Immigration roundup podcast: February 2025

The February podcast is here! We kick off with Sonia briefly summarising the recently published statistics for 2024. There was then a lot to cover on asylum with several case updates and of course the recent Home Office changes to the good character requirements. Barry was thrilled to be able to discuss his favourite section of the British Nationality Act 1981 as well as getting to cover Alex Piletska’s “highly entertaining” housesitting piece. All that and much more!

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The 40 minute long podcast follows the running order below:

General immigration (01:00)

Health and care worker visas and asylum grant rates both plummeted in 2024 according to latest statistics

Asylum (03:15)

High Court upholds award of £98,757 damages to refugee

Home Secretary’s decision on national security is sufficient to revoke refugee status

Upper Tribunal dismisses judicial review in case of parents seeking to reunite with young children 

High Court provides guidance on interaction between Schedule 10 accommodation and Care Act duties

Who is eligible and how to apply to the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme?

Challenge to refusal to relocate Diego Garcia refugee to the UK dismissed by High Court

Good character guidance amended to block refugees from naturalisation

British citizenship (20:45)

High Court considers new provisions for registration as a British citizen in special circumstances Court of Appeal returns deprivation appeal to the Upper Tribunal

 EU Settlement Scheme (27:25)

Frequently asked questions: family member applications to the EU Settlement Scheme

Work routes (28:15)

A guide to civil penalties for illegal working

Procedure (29:40)

The Home Office is creating unnecessary additional work and delays in change of conditions applications

Litigant in person to pay thousands in costs after falling foul of procedural rules

Visitors (34:40)

Housesitters and holiday swappers: what are the immigration law implications?

Updates (39:20)

What is the no recourse to public funds condition?

Government Authorised Exchange: one visa, over 30 options

General grounds for refusal: contriving to frustrate the intention of the rules

Visas for children under Appendix FM of the immigration rules

What is a Scale-up visa and how does it work?