Simon Barr Immigration Law, Northern Ireland

04/07/2025

If you know any UK residents who are Irish this may be of interest to them if they wish to hold dual Irish/British nationality.

Irish people living in the UK can soon benefit from this new British citizenship route.

26/11/2024

Colombia nationals now require a visa in advance of visiting the UK from 3.00pm today 26th November 2024!

A visa requirement will be imposed on nationals of Colombia through the following amendments:

Colombia will be added to the list of countries in VN 1.1(a) of Appendix Visitor: visa national list. This means that Colombians will be required to apply for and be granted entry clearance in advance of travel to the UK for a visit or transit.

Colombia will be removed from the list of nationalities requiring an Electronic Travel Authorisation at ETANL 1.1(c).

In explaining the changes, paragraph 5.2 of the Explanatory Memorandum cites “a significant and sustained increase in Colombian nationals who have travelled to the UK for purposes that are not permitted under the Immigration Rules for Visitors, such as to live, work or claim asylum in the UK”.

The Explanatory Memorandum goes on to explain the relevant asylum statistics, and the increase in Colombian nationals refused entry at the border, and notes at paragraph 5.3 that “[t]here have been more asylum claims per quarter in 2023 and 2024 than in the entire 10 years preceding the visa lift”.

06/08/2024

'eVisa' applications now open to all visa holders.

Information on eVisas and why you need one.

16/07/2024

Together with and 75 partners from the migration sector, we have signed this open letter asking the Prime Minister to fix the EU Settlement Scheme.

EU citizens and family members in the UK must have their rights upheld.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/15/keir-starmer-urged-quickly-fix-broken-eu-settlement-scheme

https://the3million.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/t3m-letter-PM-EUCitizensRights-15Jul2024.pdf

Organisations including the3million write to PM calling for action to avoid a repeat of Windrush scandal

10/07/2024

Given the Common Travel Area and the open nature of the land border with ROI this change will be of relevance to some - "New visa requirements for South African and Botswana nationals"

Minister McEntee immigration visa South African Botswana nationals Visa Applications Centres VACs VFS Global travelling transit Dublin Airport

13/05/2024

As we are aware - 'Boris didn't get Brexit done'

Northern Ireland High Court finds Illegal Migration Act is incompatible with European Convention on Human Rights and EU Withdrawal Agreement

14/03/2024

From the 11th of April 2024.
Changes include:
· Increase to the MIR to £29,000
· Amount of savings increased to £88,500 (amount of the new MIR x 2.5 + £16,000) = (£29,000 x 2.5 + £16,000 = 88,500)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-590-14-march-2024 -- Almost 300pages of bed-time reading....

Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules published on 14 March 2024.

30/01/2024

All the dates now announced for restrictive changes to the immigration rules -

Rollout of new transformative legal migration measures begins, with new restrictions set to relieve the burden on British taxpayers and public services

18/01/2024

Immigration Health Surcharge increase is on 6th February 2024

3 years: increase from £1,872 to £3,105.

5 years: increase from £3,120 to £5,175.

This Order amends the Immigration (Health Charge) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/792), which requires a person who applies for entry clearance for a limited period, or for limited leave to remain in the United Kingdom, to pay an immigration health charge.

05/12/2023

Words fail....

New rules will make it harder for British citizens to live in the UK with a foreign partner.