Commonwealth Immigration Consultants – Immigration News

September 6, 2020 Uncategorized 0 Comments

EU Settlement Scheme – Deadline Approaches

As the end date of 31 December 2020 approaches for the UK’s transition period with the EU, it is important that EU citizens and family members in the UK are aware of the steps they need to take to secure their residence in the UK. The EU Settlement Scheme has been in operation in one form or another since 2018 and has seen millions of successful applications. The Scheme will issue applicants either with “Settled Status” (Indefinite Leave to Remain) or “Pre-Settled Status”. Settled Status

December 2, 2018 Immigration news

Immigrant Health Surcharge increase

The IHS increase (Immigration Health Charge Amendment Order 2018) was approved by Parliament on 29 November 2018. This means that it will come into force on a date of the Government’s choosing on or after 19 December 2018. As long as you apply online by then, you will pay the old fee.

November 22, 2018 Immigration news

new UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services Centres

The Home Office have now announced that the Nationality Document Return Service and the Nationality Checking Service are both to be phased out by the end of December 2018. These are services provided by local authorities to assist applicants for citizenship mainly by witnessing copies of passports. We assume that the reason behind this move is to facilitate applications being made through the new UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services Centres (UKVCAS) and the new “commercial partner” – Sopra Steria. This allows applicants to apply

November 1, 2018 Immigration news

UK Immigration – new application procedure

November 2018 is the month when the Home Office will start to radically change how UK visa applications are submitted within the UK. Up to now applicants could complete a paper form (or an online form in some categories) and either post the entire application pack to the Home Office or attend a same day appointment at a Home Office Premium Service Centre. The new process will mean that nearly all applications will move to an online form only. This will allow applicants to complete

October 15, 2018 Immigration news

Immigrant Health Surcharge to double in December

The annual fee that migrants pay for access to the UK National Health Service will be doubled from December 2018 (exact date to be determined). The government have announced that the Immigrant Health Surcharge (IHS) will be increased from £200 to £400 per annum. The IHS was first introduced in 2015 and is paid by all non EU migrants coming to the UK for more than 6 months. It is paid in advance at the point of visa application. So, for example an applicant for

September 28, 2018 Immigration news

Australia – migration updates

The Pass Mark for Skilled Migration to Australia has recently been increased from 60 to 65 points. This new requirement relates to those applying in the following visa subclasses; Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Subclass 190 Skilled Sponsored Subclass 489 Skilled Regional Sponsored Meanwhile the Australian government have decided that the number of places available for Parent visas in the 2018-2019 year shall remain the same. This relates to those applying under the Contributory Parent and non Contributory Parent subclasses.

September 14, 2018 Immigration news

UK citizenship – how do absences from the UK affect an application ?

We seem to get asked this question a lot ! Example – I have been living in the UK since 2009 but my absences exceed 450 days in the last 5 years, can I apply for citizenship ? The Home Office does frequently exercise discretion to disregard absences above the normal thresholds. If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen then the normal level of days you can be outside the UK comes to 270 days in the preceding

August 29, 2018 Immigration news

Australia – skilled occupation lists

For those looking to migrate to Australia, the various skilled occupation lists can often be quite baffling in trying to comprehend what occupations are on what list. There are several different occupation lists such as; Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) Regional Occupation List (ROL) Each list relates to specific visa subclasses such as the Skilled Independent visa or the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa. Now all relevant occupations have been collated and included in one list. This also provides

August 16, 2018 Immigration news

“Settled Status” for EU citizens

“Settled Status” for EU citizens The government has published new details on the rollout of the new “Settled Status” for EU citizens. This is the scheme which will allow EU citizens (including those from the EEA member states and Switzerland) and their families to secure their residence in the UK post Brexit. The scheme is being launched on a pilot voluntary basis for EU students and staff at 3 Liverpool universities, and workers at 12 NHS Trusts in the North West of England. This is

July 26, 2016 Immigration news

Australia – Queensland launches new Occupation List for State Sponsorship

Effective 25 July 2016 the Queensland state government in Australia has launched a new occupation list for State Sponsored visas. This applies to visa subclass 489 and subclass 190. See this weblink for more information; http://migration.qld.gov.au/skilled-migration-queensland/

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Commonwealth Immigration Consultants
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