Владимир Зеленский 31 января подпишет указ, которым введет безвизовый режим для граждан Великобритании сроком на один год.

Безвизовый въезд для британцев в Украину был введен еще в 2005 году. Но эта норма перестанет действовать с 1 февраля, когда Великобритания выйдет из ЕС.

Решение президента Зеленского еще не объявлено, но оно уже принято. Несколько раз, на разных уровнях, о нем сообщили британской стороне. А учитывая то, что до Brexit остаются считанные дни - оно уже не должно измениться.

"Британские путешественники не пострадают. Ожидается, что в день выхода Британии из ЕС Зеленский подпишет указ, которым введет безвиз сроком на один год. Продление этого срока возможно, но оно не может быть бесконечным", - говорится в статье.

 

Отмечается, что условия такого продления в указе не прописаны, но Лондон о них знает: должно начаться хоть какое-то движение к визовому упрощению или либерализации.

Украина стремится получить от Британии план действий по визовой либерализации наподобие того, который у нас был с ЕС. 

 

Источник

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29 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)
 
>>> UKVI Document Reduction Pilot - Appendix FM applications
 
From the UK BA:
 
"Following our meeting recently in which we discussed Document Rationalisation, I thought this would be a good time to update you on our Appendix FM project and some of the work that we are doing to reduce the number of unnecessary documents submitted. 
 
Firstly, I promised you some feedback from the settlement Document Reduction pilot in India.  The pilot ran for a total of 6 weeks and the main findings were:
 
·       Customers were invited to take part on a voluntary basis and as expected, uptake was quite low.  We received a total of 25 applications, however, 6 of these applications were invalid as they did not meet the pilot criteria.
·       35 customers chose not to take part in the pilot.  The main reason being - the sponsor or representative collated the supporting documents for them and they were instructed that all the documents must be scanned, there was also a perception amongst these customers that the more documents that are submitted, the stronger the application and greater chance of success.
·       Of the 19 valid applications, none were scanned in line with the pilot guidance and therefore could not be assessed by the Decision Makers as part of this pilot.
Whilst at initial look it seems that the pilot was unsuccessful, we weren’t disappointed by this as it actually confirmed our initial thoughts on some of the challenges that we will face around ingrained customer behaviour and perception.  It also confirmed that the Appendix FM route is a very complex one and our commercial partners require much more support to identify specific cohorts of FM customers and support with scanning documents in the required order.
 
Following the India pilot, we have re-focused our efforts and are planning two further settlement initiatives to support document rationalisation.
 
Auto-email message:
 
There will be an auto-email message sent to all Appendix FM customers from the online customer journey. The message informs customers that we will no longer accept the unnecessary documents listed and in addition to this we will only accept a maximum of 10 photographs.  The benefit of sending this message out from the online customer journey is that it gives customers, sponsors and legal representatives the opportunity to read and understand our requirement before the customer attends their appointment at the VAC.
This auto-email went live on the 26th January 2020 and will initially only be sent to Appendix FM customers attending appointments at one of the VACs in India.  This will reviewed before being rolled out more widely.
 
Document Reduction at the UK scanning hubs:
 
We will be duplicating the India pilot at the VFS UK scanning hubs.  The advantage of doing this in the UK as opposed to overseas is that in the majority of Appendix FM cases, the sponsor or the legal representative will be submitting the documents in person at one of the UK scanning hubs and VFS hub staff will be able to support them through the process.  It also means that our staff in Sheffield will be able to provide direct and immediate support to the hub staff with time zones not being a practical barrier to this.
 
All customers meeting the pilot criteria will be expected to take part – this will not be voluntary basis.  The pilot will be launched on the 4th February 2020 at the VFS scanning hub in London with the remaining VFS hubs going live shortly afterwards.   I have sent you the notice that will be displayed at the scanning hubs.
 
From an operational perspective, rest assured that we are working closely with our Decision Makers to analyse the impact of both these initiatives and to ensure that adverse decisions are not made on the basis that these documents have not being submitted. As we’ve discussed, Decision Makers are encouraged to request documents when appropriate and on the rare occasion that they need to see one of these unnecessary documents, they will contact the customer to request it before a decision is made."
 
>>> Home Office can detain migrants for up to five weeks after law requires that they be released: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2020/36.html
 
The Court of Appeal has given judgment in R (AC (Algeria)) v SSHD [2020] EWCA Civ 36. The case is about “grace periods” in unlawful detention claims.
A grace period, as described by Lord Justice Irwin in his judgment, is
 
"that period of time allowed to the Secretary of State, once detention has ceased to comply with the Hardial Singh principles, to make suitable arrangements for release.".
 
>>> Government advised not to bother with points based attempt for migrants with job offers: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migration-advisory-committee-mac-report-points-based-system-and-salary-thresholds
 
The government should think twice about re-introducing a points based immigration system after Brexit, and lower the minimum salary necessary to get a work visa, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended.
 
In a report published recently, the MAC says that the existing Tier 2 (General) work visa system should be left intact, with employers continuing to sponsor workers with a job offer. By contrast, Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visas could be allocated using a points calculation, if the government is really so keen on it.
 
Key recommendations include:
 
- Retaining the Tier 2 (General) skilled worker route, because “the combination of skill eligibility and a salary threshold works well for an employer-driven system”.
- Reducing the minimum salary threshold to around £25,600, instead of the £30,000 recommended in the MAC’s last major report.
- Turning Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) into a points based route for skilled workers without a job offer, since at the moment it “does not work well” anyway = aka Tier 1(General) pre-2011, is not it ?
 
While the Conservatives have plugged the idea of an “Australia-style points based system” as a radical new departure, the MAC knows that we have been here before. It reviewed the previous use of pure points-based routes in the UK, including the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, Tier 1 (General), and the early days of Tier 2 (General). The data is extremely limited, making firm conclusions difficult, but “the scraps of information available” suggest that “a sizeable proportion did not end up working in highly-skilled jobs as was intended”.
 
As such, the MAC cautions, “any changes should not repeat mistakes made in UK systems in the past but draw on best practice from other countries”. Such best practice would “include a cap [on numbers] and the use of the Expression of Interest system”.
 
The economists try to steer ministers away from interfering with Tier 2, partly because employers think being able to sponsor individual workers from overseas is rather important. Instead, their report says that the place for points is Tier 1, in particular the Exceptional Talent route which “does not work well” and is “failing to meet all its objectives”.
 
Given these problems, if the Government wants to have a PBS route on entry, it could make sense to re-orient Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) with the aim of increasing the numbers though the challenge is to do this without significantly affecting quality.
 
This may be regarded as unfortunate timing, since the government is pushing through unrelated reforms to Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) on Thursday.
 
But if the report’s approach were adopted, the resulting mixture of sponsorship and unsponsored migration would reflect how countries with points based immigration systems do things. In Australia, Canada and New Zealand, the MAC calculates, people arriving without a confirmed job offer through points based routes only account for about 40-60% of economic migration. Those nations still use employer sponsorship as well.
 
The report is expected to be influential in the design of the UK’s post-Brexit immigration system, under which EU citizens will come under the same visa rules as non-EU citizens, but those rules will be made more liberal overall. That includes a lowering of the minimum salary required for a work visa, from £30,000 today to under £26,000 (the exact number depends on a fairly technical calculation). This recommendation is not a surprise, in the sense that the MAC had previously
recommended keeping the threshold at £30,000 and was told to try again.
 
The post-Brexit dispensation taking shape is expected to “result in a lower level of immigration, a lower rate of growth in population, employment and GDP”. But there is a glaring caveat not reflected in some of the breathless coverage of today’s report. MAC chief Professor Alan Manning writes that “almost all of these estimated impacts at the macro level are small”. In other words, while the end of free movement has real human impacts, the MAC does not think that it has particularly significant economic effects.
 
The report also reveals that Professor Manning is not being kept on as Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, despite his desire for a second term. The government is advertising for a replacement.
 
The MAC's recommendations in full + some of the Legal Centre's comments
 
"Points-based systems
 
1. We recommend retaining the existing framework for Tier 2 (General).
2. If government wants to have a PBS route on entry, it should consider modifying Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) in the following way:
• There should be an overall annual cap on those admitted;
• The route should operate on an expression of interest basis creating a pool of migrants interested in coming to the UK;
• There should be a monthly draw from this pool with those selected invited to submit a full application; - What is this ? A visa lottery ?
• The selection of those invited to apply should be based on those who have the highest number of points in the pool using a points-based system with tradeable points;
• There should also be an absolute minimum number of points;
• Points should be given for characteristics that the Government wants to attract through this route and for whom other routes are not suitable;
• Among the characteristics that the Government might want to consider in assigning points are: Qualifications with a rigorous process to assess the quality of qualifications and not just the level; Age; Extra points for having studied in the UK; Priority areas such as STEM and creative skills - This was called HSMP route a cople of decades ago, do not they remember it ?
• Changes should only be made if data is collected on the outcomes of migrants on this route, with monitoring and evaluation of the route.
3. There should be an immediate pause in the proposed increases to the settlement threshold.
4. We recommend a review of the requirements for settlement, to establish a clearer picture of how it is currently working and possible changes that could be made.
Salary thresholds in Tier 2 (General)
5. Both the occupation specific and general salary thresholds should be based on the relevant distribution of full-time earnings as reported in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and updated annually. The appropriate salary threshold should continue to be the higher of the occupation specific and general threshold.
6. The occupation specific threshold should be the 25th percentile of the full-time annual earnings distribution for that occupation.
7. The general threshold should be set at the 25th percentile of the full-time annual earnings distribution for all Tier 2 (General) eligible occupations.
8. National pay scales should be used as the relevant salary thresholds in 24 occupations in health and education instead of both the occupation specific and general thresholds.
9. If the Government is concerned about the impact of the general threshold on lower-wage medium-skill occupations, we recommend the use of an occupational cap to be set at the 75th percentile. We do not recommend this given the level of the general threshold we propose.
10. There should be more adequate monitoring of how migrants are faring in the UK labour market after entry and ongoing review of the impacts of the recommendations on levels of salary thresholds.
11. The relevant salary thresholds should apply across the UK.
12. There should be a separate pilot visa for ‘remote’ areas of the UK, part of which could be lower salary thresholds for migrants into those areas. This should only be done with a full evaluation to understand its effectiveness and impacts.
13. Salary thresholds should not be pro-rated to allow for part-time work.
14. The Government should consider more flexibility (i.e. prorating salary thresholds) for visa holders switching to part-time work after becoming a parent.
15. Only salary on the main job should be used to determine whether the salary threshold is met. Allowances, equity and employer pension contributions should not be included.
16. The rules on Tier 2 (General) visa holders owning equity in the employer sponsoring them should be reviewed.
17. Occupations on the Shortage Occupation List should not have lower salary thresholds for entry.
18. We recommend a review of whether the SOL is needed after the new immigration system has been fully introduced.
19. National pay scales should be used as the relevant salary thresholds in 24 occupations in health and education instead of both the occupation specific and general thresholds.
20. The salary thresholds for new entrants should be a single ‘reduction’ percentage applied across both the general experienced worker threshold and the occupation specific experienced worker thresholds.
21. The reduction percentage for new entrants should be set at 30 per cent.
22. The definition of a new entrant should be widened to include those are working towards recognised professional qualifications and those who are moving directly into postdoctoral positions.
23. The new entrant rate should apply for five years, an extension from the current three-year entitlement. Any time spent on the new post-study work route should count towards the five years of new entrant threshold eligibility.
24. We recommend adding/removing the following occupations from the list of RQF3+ occupations
• Add: Air-conditioning and refrigeration engineers, Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers, Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors, Carpenters and joiners, Glaziers, window fabricators and fitters, Plasterers, Floorers and wall tilers, Painters and decorators, Construction and building trades supervisors, Childminders and related occupations, Teaching assistants and Educational support assistants.
• Remove: Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations n.e.c. and Waiters and waitresses.
Data issues
25. The Government and ONS should seek to link datasets across government to allow a better understanding of the employment outcomes of migrants, for the purposes of research whilst ensuring confidentiality.
26. The Government should invest in a data set designed to link migrants with subsequent outcomes to be used for the evaluation of all visas.
27. The Home Office should ensure it retains historical data on migration routes in a usable format for future analysis.
28. The Home Office should publish breakdowns of entry clearance visas disaggregated by gender on a regular basis."

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30 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> Government advised not to bother with points based attempt for migrants with job offers: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migration-advisory-committee-mac-report-points-based-system-and-salary-thresholds

The government should think twice about re-introducing a points based immigration system after Brexit, and lower the minimum salary necessary to get a work visa, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended.

In a report published recently, the MAC says that the existing Tier 2 (General) work visa system should be left intact, with employers continuing to sponsor workers with a job offer. By contrast, Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visas could be allocated using a points calculation, if the government is really so keen on it.

Key recommendations include:

-    Retaining the Tier 2 (General) skilled worker route, because “the combination of skill eligibility and a salary threshold works well for an employer-driven system”.
 -   Reducing the minimum salary threshold to around £25,600, instead of the £30,000 recommended in the MAC’s last major report.
  -  Turning Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) into a points based route for skilled workers without a job offer, since at the moment it “does not work well” anyway = aka Tier 1(General) pre-2011, is not it ?

Given these problems, if the Government wants to have a PBS route on entry, it could make sense to re-orient Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) with the aim of increasing the numbers though the challenge is to do this without significantly affecting quality.

This may be regarded as unfortunate timing, since the government is pushing through unrelated reforms to Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) on Thursday.

But if the report’s approach were adopted, the resulting mixture of sponsorship and unsponsored migration would reflect how countries with points based immigration systems do things. In Australia, Canada and New Zealand, the MAC calculates, people arriving without a confirmed job offer through points based routes only account for about 40-60% of economic migration. Those nations still use employer sponsorship as well.

The report is expected to be influential in the design of the UK’s post-Brexit immigration system, under which EU citizens will come under the same visa rules as non-EU citizens, but those rules will be made more liberal overall. That includes a lowering of the minimum salary required for a work visa, from £30,000 today to under £26,000 (the exact number depends on a fairly technical calculation). This recommendation is not a surprise, in the sense that the MAC had previously recommended keeping the threshold at £30,000 and was told to try again.

The post-Brexit dispensation taking shape is expected to “result in a lower level of immigration, a lower rate of growth in population, employment and GDP”. But there is a glaring caveat not reflected in some of the breathless coverage of today’s report. MAC chief Professor Alan Manning writes that “almost all of these estimated impacts at the macro level are small”. In other words, while the end of free movement has real human impacts, the MAC does not think that it has particularly significant economic effects.

The report also reveals that Professor Manning is not being kept on as Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, despite his desire for a second term. The government is advertising for a replacement.

The MAC's recommendations in full + Legal Centre's (www.legalcentre.org) comments:

"Points-based systems

1. We recommend retaining the existing framework for Tier 2 (General).
2. If government wants to have a PBS route on entry, it should consider modifying Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) in the following way:
• There should be an overall annual cap on those admitted;
• The route should operate on an expression of interest basis creating a pool of migrants interested in coming to the UK;
• There should be a monthly draw from this pool with those selected invited to submit a full application; - What is this ? A visa lottery ?
• The selection of those invited to apply should be based on those who have the highest number of points in the pool using a points-based system with tradeable points;
• There should also be an absolute minimum number of points;
• Points should be given for characteristics that the Government wants to attract through this route and for whom other routes are not suitable;
• Among the characteristics that the Government might want to consider in assigning points are: Qualifications with a rigorous process to assess the quality of qualifications and not just the level; Age; Extra points for having studied in the UK; Priority areas such as STEM and creative skills - This was called HSMP route a cople of decades ago, do not they remember it ?
• Changes should only be made if data is collected on the outcomes of migrants on this route, with monitoring and evaluation of the route.
3. There should be an immediate pause in the proposed increases to the settlement threshold.
4. We recommend a review of the requirements for settlement, to establish a clearer picture of how it is currently working and possible changes that could be made.
Salary thresholds in Tier 2 (General)
5. Both the occupation specific and general salary thresholds should be based on the relevant distribution of full-time earnings as reported in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and updated annually. The appropriate salary threshold should continue to be the higher of the occupation specific and general threshold.
6. The occupation specific threshold should be the 25th percentile of the full-time annual earnings distribution for that occupation.
7. The general threshold should be set at the 25th percentile of the full-time annual earnings distribution for all Tier 2 (General) eligible occupations.
8. National pay scales should be used as the relevant salary thresholds in 24 occupations in health and education instead of both the occupation specific and general thresholds.
9. If the Government is concerned about the impact of the general threshold on lower-wage medium-skill occupations, we recommend the use of an occupational cap to be set at the 75th percentile. We do not recommend this given the level of the general threshold we propose.
10. There should be more adequate monitoring of how migrants are faring in the UK labour market after entry and ongoing review of the impacts of the recommendations on levels of salary thresholds.
11. The relevant salary thresholds should apply across the UK.
12. There should be a separate pilot visa for ‘remote’ areas of the UK, part of which could be lower salary thresholds for migrants into those areas. This should only be done with a full evaluation to understand its effectiveness and impacts.
13. Salary thresholds should not be pro-rated to allow for part-time work.
14. The Government should consider more flexibility (i.e. prorating salary thresholds) for visa holders switching to part-time work after becoming a parent.
15. Only salary on the main job should be used to determine whether the salary threshold is met. Allowances, equity and employer pension contributions should not be included.
16. The rules on Tier 2 (General) visa holders owning equity in the employer sponsoring them should be reviewed.
17. Occupations on the Shortage Occupation List should not have lower salary thresholds for entry.
18. We recommend a review of whether the SOL is needed after the new immigration system has been fully introduced.
19. National pay scales should be used as the relevant salary thresholds in 24 occupations in health and education instead of both the occupation specific and general thresholds.
20. The salary thresholds for new entrants should be a single ‘reduction’ percentage applied across both the general experienced worker threshold and the occupation specific experienced worker thresholds.
21. The reduction percentage for new entrants should be set at 30 per cent.
22. The definition of a new entrant should be widened to include those are working towards recognised professional qualifications and those who are moving directly into postdoctoral positions.
23. The new entrant rate should apply for five years, an extension from the current three-year entitlement. Any time spent on the new post-study work route should count towards the five years of new entrant threshold eligibility.
24. We recommend adding/removing the following occupations from the list of RQF3+ occupations
• Add: Air-conditioning and refrigeration engineers, Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers, Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors, Carpenters and joiners, Glaziers, window fabricators and fitters, Plasterers, Floorers and wall tilers, Painters and decorators, Construction and building trades supervisors, Childminders and related occupations, Teaching assistants and Educational support assistants.
• Remove: Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations n.e.c. and Waiters and waitresses.
Data issues
25. The Government and ONS should seek to link datasets across government to allow a better understanding of the employment outcomes of migrants, for the purposes of research whilst ensuring confidentiality.
26. The Government should invest in a data set designed to link migrants with subsequent outcomes to be used for the evaluation of all visas.
27. The Home Office should ensure it retains historical data on migration routes in a usable format for future analysis.
28. The Home Office should publish breakdowns of entry clearance visas disaggregated by gender on a regular basis."

Помощь русскоговорящего адвоката высшей категории: консультации, проверка заявлений, ведение дел:  www.legalcentre.org  Mob/Viber/WhatsApp:+44(0)77 911 45 923, Skype: immigration_lawyer

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31 January 2020 – 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)7791145023 (WhatsApp/Viber)

>>> UK Global Talent visa (formerly Tier 1 Exceptional Talent) - an overview

The new immigration category has been announced via the Statement of Changes here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-56-30-january-2020

The specifics have now landed via today’s statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (NB: The changes set out in this statement shall take effect on 20 February 2020. In relation to those changes, if any application for endorsement, entry clearance, leave to enter or leave to remain has been made before 20 February 2020, such applications will be decided in accordance with the Immigration Rules in force on 19 February 2020.). At first glance, the changes seem to introduce a new level of impenetrability, with certain terms (e.g. “directly incurred costs”) that will be little understood outside universities and research institutes. So what does it all mean?

What this introduces is a new immigration route within what was Exceptional Talent and is now called Global Talent. This new route will be intrinsically linked to the recruitment regimes of the higher education/research sector and provide an unlimited right to work for up to five years.

What kind of research jobs does this affect?

For clarity, the existing ways of getting a Global Talent (formerly Exceptional Talent) endorsement will remain in place. Those are:

    - The “standard” route where an academic/scientist/researcher can ask for peer review of their career under the categories of “promise” or “talent”
    - The “accelerated” route for those in receipt of a job offer for a senior role at a UK university or research institution
    - A further accelerated route where the person holds a prestigious grant/fellowship (with the list of eligible fellowships to be expanded)

The changes introduce a fourth route covering two types of employees at UK universities and research institutions.

The first is post-doctoral researchers: those at an early stage of their academic career, having just gained their PhD. The second is specialist technologist roles.

This latter group is the most significant, and is a group which the sector has previously identified as being particularly vulnerable to being shut out under a post-Brexit immigration system.

What if you're not a scientist?

The explanatory memo accompanying the statement of changes says that “whilst specific provisions are made for the science and research sector, the Global Talent category is also open to talented and promising applicants within the digital technology and arts and culture (including film and television, fashion design and architecture) sectors”. More on this in a separate post.

Why include technical specialists?

Research sector organisations have consistently argued that salary is not an adequate indication of skill level for jobs in this sector. This is especially true of technical experts within research teams.

Technical experts form a critical part of any research team. They make crucial intellectual contributions to research by providing technical excellence and through maintaining and developing new technologies. The concept here is “Team Science” – that is, it takes the whole team working together, with individuals holding different specialisms and knowledge, to deliver a research project.

Whilst not all such roles require non-UK nationals to fill them, where a skills gap exists it is vital that this is met through an adequate immigration system. Failure to do so would make the delivery of much of the research in the UK impossible.

Under the current Tier 2 work visa system, specialist technician roles would be ineligible for sponsorship due to skill level requirements (RQF level 6 and above). Under the immigration white paper published by Theresa’s May government, skill level requirements would be lowered, bringing such roles within the scope of Tier 2 — but they would likely fail to meet the recommended £30,000 minimum salary. This could result in a critical skills gap.

Bringing these specialist roles under the umbrella of the Global Talent route shelters them from the unknown quantities of a future immigration system.

That said, it is important to note that not all technician/technical roles will be able to access this route. Rather, it is for those with specialist technical expertise and skills which cannot be readily found within the settled workforce.

How will it be easier to recruit for such roles?

The new route works by making eligibility for a Global Talent visa automatic when a researcher or specialist is recruited using certain UK research funding grants. The key concept, as written into the Immigration Rules, is that the hire is part of the “directly incurred costs” of the project.

In the wonderful world of research-speak, this is defined as costs which form an integral part of a grant funding application associated with a UK research project. One such “directly incurred cost” is the payroll costs of the staff necessary to deliver a research project. These staff are recruited by the employer which has the grant funding.

A researcher and/or specialist who is offered a job at a UK university or research institution, and whose job title or name was included within an application for qualifying research funding as a directly incurred cost, will be automatically eligible for a Global Talent visa.

This new category will provide the research sector considerable freedom to recruit the researchers and specialists it needs via the medium of research grant funding, without day-to-day Home Office scrutiny. This is hugely significant, given the context of the current immigration system, but it should not be interpreted as a route which will allow unregulated migration. Far from it.

Which research grants qualify?

There are several notable restrictions on who can access this new route, and how:

   - The person must be named or appointed to a role on a successful grant application from a recognised funder
    - The person must be employed, hosted or in receipt of a job offer from a UK university, independent research organisation or public sector research establishment
    - The research grant must have been awarded under the “peer review” principle
    - The minimum value of the grant must be £30,000 and must support a project of at least two years in duration
    - The person must have, or be given, a contract of at least two years in duration at the point of application for endorsement, and work at least 50% FTE

The list of recognised funders will be administered by UK Research and Innovation, which oversees a large proportion of the UK’s science and research funding.

This system reflects the direction of travel over the last few years of devolving the decision-making process for certain visa types away from immigration caseworkers and on to expert third parties bodies (as seen recently with the Innovator and Start-up visas).

The concept has now been taken one step further, weaving eligibility for a visa into the sector’s unique method of recruitment and funding. It will be impossible for those working outside the sector to access this endorsement route, and it should shift a lot of recruitment currently undertaken by universities and research institutions out of Tier 2 and into Appendix W.

Those granted entry under this new route will be granted a visa of up to five years with the ability to gain settlement after three years. They will not be tied to their host institution, meaning no restrictions on their ability to move between roles and employers, provided the above rules were met at the outset. The route will also have no arbitrary cap on numbers. Final details on the application process will be released shortly.

In our view, this new route is a fragile gift to the sector — one which will need to be embraced proactively to ensure it is utilised to the full.

>>> EU Settlement Scheme appeal rights introduced: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/61/contents/made

The Immigration (Citizens’ Rights Appeals) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020 No. 61) has come into force today, on the Brexit day, 31 January. They create a right of appeal to the Immigration Tribunal for people refused pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. As the accompanying explanatory note puts it:

    "This instrument provides that, where a person makes a valid application for leave under the EUSS, or for an EUSS family or travel permit, on or after exit day, they will have a right of appeal against a decision to:

        - refuse the application;
        - in the case of an application under the EUSS, grant limited leave to enter or remain (pre-settled status under the scheme) where they believe they should have been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain (settled status under the scheme)."

Note that this only applies to applications “on or after exit day”, but does allow people to appeal a grant of pre-settled status up to full settled status.

There are also appeal rights for various scenarios where settled status is being cancelled or revoked. Appeals go to the First-tier Tribunal (FTT IAC), unless certified as a national security issue for the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

 

Помощь русскоговорящего адвоката высшей категории: консультации, проверка заявлений, ведение дел:  www.legalcentre.org  Mob/Viber/WhatsApp:+44(0)77 911 45 923, Skype: immigration_lawyer

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