Immigration and Visas - Useful Links

Useful links and information around Immigration and visas

New Plan for Growth Routes and Right to Work

As part of the implementation of the UK Government’s Plan for Growth we have made changes to the immigration system, seeing the launch of three new visa routes:

Global Business Mobility, opening on 11 April
High Potential Individual, opening on 30 May
Scale-up, opening on 22 August

Alongside this, following positive feedback from employers about the ability to conduct right to work checks remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, from 6 April we are enabling employers to use Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) service providers to carry out digital identity checks of British and Irish citizens (with a valid passport) on their behalf.

This means that from 6 April, there will be three ways employers can carry out right to work checks on job applicants:

A Home Office online right to work check
A manual right to work check
A right to work digital identity check using IDVT via the services of third-party identity service providers (IDSP)

EU, EEA and Swiss Citizens Protected Under the Withdrawal Agreement

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

EUSS applicant information
- https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-scheme-applicant-information

Frontier Workers
- https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/949225/Frontier_Workers_Leaflet.pdf

Grant Funded Organisations including post code checker
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-community-support-for-vulnerable-citizens
- https://www.gov.uk/help-eu-settlement-scheme

EUSS Caseworker guidance
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-caseworker-guidance

EUSS guidance, including on late applications
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1004627/main-euss-guidance-v13.0ext.pdf

EUSS Covid-19 guidance
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/992928/covid-19-caseworker-guidance-v1.0.pdf

Digital Status

From 1 July 2021, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme will need to evidence their rights in the UK with their digital immigration status, rather than their passport or ID card. For example, they may need to do this when applying for a job or when renting a property.

We have published a new guide for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens on viewing and proving their immigration status (eVisa). The guide explains how people can view and prove their immigration status, update their details, what they should expect when crossing the UK border and how to get help accessing their immigration status.
It is important that EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members keep their personal details up to date and inform the Home Office if their travel document changes, using the View and Prove service.

Right to Work and Right to Rent Checks

- Right to Work
Following the change to employer right to work checks from 1 July 2021, the following GOV.UK pages have been updated with the latest information:
- Employer Information for UK Points-Based Immigration System – Helping employers understand the new points-based immigration system (campaign.gov.uk)
- Right to work checklist – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Right to Rent Checks from 1 July 2021
Guidance for both online and manual right to rent checks can be found on gov.uk:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/landlords-immigration-right-to-rent-checks
Updated guidance on how to conduct a right to rent check from 1 July 2021 will be published on GOV.UK shortly. The draft Code of Practice which lists the acceptable documents and can be found on gov.uk
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-rent-landlords-code-of-practice

All New Arrivals to the UK from 1 January 2021

The new immigration system: what you need to know
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-immigration-system-what-you-need-to-know

Coming to the UK

- Find out what you need to do to come to the UK and to manage your application
  - https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/what-you-need-to-do
- Check if you need a UK visa*
  - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
*This is a really useful starting place to identify what visa (if any) is needed to come to the UK.

UK Points-Based Immigration System information for EU, EEA and Swiss Citizens

Information on the UKs points-based immigration system (PBS) for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens (includes translated documents)
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-points-based-immigration-system-eu-citizen-information

Information on using the app when applying to work or study in the UK (includes a video on how to use the app)
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-uk-immigration-id-check-app

EU, EEA and Swiss student information
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-points-based-immigration-system-eu-student-information

EU Citizens PBS translated partner packs
- https://homeoffice.brandworkz.com/BMS/albums/?album=2434&lightboxAccessID=20A81736-C37C-455D-87433677E6FAA392

Information on Visa Routes

Work in the UK, including long-term and short-term work visas
- https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

International Students
- https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/student-visas

Graduates
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-graduate-route-information-for-international-students
- https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa

Visiting the UK, including for tourism, business and permitted paid engagement
- https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/tourist-short-stay-visas

British Nationals (Overseas) in Hong Kong
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/british-nationals-overseas-in-hong-kong

Approved Tier 5 government authorised exchange schemes.
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-n-authorised-exchange- schemes

Employers Guidance

The UK points-based immigration system: An introduction for Employers
- https://pbisemployers.campaign.gov.uk/

Employers information
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-points-based-immigration-system-employer-information

Recruiting people from outside the UK from 1 January 2021
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/recruiting-people-from-outside-the-uk

UK points-based immigration system: hiring people from outside the UK
- https://youtu.be/yExT9NcYpoA

Employ someone step by step
- https://www.gov.uk/employ-someone

UK points-based immigration system: sponsoring a skilled worker
- https://youtu.be/D7OmsMk0N14

Association of Labour Providers/ Home Office handbook
Association of Labour Providers » Immigration and Right to Work

Home Office Podcast available on Apple, Acast and Spotify
- https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ljr2e4DONeYmDToPBykds?si=p83RqzWtTG6y73WX2TeRPQ

Employers – Sign up for Home Office alerts on the points-based immigration system
- https://gov.smartwebportal.co.uk/homeoffice/public/webform.asp?id=191&id2=9633A4

Sponsorship

Employers guide to becoming a licensed sponsor of skilled migrant workers
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/949210/Employers_guide_to_becoming_a_licenced_sponsor.pdf