KNOWLEDGE

CENTRE

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): Who Must Pay, Exemptions, Refunds and Current Rates

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a mandatory fee on most UK visa applications, introduced in 2015 to ensure long-term migrants contribute to the NHS.

Switching from a Fiancé Visa to a Spouse Visa in the UK

The UK Fiancé Visa does not lead directly to settlement in the UK. However, once you have married in the UK, you will be able to apply for and switch from a Fiancé Visa to a UK Spouse Visa.

Children Born Outside the UK to British Mothers: British Citizenship Under Section 4C

British nationality law has undergone several important changes in recent years, in many cases in order to reflect changes in social attitudes and to correct historic injustices. Section 4C of the British Nationality...

EU Settlement Scheme Settled Status: New Automated Grant Procedure and the Commencement of Pre-Settled Status Removals

On 9 April 2026, the Home Office published a policy paper outlining a shift in the administration of the EU Settlement Scheme. This blog focuses on the expansion of automated grants...

How to Apply For a UK Ancestry Visa

If you are a Commonwealth citizen and have a grandparent who was born in the UK or Islands, you may be able to live and work in the UK on the basis of your UK ancestry.

UK Visa Application Mistakes: Innocent Errors, False Representation and Deception

When submitting a UK visa application through UKVI, any information provided ought to be true, accurate and complete according to the applicant’s knowledge. However, as the process is oftentimes complex and...

Sponsor Duties Tightened and Skilled Worker Rules Rewritten for UK Employers

The UK sponsorship regime is undergoing a significant and deliberate shift. The Home Office has introduced a series of updates to sponsor licence guidance over the past year...

Can I Visit the UK While My Partner Visa Is Being Processed?

Many of our spouse visa, civil partner visa, unmarried partner visa, fiance visa and proposed civil partner visa clients have asked us whether it...

Meeting the Student Visa Financial Requirement

The Student Visa and Child Student Visa routes are for individuals who wish to come to the UK to study. In our recent blog, we discussed visa conditions,...

Meeting the Spouse Visa Financial Requirement as a Director of a Limited Company

In July 2012, following on from the report from the Migration Advisory Committee, a minimum income threshold was introduced in respect of sponsorship under the family migration route as set out within Appendix...

Immigration Bail and Switching In-Country After Kaur: Why Immigration Bail Blocks In-Country Applications

On 20 November 2025, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in R (Kaur & Ors) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWCA Civ 1474, which has significant implications...

Can A Skilled Worker Delay Their Work Start Date?

Moving to a different country for a new job is very exciting but also requires a lot of planning and organisation. No matter how organised you are, experience shows that things do not always go according to plan.