In December 2019, the Home Office updated the rules on the Life in the UK test. Those reforms were not widely published or the subject of much media coverage, having been released just prior to the Christmas break and in the midst of Brexit news coverage.

Many people don’t like to talk about domestic violence. However, the reality is that domestic violence happens to both men and women on a daily basis throughout the UK and many stay silent because they think that is their only choice if they want to stay in the UK on a spouse visa.

Too many immigration solicitors and UK employers 2019 was a year of what ifs and maybes. That was because of the political uncertainty and election combined with the frustrations of Brexit and whether it was happening and, if so, when and on what terms. For immigration solicitors and UK employers 2020 brings a bit of clarity. We know that Brexit is happening although we may not know the exit terms.

Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK is a big step for most people. Whilst it may not be the same commitment as applying for British nationality it is nonetheless a major mark in your immigration journey and may either be the culmination of your immigration applications or a massive leap towards being able to apply for British citizenship in the future. In this blog we look at how best to secure Indefinite Leave to Remain status.

Indefinite Leave to remain solicitors

All the talk of getting Brexit done and the flurry of activity over the new government’s planned changes to UK immigration law is making people question their immigration status and ask ‘ Can I apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years in the UK?’ In this blog we answer your questions on applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years in the UK.

Indefinite Leave to Remain solicitors

As London immigration solicitors we are frequently asked ‘how do I appeal an immigration decision?’ That is because many people come to us for help after making their own immigration application or after trying and failing to make a successful immigration application with other solicitors.

If your UK spouse visa application has been refused then it is understandable to feel not only disappointed but angry and frustrated with yourself or your spouse, either because of the way you filled in the application, the amount of supporting paperwork provided or your choice of solicitor to handle your spouse visa application.

When you are trying to find information on how to reunite your family there seems to be a lot of information on the internet about how best to apply for a UK spouse visa,  but not all that much information about civil partnership UK visas. In this blog we focus on the civil partnership UK visa and answer your questions on eligibility to apply for a civil partnership visa.

Civil partnership visa solicitors 

With almost daily Home Office updates on Brexit and immigration law, even the most experienced London immigration solicitors can feel as if Brexit will never end. That’s perhaps not surprising given its over three years since the Brexit referendum. However, if immigration solicitors think that Brexit will never be out of the news or off the political agenda, spare a thought for EU nationals living in the UK, not knowing what their best Brexit options are. 

Settled Status solicitors 

In all the chaos and confusion surrounding Brexit it is easy to focus on the politics and forget the people. However, Permanent Residence immigration solicitors will tell you that the people matter. It isn’t just the moral responsibility of looking after EU nationals who chose to settle in the UK under the EU freedom of movement rules but it is also in the best interests of UK businesses to ensure that current EU workers have security and status in the UK post Brexit. 

Many applicants for Indefinite Leave to Remain  are a bit bemused by the Home Office requirement that they have to pass a ‘Life in the UK’ test in order to meet the eligibility criteria for an Indefinite Leave to Remain application. The good news (at least if you are nearing your sixty fifth birthday) is that you do not need to sit the Life in the UK test if you are under the age of eighteen or over the age of sixty five or if you fall within other limited exemptions.

Indefinite Leave to Remain solicitors 

Immigration appeal lawyers have been waiting for the decision in Lal v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWCA Civ 1925. Appealing a Home Office decision isn’t easy as the case of Lal demonstrates but the Lal case offers guidance for immigration appeal lawyers and those contemplating appealing a visa decision.

Immigration appeal lawyers 

Immigration solicitors are often asked to explain what a biometric residence permit is by confused immigration clients. It isn’t surprising that immigration clients do not know what a ‘biometric residence permit’ is. It sounds like the sort of document you need to gain access to a bio nuclear installation. 

Most of us wonder whether Brexit will impact on every part of our day to day lives, from the cost of buying a pint of milk, to the availability of prescription drugs. With Brexit pushed back to January 2020,  there is additional time for families to think through the potential consequences of Brexit and the impact on them and their families and for immigration solicitors to look at the topic of Brexit and spouse visas.

Spouse visa solicitors  

It is bad enough to go through the trauma of a separation or a divorce without also experiencing worry about the effect of your divorce on your spouse visa. It is not surprising that many partners stay in unhappy marriages because they do not know what to do for the best. If you are in that situation then immigration solicitors urge you to take legal advice about your spouse visa. That way, you can make informed decisions about the future of your marriage based on what is best for you and your family.

Spouse visa solicitors 

It is a tricky question to ask if you need British citizenship if you have Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. It is a question many immigration clients ask their London immigration solicitors as they want to know whether British citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain is the best option for them. There is not a right or wrong answer to the question “is British nationality or Indefinite Leave to Remain best?” as the reply from an immigration law specialist will depend on your personal circumstances.

Indefinite Leave to Remain solicitors 

Saying that you have ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK’ is a bit of a mouthful. It is also a phrase that does not mean a great deal to the person you are speaking to, unless they are an immigration solicitor or Home Office official.

The asylum interview by UK Visas and Immigration officials is a two-stage process:

• The asylum screening interview;

• The asylum substantive interview.

When you think of British nationality your thoughts might turn to cricket, the royal family and all the other things that are quintessentially British. For example, complaining about the weather or adopting a stiff upper lip in times of trouble. However, what British nationality and British citizenship means and feels like to you can be very different depending on whether you are a British national or you are wanting to apply to naturalise as a British citizen. 

British nationality solicitors