Immigration and Migration

Members podcast: What is immigration policy for? With Madeleine Sumption

Members podcast: What is immigration policy for? With Madeleine Sumption In this episode, Jasmine is joined by Madeleine Sumption. Madeleine is the director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford and has recently been appointed interim chair of the Migration Advisory Committee. Drawing on decades of research, her ...

The importance of early clarification of grounds of appeal

The importance of early clarification of grounds of appeal The Court of Appeal has held that appellants in protection and human rights cases cannot recast their arguments on appeal by relying on grounds not properly raised at first instance. The First-tier Tribunal is required to determine only the principal ...

Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #114

Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #114 Welcome to the weekly Free Movement newsletter! Hope you’re feeling refreshed after the long weekend! Research by the Humans for Rights Network has found that 76 young people whose ages have been disputed by the Home Office have been held in ...

Earned settlement: retrospective change is wrong but prospective change is even worse

Earned settlement: retrospective change is wrong but prospective change is even worse Applying the new earned settlement rules retrospectively to migrants already here is wrong. People came to the UK under a specific set of rules and made life-altering decisions on that basis. Moving the goalposts midway through their journey is a ...

Adoption and surrogacy: when is a child born overseas British?

Adoption and surrogacy: when is a child born overseas British? Those who adopt a child abroad or have a child through surrogacy often assume that their child will automatically be born British if one of the parents is British. This is often not the case. The difficulty is that British ...

Job ad: Legal Adviser and Service Coordinator, PERN PERN are looking for someone sharp and determined to lead our Carlisle-based PERN Legal and Info service, skilfully navigating the current hostile environment for asylum seekers and refugees. Ideally qualified to or working towards IAA Level 3 (or equivalent) in ...

Asylum hotel accommodation unlawful where it fails basic standards of adequacy

Asylum hotel accommodation unlawful where it fails basic standards of adequacy The High Court has held that the Home Secretary breached her duty to provide ‘adequate’ accommodation to asylum-seeking families housed in hotels for prolonged periods. In R (SH) & BWO v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC ...

Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #113

Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #113 Welcome to the weekly Free Movement newsletter! An investigation published last week has found that ‘stop the boats’ policies have contributed to an increase in deaths in the Channel. Researchers from Border Forensics and the University of Bristol found that 197 people ...

What lawyers need to know about DNA testing in immigration cases

What lawyers need to know about DNA testing in immigration cases DNA testing can provide powerful evidence of a claimed family relationship in immigration cases. The Home Office cannot require applicants to take a DNA test, but it can suggest one as a voluntary way of providing scientific evidence of a ...

Job Ad: D J Webb & Co. Solicitors are Recruiting a Solicitor and Paralegal

Job Ad: D J Webb & Co. Solicitors are Recruiting a Solicitor and Paralegal D J Webb & Co. is a solicitors firm in London that has specialised in UK immigration and British nationality law for nearly 30 years. We are seeking a solicitor to join our practice on a permanent and full-time basis. The ...

EVisa judicial review dismissed but court acknowledges real hardship from digital-only status

EVisa judicial review dismissed but court acknowledges real hardship from digital-only status The High Court has dismissed the judicial review challenge to the Home Office’s eVisa policy in BSC & Anor v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 705 (Admin). We have covered this case previously on Free ...

What are share codes and how do I use them?

What are share codes and how do I use them? As the UK moves further towards a fully digital immigration system, most people with UK visas now hold eVisas instead of physical immigration documents. The majority of UK visa holders can now prove their immigration status online. A central part ...

Job Ad: ILPA are recruiting a Legal Project Officer Legal Project Officer, Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) Organisation: Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) Duration: Four years Location: Hybrid / London (our anchor day is in London on a Tuesday, and there are often evening meetings in London, with occasional other ...

Can the Home Secretary deprive someone of citizenship based on inferences of criminal activity? SIAC...

Can the Home Secretary deprive someone of citizenship based on inferences of criminal activity? SIAC... The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (‘SIAC’) has dismissed the appeals of two Iraqi Kurdish men against citizenship deprivation and deportation. G4 and G5 were assessed to be involved in serious organised crime, namely facilitating illegal immigration to the UK from ...

Convicted murderer excluded from protection of Refugee Convention

Convicted murderer excluded from protection of Refugee Convention The Court of Appeal has overturned a tribunal decision that a convicted murderer who was refused asylum over 20 years ago was entitled to refugee status. The case is KD v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWCA ...

A practitioner’s guide to commencing children’s protection claims

A practitioner’s guide to commencing children’s protection claims As the current government overhauls the asylum system, children with asylum claims are likely to be very anxious. In this article we look at the practical steps involved in running children’s protection claims. We cover welfare interviews, interpretation, the streamlined process, ...

Call for evidence on the new Independent Appeals Body

Call for evidence on the new Independent Appeals Body Last summer the Home Office announced that they were going to set up a new Independent Appeals Body as part of their plans to reform the asylum system. Some information on how this might work emerged in January, but details ...

Can asylum seekers work while waiting for a decision on their case?

Can asylum seekers work while waiting for a decision on their case? Asylum seekers who would otherwise face destitution must rely on financial support from the government. This support is limited to either £9.95 a week if the accommodation provides meals or £49.18 in other cases, which means most will struggle to ...

Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #112

Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #112 Welcome to the weekly Free Movement newsletter! The Home Office announced new immigration and nationality fees last week which come into effect from 8 April. Most fees seem to be increasing by 6 or 7%. For expensive applications like indefinite leave to ...

What happens if the Home Office grants indefinite leave to remain by mistake?

What happens if the Home Office grants indefinite leave to remain by mistake? If the Home Office accidentally grants someone indefinite leave to remain, can they keep it? The court in R (YC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWCA Civ 285 held no, sorry. At least, in cases where ...

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