Understanding the 2025 UK Immigration Changes: What Families Need to Know
The UK’s immigration system is undergoing one of its most significant overhauls in recent years. With sweeping changes taking effect from 22 July 2025, families and individuals navigating the immigration process must be aware of how these reforms could impact their rights, visa eligibility, and long-term plans. At Ison Harrison, our Immigration is committed to…
UK Immigration White Paper 2025: Restoring Control and Redefining Migration Pathways
The 2025 UK Immigration White Paper, “Restoring Control over the Immigration System,” marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s approach to migration policy. Published on 12 May 2025, the document represents a comprehensive restructuring of immigration frameworks, reflecting the government’s strategic objectives to balance economic needs, social cohesion, and border control. Contextual Background The white…
Securing a UK Spouse Visa for a US Citizen: A Client Success Story
At Ison Harrison Solicitors, we pride ourselves on helping families navigate the complexities of UK immigration law. In a recent case, our experienced team successfully assisted a US citizen in securing a UK Spouse Visa to join his British husband and their two British children. The case involved addressing financial challenges and securing the children’s…
Spring Budget 2025: Implications for Immigration and Sponsored Workers in the UK
The Spring Budget 2025, delivered against the backdrop of a challenging economic climate and an approaching General Election, set the tone for continued fiscal restraint and a firm stance on immigration. While headline-grabbing tax cuts and investment announcements dominated the news cycle, several key developments – both direct and indirect – will significantly affect UK…
Over 4 Million UK Visa Holders Successfully Transition to eVisas
According to Home Office statistics published in February, over 4 million UK visa holders have now created an account to access their eVisa. However, an estimated 600,000 individuals have yet to switch from their physical documents to a digital eVisa. The eVisa rollout, which began last year, is part of the UK government’s push to…
Registering a Child as a British Citizen: An Overview
If your child was born in the UK and has lived here consistently, they may be eligible to register as a British citizen. This is an option worth exploring for several important reasons. Entitlement to Register as a British Citizen Under Section 1(4) of the British Nationality Act 1981, a child born in the UK…
Record-Breaking January for Illegal Working Enforcement Activity Announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a record-breaking January for illegal working enforcement activity, as the government intensifies its efforts to combat immigration system abuse under its Plan for Change. The surge in enforcement activity forms a key part of the government’s broader initiative to restore order to the UK immigration system by identifying, disrupting,…
eVisas Set To Replace Biometric Residence Permits: Here’s What You Need You Know
Many foreign nationals living in the UK have what is known as a Biometric Card otherwise known as a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). This is a card that confirms their identity, contains their biometric information, immigration status and conditions of stay. Employers want to see this so that they can determine when that person’s visa…
Does The New Immigration Health Surcharge Apply To You? Here’s How We Can Help
Rishi Sunak’s UK Government last week announced an increase to the surcharge facing people using the NHS when applying for a UK visa. In most cases this will see affected people paying an extra £1000 over two and a half years to use the NHS. The proposed increase is still seeking the approval of parliament…
5 Minutes With…Reena Bangar, Immigration Solicitor at Ison Harrison
Today we’re chatting with Reena Bangar from our Immigration team here at Ison Harrison. Reena is an accredited Senior Caseworker in Immigration and Asylum matters with the Law Society and deals with a wide range of legal aid and privately paying Immigration and Asylum cases. Q: How long have you worked at Ison Harrison? I…
Family Visa Scheme for Ukraine Crisis
The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine continues to escalate. We understand that this is a worrying time for anyone with family members in Ukraine. One of the measures that has been put in place by the British Government in response to the specific situation in Ukraine is The Ukraine Family Scheme. This scheme is intended for…
Ison Harrison Immigration Specialist Speaks As Britain Returns Over 100 Asylum Seekers
Specialist immigration lawyer, Ben Davison, has spoken out on the UK’s record of returning over 100 asylum seekers back to Afghanistan and Iraq over the last five years, despite them being originally taken in as unaccompanied children. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has revealed that 138 children were given temporary leave to remain in the…
Clarity on automatic visa extensions
As we find ourselves in uncharted territories with a pandemic that has affected everyone either in their daily lives or the way they are working, it is fair to say that there has been a big change in almost everything, with the world of Immigration being no different. Immigration Solicitors have had to adapt to…
Ison Harrison Holds Key Advice Session for the Windrush Generation
The Windrush scandal is the latest news topic that everyone has been talking about over the last few weeks, and Ison Harrison is here to offer advice and assistance on the matter. Since the Windrush debate started in April, many people have raised concerns over whether they will be affected by the errors made. Ison…
Illegal Workers Penalties: Quarterly Report Issued
A quarterly report issued by the Home Office has outlined the penalties issued to employers throughout all regions of the UK in the first part of 2016. The changes brought into force by the Immigration Act 2016 will have an even greater impact soon. It is a pertinent time to assess the figures and study the…
Increase In British Citizenship Applications Following Brexit Announcement
If there was confusion and uncertainty prior to the 23 June EU referendum, then the eventual Brexit vote has done little to clear anything up. Immigration was a central discussion point throughout the weeks of heated campaigning, with contradictory statements issued by both ‘Leave’ and ‘Remain’ groups, which only added to the tension. Post-Brexit Now,…
New Legislation: Modern Slavery (Transparency in Supply Chains) Bill 2016 and the Investigatory Powers Bill 2016
Two diverse pieces of legislation have recently been passed into the House of Lords on their way to becoming implemented into UK law. Each of these have implications for different and contrasting areas of UK Business law. Modern Slavery (Transparency in Supply Chains) Bill 2016 Many UK businesses may claim to be shocked at the…
What The New Immigration Act 2016 Could Mean For Employment Law
After being first announced in the Queen’s Speech of May 2015, the Immigration Bill received Royal Assent a year later on Thursday 12 May 2016 and will now be known as the Immigration Act 2016. The Act introduces new sanctions that will fundamentally affect employment law in the UK and follows on from the Immigration Act…
IH-Red Cross Partnership
We are very pleased to announce that we have entered into a partnership with the British Red Cross, to help them provide advice and assistance to recognised refugees who are trying to be reunited with their families. As part of the cuts to Legal Aid made in April 2013, assistance was stopped for those granted…
Private Landlords face stiff penalties for failing to police immigrants
Last year we wrote about the introduction of new Immigration laws, which meant private landlords would be fined for renting properties to people living in the UK without permission. The fines can affect any landlord who fails to make sure that the person who they are renting to has immigration status, a task which the…
The Politics of Immigration
The party conference season has now ended and Immigration looks likely to be high on the agendas for each of the major political parties. Early election manifestos are already being published and Immigration is being put under the same headings as Crime and Welfare Benefits, once more putting it across in a negative light to…
Law Society – Access To Justice
In a speech made recently Andrew Caplin, the recently installed President of the Law Society, announced a new campaign which aims to highlight the increasing difficulties faced by people who find themselves needing to take legal action. The Access to Justice campaign was introduced with three core aims: To raise public awareness of lawyer-aided access to…
Home Office House Calls
We’ve recently become aware of a new tactic from the Home Office in checking up on people who are reliant on their family relationships for their legal status in the UK. Immigration Officers seem to be not only making house calls to make sure people live with who they say they do, but knocking on…
Implications of the Immigration Act 2014
Shortly before jetting off on their summer holidays, Parliament passed a new law, called the Immigration Act 2014, which aims to make it increasingly difficult to live in the UK without legal status. An understandable aim, but the way in which the Government has gone about it is perhaps less commendable. The onus on keeping…
Immigration Facts & Soundbites
Last week, Nick Clegg MP, the Deputy Prime Minister, made a speech on Immigration. This is a topic that is going to be at the forefront of the upcoming election. He set out his position on more effective immigration control as essentially being one of big, strong walls at the borders but with doors open…