ABC Immigration London

15/02/2026

Applying to join your partner in the UK can feel overwhelming, particularly when the Home Office requires strict financial, relationship, and documentation evidence. This guide explains the spouse and civil partner route in clear, practical terms so you understand exactly what to expect before applying.

Applying to join your partner in the UK can feel overwhelming, particularly when the Home Office requires strict financial, relationship, and documentation evidence. This guide explains the spouse and civil partner route in clear, practical terms so you understand exactly what to expect before apply...

14/02/2026

Check out our latest article on How to Understand the UK Fiancé(e) or Proposed Civil Partner Entry Clearance Route:

Planning to get married or enter into a proposed civil partnership in the UK but confused by the fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner visa process? This guide breaks down the journey, written in clear, simple language. From preparing your documents, proving your relationship, meeting the new financi...

08/02/2026

The 5‑Year Partner Route to Settlement — Starting as a Fiancé(e)
If you’re planning to come to the UK to marry your partner and eventually settle here, this is what the typical 5‑year journey looks like:

Step 1 – Entry Clearance as a Fiancé(e): Grants 6 months of permission in the UK. You must marry within this period, and you cannot work while on this visa.

Step 2 – Spouse Visa (First Grant): Once married, you apply for your first spouse visa from inside the UK. This grants 30 months of permission to stay.

Step 3 – Spouse Visa Extension (Second Grant): Before your first spouse visa expires, you must apply to extend your leave for an additional 30 months.

Step 4 – Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): After completing 5 years on the spouse route (30 months + 30 months), you can apply for ILR, also known as settled status.

Step 5 – British Citizenship: Once ILR is granted, you can apply for British citizenship immediately, provided you meet the general residence and good‑character requirements.

If you’d like help navigating the process, feel free to get in touch.

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16/04/2025

🧐 Life in the UK Test 🇬🇧

Good afternoon all, here is a link to what you can expect when booking and taking the Life in the UK Test.

These full terms and conditions explain the applicant’s obligations and what they can expect when booking and taking the Life in the UK Test.

06/04/2025

The Importance of “Right to Work” Checks in the UK Construction Industry.

As highlighted in our previous post on Illegal Working, the UK Construction industry struggles to maintain accurate Right to Work checks.

UK Employers have a duty of care to prevent illegal employment by verifying workers’ documents to check their “Right to Work” in the UK, such as checking original documents and securely recording those checks. Doing so helps employers avoid liability for civil penalties, known as ‘establishing a statutory excuse against liability for a penalty’.

Why are Right to Work checks important?

1) UK Employers have a legal obligation to conduct Right to Work checks to ensure they are not employing individuals without the right to work in the UK.
2) They help prevent illegal working and discourage the exploitation of vulnerable workers.
3) Failure to conduct accurate Right to Work checks can result in, but is not limited to, civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker or up to five years in prison.
4) The Home Office can issue an onsite closure notice for up to 48 hours if they believe illegal working is taking place, which can be extended if necessary.

How can construction firms carry out Right to Work checks?

1) Employers must accurately check worker’s original documents to verify their right to work in the UK.
2) Copies of the origional documents must be stored securely for the duration of the worker’s employment and for two years afterwards. The documents must then be securely destroyed.
3) Examples of acceptable documents may include a current passport, a birth certificate, or an Immigration Status document.
4) Employers can also undertake an online Right to Work check using IDVT via the services of an IDSP (British and Irish citizens only), a Home Office online Right to Work check (non-British and non-Irish citizens), or the Employer Checking Service.
5) The documents must be valid, true likeness of the worker, untampered or altered, and proof that the worker’s Right to Work in the UK has not expired.
6) Reading the guidance in the 'Employer’s guide to Right to Work checks', link below.

Brandon Hughes | Immigration Advisor


Employer’s guide to Right to Work checks:

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06/04/2025

Illegal Working within the UK Construction Industry.

The Home Office recently published ‘Employers awareness of Right to Work checks’, based on a quantitative mixed-mode survey of 2,152 Businesses across various UK industries.

The survey found that a significant majority of UK employers, specifically 89%, acknowledge their responsibility for conducting 'Right to Work' checks. However, there are still some misconceptions, particularly among those hiring agency workers, who mistakenly believe that either third parties or the workers themselves should handle these checks.

While most employers understand the key details to review during a manual document check, their knowledge of record-keeping and the need for rechecking is weaker, indicating a higher risk of non-compliance.

Of those surveyed who operate in the construction industry, 70% of employers reported accepting incorrect documents, such as driving licenses, to verify a Right to Work. Additionally, 41% frequently noted that illegal working was a common issue in construction, the highest rate amongst those surveyed.

The construction sector faces a heightened risk of non-compliance due to a lack of understanding of Right to Work checks.

This situation is likely to prompt the Government to take further action against illegal working within the Construction Industry, similar to what has occurred in the Health and care Sector.

If you have any questions about Right to Work checks, please contact us today. Relevant links are included in the comments section below.

Brandon Hughes | Immigration Advisor

04/04/2025

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – 2 April 2025

From 2 April 2025, visitors to the UK are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if they do not need a visa for short stays of up to six months and do not already hold UK immigration status. This is similar to the EU’s ETIAS system, which has been postponed until 2026. Although there is a grace period that lasts until September or October 2025, entry without an ETA cannot be guaranteed.

An ETA currently costs £10 and allows multiple trips to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over a period of two years or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever comes first.

From 9 April 2025 an ETA will cost £16.

What an ETA is, who can get one and how to apply before coming to the UK.

02/04/2025

eVisa Support is finally here!

GOV.UK have released a series of 'how to' videos to help you access and use your eVisa, as well as updating and recovering your UKVI account.



Check out the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/evisa-support-videos?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=03054738-5d85-4eed-854e-ae82171b57d0&utm_content=daily

A series of 'how to' videos to help you access and use your eVisa, as well as updating and recovering your UKVI account.

20/03/2025

⚠️ Biometric Residence Permit Update ⚠️

This is a quick update regarding the BRP deadline for holders of a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) in the UK. The UK Government initially announced that all BRPs would expire on 31 December 2024, with cardholders required to apply online for an eVisa before this date. Initially, due to several issues, the deadline was extended to 31 March 2025. However, since then, the UK Government has extended the expiry date to 1 June 2025.

If you hold a BRP, you must register for your eVisa and link it to your passport as soon as possible. If you are travelling back to the UK, you can still enter with your passport and BRP. Having your share code from your eVisa readily available is also advisable.

We are aware of several visa nationals who passed through UK Border Control in January 2025 without being asked to show their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or eVisa; they only presented their passports.

Below, we have included some information from the Home Office news feed regarding extending the end of the BRP expiry date from 31 March 2025 to 1 June 2025.

"To support a continued smooth transition to eVisas and ensure no one is disadvantaged, the Home Office is extending the ‘grace period’ announced in December 2024. We committed to keep this transitional measure under review, and we are extending the end date from 31 March 2025 to 1 June 2025.

This allows people with a biometric residence permit (BRP) or EUSS biometric residence card (BRC) that expired on or after 31 December 2024 and who continue to hold underlying immigration status to continue to use their expired document for international travel up to and including 1 June 2025.

From 2 June 2025, expired BRPs and EUSS BRCs will no longer be acceptable evidence of immigration status when travelling to the UK."

Please see the full article in the reference section below for further details on the biometric residence permit extension.

Reference below:
Home Office
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-have-now-taken-action-to-access-their-evisa

The Home Office has established a 24-hour helpline for airlines that may have difficulties identifying documents. You can find this number on the Home Office website. At the time of writing, the number is: 0300 790 6268 or +44 (0)203 875 4669.

Published statistics show millions have accessed their eVisa, as an extension to the period expired immigration documents can be used for travel is confirmed.

15/03/2025

Hello and welcome to the official page of ABC Immigration London! We are thrilled to have you here and excited to embark on this journey with you. Whether you are a first-time visitor or someone familiar with immigration matters, this space is designed to be your trusted resource for insights, updates, and advice on UK immigration law.

At ABC Immigration London, we understand that navigating the complexities of immigration can be challenging. That’s why we’re here – to provide clarity, support, and tailored solutions for your immigration needs. As a registered Immigration Advice Authority immigration firm, we are committed to delivering accurate and reliable guidance to help you achieve your goals.

This blog will cover a range of topics, including:
a) Practical tips and advice for visa applications.
b) Updates on changes to UK immigration law and policy.
c) Answers to frequently asked questions.
d) Stories and successes.
e) Resources for individuals and families planning their move to the UK.

Our goal is to empower you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your immigration journey.

Stay tuned for regular updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or topics you’d like us to address. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Thank you for choosing ABC Immigration London. Let’s navigate the path to your future together!