Immigration News

What is ILR? Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is a form of permanent immigration status in the UK. It allows someone to live, work and study in the UK without time restrictions, and it is often the last step before applying for British citizenship. Many migrants work towards ILR after years of living in the […]

With immigration rarely out of the news, political leaders will be using Party Conference season to demonstrate why their policies will deliver. Yet how workable are these policies in practice, and how much have they been shaped by electioneering and the desire to gain political ground? In this article, our director Christopher Desira examines the […]

Labour’s immigration reforms repeat the Conservative playbook: tough talk, restricted rights, and little honesty about Britain’s real needs. We all deserve a country we can be proud of, a country with higher standards, rooted in responsibility, history, and actual fairness. The Disappointment of Labour on Immigration In her 1 September statement, the Home Secretary set […]

The latest last-minute announcement on Monday represents a marked shift in cruelty of the Labour Government. In Yvette Cooper’s latest move, she has announced that Family Reunion applications under the scheme would be paused after 4 September 2025 at 3pm, with possible new restrictions introduced in 2026. Applications submitted before that date and time will […]

This summer, Sheffield celebrated the 10th edition of Migration Matters Festival. Taking place during the 3rd week of June, that same week as Refugee Week, it is a culmination of both Sheffield’s long history of supporting migration, as the first City of Sanctuary in the UK, as well as the cultural value that migrant communities […]

A new pilot scheme between the UK and France came into force this week, that will have a significant impact on people arriving in the UK to seek asylum. Under this new agreement, known as the “one-in-one-out” deal, some people who cross the Channel in small boats will now be sent back to France, without […]

On 22 July 2025, changes to the UK’s immigration system came into effect, reshaping access to the Skilled Worker route and tightening employer sponsorship rules. These changes were announced earlier this year in the Government’s Immigration White Paper. They mark a shift in access to work and sponsorship in the UK. This new immigration policy direction prioritises headline […]

On 24 June 2025, the Home Office published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules. Included in this statement is a very welcomed change that significantly simplify the absence rule for pre-settled status holders under the EU settlement scheme (EUSS) to move to settled status. Many of the enquiries we receive are about how the […]

As you will likely be aware of, the UK is transitioning into a digital immigration system. We have covered earlier, in 2024, that all physical immigration documents are now being transferred to a digital system called an eVisa.  An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status in the UK. Where earlier you would […]

In a move that has ignited fierce debate across the political spectrum and within the business community, the UK government announced significant changes to the immigration system via the Immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System. In this article, learn about Labour’s UK immigration reforms and their potential impact on migrants and employers. […]

The UK’s “hostile environment” immigration policy—now officially rebranded as the “compliant environment”—was designed to make life unliveable for undocumented migrants. By embedding immigration checks into everyday services like employment, housing, banking and healthcare, the policy shifts the burden of enforcement onto employers, landlords, and public bodies, creating a climate of suspicion and exclusion. More than […]

The UK Home Office has confirmed that several immigration and nationality fees will rise from 9 April 2025, affecting visa applicants, employers, and sponsors. The government states that these increases are aimed at reducing reliance on taxpayer funding for the immigration system while ensuring its sustainability. However, they will also place a greater financial burden on […]

Over the past eight weeks, the Government has invited legal professionals and organisations with interest in Civil legal aid to take part in a consultation on proposed reform to the legal aid structure and fees as a apart of a Review of Civil Legal Aid.  Seraphus has chosen to make a submission to this consultation because we believe […]

The Labour government has introduced the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, claiming it will strengthen border security and dismantle criminal networks exploiting vulnerable migrants. At first glance, this might sound reasonable—but scratch beneath the surface, and it becomes clear that this bill continues the same harmful approach to migration that treats people as threats rather […]