Jasmine is back with Mala Savjani, partner at Wilsons Solicitors, for August's round up of immigration law news.

Mala talks through the latest quarterly statistics which show immigration, asylum and citizenship numbers all falling, and why the Supreme Court found an illegal working civil penalty notice to be invalid. We discuss two important Upper Tribunal cases, one sets out what makes a good country expert report, and the other is the long-awaited country guidance on Albanian male victims of trafficking.

We also cover the statement of changes lifting work restrictions for skilled workers with a positive conclusive grounds decision (more on that next month), and a case on the restricted nature of Article 8 family life. Jasmine explains why an appeal brought for a child without valid instructions is no appeal at all and the importance of evidencing future intentions in the UK when it comes to registering a child as British under section 3(1) of the British Nationality Act. Plus lots more.

Immigration statistics (00:28)

Latest immigration statistics: immigration, asylum and citizenship numbers all fall

Asylum and protection (04:02)

Upper Tribunal provides guidance on what makes a good country expert report

New Country Guidance case for Albanian male victims of trafficking

Home Office concedes that trafficking survivors with skilled worker visas can have their leave varied to VTS leave

Family (15:01)

Court of Appeal reiterates restricted nature of Article 8 family life

Children (17:45)

An appeal brought on behalf of a child without valid instructions is no appeal at all

Work (20:35)

Supreme Court finds illegal working civil penalty notice invalid for failing to specify the basis for liability

Citizenship (23:14)

Challenge to citizenship refusal under section 3(1) by stateless children refused for lack of supporting evidence

Visitors (25:56)

Gaza visit visa refusal amounted to a human rights refusal despite the wording of the decision letter

Visitor visa applicants must be allowed to respond to ‘not genuinely seeking entry’ allegation

New briefings (32:42)

How to respond to the Home Office if a sponsor’s licence is suspended

How to handle counter-allegations in domestic abuse cases

Why does a positive trafficking decision not automatically establish an asylum claim?

How to apply for immigration bail

Isaac Abraham is back to join Jasmine for this month's episode. It's a bit of a longer one this month as we dedicated the first section to the big news that was the Immigration and Asylum Bill. Isaac has explained the bill's different parts and its passage through Parliament so far.

Jasmine goes through the most recent statement of changes and then a number of cases, including a successful challenge from a trafficking victim who was forced at gunpoint to steer a small boat across the Channel. Isaac looks at two separate Home Office actions that have been found unlawful, including the secret policy capping trafficking leave to 12 months and the removal of the right to request reconsideration of a trafficking decision. There were also two quite shocking fraud cases and a reminder to solicitors to watch out for 'red flags'.

We also highlight the changes to right to work checks coming in from 1 October. Plus much more!

Immigration and Asylum Bill (00:41)

What’s in the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026?

Statement of changes (13:08)

Statement of Changes HC 259: changes to children’s settlement rules under Part 8 and exception to immigration bail prohibition

Asylum and protection (15:13)

Refugee families left in limbo as challenge to suspension of refugee family reunion route is dismissed

Over 1,000 people seeking sanctuary convicted of illegal arrival in the UK

Successful legal challenge for survivor of trafficking forced to steer small boat across Channel

Secret Home Office policy capping trafficking leave at 12 months declared unlawful

Home Office acted unlawfully by removing reconsiderations for trafficking decisions

Procedure (33:48)

Immigration firm criticised for failing to identify possible client fraud

‘Well-oiled’ fraudulent business machine behind fake judicial review claims uncovered

Business (39:38)

Right to work checks are changing: what employers need to know before October 2026

High Court quashes sponsor licence revocation over unspoken dishonesty allegation

Options for care workers when an employer’s sponsor licence is revoked

The case for a dedicated UK fishing visa

Briefings - new and updated (47:13)

The Tameside duty of inquiry: what is it and why is it relevant to immigration law practitioners?

Fee waivers: what can you do if you cannot afford to pay your immigration application fee?

Applying for British citizenship by naturalisation

Good character and criminal convictions in British citizenship applications

Suitability refusals: alleged deception, false information and innocent mistakes

In this month's round-up, Jasmine is joined by Mala Savjani, an associate solicitor at Wilsons. They cover the latest tribunal statistics, which make for grim reading as the asylum appeals backlog has climbed past 87,000 cases. With roughly twice as many cases coming in as going out, anyone lodging an appeal now faces a wait of close to three years.

Mala then unpacks the judicial review challenges to the Home Office's good character citizenship policy. Jasmine and Mala also cover a Court of Appeal decision on Iranian sur place claims, a win for Freedom from Torture and the Helen Bamber Foundation over asylum accommodation protections, and a curious split between the English and Scottish courts on age assessments. Plus, the new compliance regime for universities, the English language test fraud allegations saga, settlement and more! 

Asylum and protection (02:03)

Asylum appeal backlog rises to 87,450 cases

Home Office withdraws refusals in good character citizenship policy challenges

Court of Appeal declines to give wider guidance on Iranian sur place claims

Home Office unlawfully removed asylum accommodation protections for torture and trafficking survivors

Divergent approach to age assessments adopted in different parts of the UK

Settlement (19:15)

Yet another case on criminality for pre-2012 discretionary leave holder seeking settlement

Business and study (22:20)

Compliance flashes red for universities

Three rounds of sponsor guidance updates and what the latest changes mean for employers

High Court strikes out Home Secretary’s fraud accusations in TOEIC damages claim

Briefings - new and updated (30:58)

Legal aid for immigration cases: what is in scope and how to apply

Getting Global Talent endorsements right: what separates approvals from refusals

Briefing: the duty of refugee sea rescue in international law

How to apply for entry clearance for victims of transnational marriage abandonment

Age assessments: how to challenge a negative decision

This month, Jasmine is joined by Isaac Abraham, a solicitor at the Islington Law Centre. They discuss the King’s speech and the latest immigration statistics, which show a fall in net migration and asylum claims, but a steadily growing appeals backlog. The number of sponsor licence revocations has also shot up. Jasmine interviewed Luke Piper last month about the devastation this is causing to sponsored workers, particularly in the health and care sector.

Isaac discusses a number of new cases including a challenge by Syrian asylum seekers against removal to Bulgaria based on article 3 grounds and what happens to someone’s entitlement to benefits when they are subject to deportation proceedings. Jasmine talks about the problems that UK universities are creating for international student entrepreneurs and elsewhere there has been a judicial review challenge to the Home Secretary’s decision to grant temporary protection status of only 30 months to refugees. All this and much more! 

Immigration statistics and news (01:30)

Latest immigration statistics show falls in net migration and fall in asylum claims

Work visas, employer crackdowns and the nationalities caught in the middle

Nearly 90% of conclusive grounds reconsiderations result in positive outcome and more UK referrals than ever

Immigration legislation re-announced in King’s Speech

Asylum and protection (16:13)

We’re challenging the Home Secretary’s decision to grant temporary protection status of only 30 months

Upper Tribunal finds arguable Article 3 breach in Bulgarian removal challenge

Family and human rights (23:42)

Gurkha historic injustice does not remove the need to prove causation

Which takes priority: family or immigration proceedings?

Students (30:37)

Sold entrepreneurship, barred from business? The student visa trap

Can a Student visa holder sit as a member of the Scottish Parliament? Yes, they can

Deportation (37:45)

Social security case looks at the interplay between deportation and entitlement to benefits

Briefings – new and updated (42:15)

Briefing: registering a child as British

Right to rent checks: a practical guide for landlords and letting agents in England

What is the no recourse to public funds condition?

Briefing: how to apply for a religious work visa

How does absence from the UK work under the EU settlement scheme?

Changes to the absence rules for EU Settlement Scheme

In the April round-up, Jasmine is joined by Mala Savjani, an associate solicitor at Wilsons. They cover April’s most significant developments, which includes a Court of Appeal decision on what past ill-treatment actually has to look like to amount to persecution, a landmark European Court of Human Rights ruling on returns to Afghanistan, and a High Court judgment looking at whether single hotel rooms are ‘adequate’ for asylum-seeking families.

They also discuss the ongoing saga of the last person stranded on Diego Garcia and practical guidance on domestic abuse cases where survivors fall outside the rules. Plus costs applications, surrogacy, sponsor right to work checks, and more.

Asylum and protection (00:58)

Past arrest and beating of Vietnamese protester does not amount to persecution

European Court rules return of Hazara Afghan national would breach Article 3

Asylum hotel accommodation unlawful where it fails basic standards of adequacy

The importance of early clarification of grounds of appeal

Final Diego Garcia migrant moved from the military base to the Maldives

Family and human rights (15:18)

Home Secretary accepts she can grant further leave on the five-year route without the no recourse to public funds condition

When domestic abuse survivors don’t fit the rules: options and risks

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

High Court finds Afghan relocation refusal unlawful and unpublished guidance is withdrawn 

EU Settlement Scheme (27:16)

Continuous residence under the EU Settlement Scheme: changes to automated settlement process and expanded cancellation policy

Work (31:40)

Confusing changes to sponsor right to work checks: what has changed and what is still unclear

Procedure (33:27)

Applications for costs in immigration cases: what practitioners need to know

In the March round-up, Jasmine is joined by Chris Dias to discuss a new practitioner's guide to children's protection claims, whether policies to deter asylum seekers actually work and what happens when the Home Office grants settlement by mistake. They cover a number of cases including the latest in the Diego Garcia saga and the Court of Appeal's approach to deportation and subjective fears of family members.

Chris highlights the key points from the latest statement of changes and new sponsor compliance duties. They also cover some updated briefings, including the right to work for asylum seekers and the electronic travel authorisation scheme.

Asylum and protection (00:44)

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

Home Office decision to remove public funds from Diego Garcia asylum seekers was unlawful, Upper Tribunal finds

Convicted murderer excluded from protection of Refugee Convention

Why the latest attempt to deter asylum seekers won’t work

Asylum support: what is available and what has changed

Statement of changes (11:05)

Statement of changes HC 1691: changes for refugees, skilled workers, children and more

Settlement (15:14)

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

Deportation (17:15)

Subjective fears of family members are relevant but not enough to prevent deportation

Procedure (19:05)

When can you get a refund for the immigration health surcharge?

Is a person who obtained their leave by deception “lawfully resident”?

Work (22:55)

New sponsor compliance duties you need to act on now

Three months is enough: High Court confirms approach to salary assessment in sponsor licence revocation case

When would you ever use the secondary employment provisions?

Updated articles (28:52)

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

Do I need an electronic travel authorisation to enter the UK?

In the February round up, Jasmine and Barry discuss the Home Office's new pilot for children's asylum claims and dig into the latest immigration statistics. They cover some crucial advice for clients, including what to do if you're refused entry at the UK border, whether you can apply for settlement early to avoid the new ‘earned settlement’ proposals and how to fight a bank account closure on immigration grounds.

There is also new Home Office guidance on EU Settlement Scheme derivative rights, trouble for dual nationals without British passports and yet more lawyers being caught out by fake AI-generated case law. 

Asylum and protection (02:08)

Home Office introduces pilot to speed up children’s asylum claims

Massive reduction in the backlog but questions over quality of decision making in latest trafficking statistics

Latest statistics: overall decline in visa grants and concerns as Syrian asylum success rate plummets

No breach of public sector equality duty by Home Office when housing LGBTQ+ asylum seekers

Visitors (12:02)

What to do if you are stopped and refused entry at the UK border

Settlement (13:46)

Can I apply for indefinite leave to remain early?

A fairer pathway? How the “earned settlement” proposals risk discrimination against migrant women

EU Settlement Scheme (17:35)

New Home Office guidance on EU Settlement Scheme: derivative right to reside (Chen and Ibrahim/Teixeira cases)

Citizenship (19:43)

Will the UK really ban dual nationals who don’t have a British passport?

Permission granted in judicial review challenges to British citizenship ‘good character’ policy

High Court gives guidance on delay in applying for judicial review and human rights jurisdiction

Deportation (27:37)

Man stranded abroad challenges Home Office deportation decision taken whilst travelling

Procedure (29:29)

How to challenge closure of a bank account on immigration grounds

Tribunal criticises two more immigration lawyers for suspected citation of AI-invented fake case law

Updated (32:00)

Youth Mobility visa: what is it and how does it work?

How to apply for a UK spouse or partner visa

How to become an Immigration Advice Authority (formerly OISC) Level 1 regulated adviser

In Sonia's final episode, we cover the first substantive judgment concerning the use of “public order disqualification” powers in trafficking cases, an updated CPIN on Pakistan for LGBT+ people and the policy that's pushing people in conflict zones to make dangerous journeys to enrol their biometrics.

Barry covers a really important judgment on children's settlement applications (a crucial read as things may change again later this year) and Sonia highlights the dangers of the use of AI by immigration lawyers. We finish up by discussing the (little) weight that rehabilitation carries in deportation appeals.

Asylum and protection (01:17)

Refugees at risk of street homelessness have until 16 January to extend their asylum accommodation

Home Office U-turn over grants of leave to trafficking victims after legal challenge

High Court finds the Home Secretary’s approach to making public order disqualification decisions is unlawful

Concerns raised about changes to Home Office’s country evidence on Pakistan for LGBT+ people

The Home Office’s unsafe journeys policy is dangerous

Child settlement applications (13:53)

Important Court of Appeal ruling on children’s settlement applications

Artificial intelligence (21:00)

Briefing: AI and immigration law – what guidance is there for lawyers?

Windrush (25:03)

Possibility of legal aid in some Windrush compensation cases opened up by Court of Appeal

Visit visas (26:36)

Costs awarded by Court of Appeal in visit visa delay case

Legal Ombudsman (28:29)

Partial success for immigration barrister in challenge to Legal Ombudsman decision

Deprivation of citizenship (29:04)

Supreme Court addresses fairness concerns in deprivation appeals

Work routes (31:45)

The appeal of judicial discretion in civil penalty appeals: Court of Appeal grants permission

Care home refused permission in challenge to revocation of sponsor licence for underpaying staff

Deportation (36:53)

Court of Appeal dismisses deportation appeal despite evidence of rehabilitation

Updated (41:19)

Briefing: the sorry state of the UK asylum system

Briefing: how to apply for a high potential individual visa

Making sense of sole responsibility for child visas in immigration law

That's officially a wrap on 2025 as Sonia and Barry run through December's various happenings, including the final statement of changes for the year and our latest resources on the earned settlement proposals. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act is now in force and the latest tribunal statistics show that the Home Office's insistence on filling the appeals system with challenges to poor quality decisions remains a huge problem.

Sonia talks about the resumption of processing of settlement protection applications from Syrian nationals. There were also lots of case updates as usual, including a particularly egregious one covered by Barry where the Home Office left a man street homeless in Turkey for months. We finished up with a reminder about the important of awareness about vicarious trauma, and an update on some changes at Free Movement along with a new vacancy.

The 48 minute podcast follows the running order below:

Statement of changes (01:45)

Visit visa requirement imposed on Nauru because of “Citizenship by Investment” scheme

Earned settlement (07:20)

Briefing: the implications of the “earned settlement” proposals and what they might mean in practice

Asylum (08:23)

Home Office recommences processing of Syrian settlement applications

The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 is in force – what has changed?

Court of Appeal upholds right to appeal in asylum support cases where Home Office withdraws claim

First-tier Tribunal appeal receipts up 123% in a year, amid continuing concerns about Home Office decision making

Citizenship (15:35)

Home Office must consider whether to exercise discretion in Windrush cases

Students (19:15)

Court declares University’s failure to rescind its withdrawal of sponsorship as unlawful

Detention (23:20)

High Court finds safeguarding failures by Home Office at Brook House detention centre

Emergency travel document delays lead to detention challenge

Deportation (25:55)

Home Secretary ordered to allow man to return to UK after telling airline not to fly him and cancelling his eVisa

Court orders grant of indefinite leave in case with historic conviction

EU Settlement Scheme (34:22)

Court of Appeal denies derivative rights of residence to the children in education of former self-employed EU citizens

Work routes (36:40)

High Court clarifies meaning of “non-genuine vacancy” in sponsor licence revocation

Family (38:00)

Does ‘could’ mean a ‘mere possibility’? Court of Appeal looks at exceptional circumstances and financial requirements under Appendix FM

Well-being (43:45)

Vicarious trauma: what practitioners need to know

Updated (45:55)

Suitability refusals: owing a litigation debt to the Home Office

Will I need Electronic Travel Authorisation to enter the UK?

What is the immigration skills charge?

What safe and legal routes are available for refugees to come to the United Kingdom?

Blog news (46:25)

New Editor at Free Movement

What a month. Sonia kicked off the podcast with a runthrough of the major policy proposals which came out in November, including the changes to refugee settlement periods and a look at the earned settlement proposals (though not in too much detail as she is doing a full webinar with Colin on the topic for Free Movement members on Wednesday 10 December at 11am). Barry had provided oral evidence to the House of Lords’ Justice and Home Affairs Committee inquiry into Settlement, Citizenship andIntegration the day before we recorded, so he gave us an update on that (as mentioned by Sonia, the call for written evidence is here and the deadline is 23 January 2026).

Sonia also ran through some of the lowlights from the latestquarterly statistics and gave updates on the latest eVisa and section 3C leave challenges. Barry looked at a useful post on what MPs are able to help with in immigration matters, and added his expert insights to posts on unmarried partner applications as well as a recent reported case on overseas adoptions. There were also several case updates and much more!

Policy (01:20)

Home Secretary opens consultation on “earned settlement”

Home Secretary announces major asylum and other changes in new policy paper: “Restoring Order and Control”

Latest statistics: gaps in Home Office’s family data give cause for concern in light of earned settlement proposals

Procedure (16:15)

What can MPs do to help their constituents in immigration and asylum cases?

Section 3C leave challenge adjourned for further consideration of impact on children

Permission granted for judicial review of the Home Office’s eVisa policy

Citizenship (18:55)

Man who used false identity to obtain British citizenship loses appeal against deprivation

Family (19:50)

Adult siblings in Gaza case unable to establish family life under article 8

Navigating the unmarried partner route under Appendix FM

When is an overseas adoption recognised for UK immigration purposes?

Deportation (30:10)

Revocation of deportation order case fails in the Court of Appeal  

Withdrawn certification decision does not reinstate leave in deportation cases  

Work routes (31:50)

Skilled worker visa correctly refused because applicant was on immigration bail

Immigration Advice Authority (32:30)

Who is exempt from Immigration Advice Authority registration and exams?

Visiting (33:30)

Do I need a visa if I’m transiting through a UK airport to another flight?

Visit visa application wrongly refused four times by Home Office

EU Settlement Scheme (40:00)

Upper Tribunal stops Home Office resiling on a concession that the EUSS derivative rights rules were met

Four in five EU Settlement Scheme administrative reviews waiting more than two years for a decision

Updated (41:40)

Suitability refusals: owing a debt to the NHS

Our October round up is here! Barry does the honours thistime around with the statement of changes and Sonia foreshadows some bad news potentially coming next week. Barry shares an AI horror story that is really one for the ages (so far) after Sonia’s segment on the latest lawyers to fallfoul of AI hallucinated case citations. We also cover a new briefing on biometric excuses and predeterminations, sponsor licence enforcement, the rules around supplementary (not secondary) employment and new legislation in force on deprivation cases.

There are also loads of new cases, from a grandmotherbattling a 23 year old deportation order so that she can join her family in the UK, to some dodgy interviewing practices by the Home Office, unrepresented appellants and decisions on the papers, and Sonia and Barry do their usual scratchingof heads over the Home Office’s decision to fight a fairly obvious case about an email all the way to the Court of Appeal.

The 37 minute podcast follows the running order below:

Statement of changes (02:00)

Date set for commencement of new student, graduate and work immigration rules

New suitability rules will apply to Appendix FM and other human rights applications

Visa requirement imposed on Botswana nationals to prevent asylum claims

Procedure (15:20)

Two more immigration lawyers facing potential disciplinary proceedings for misuse of AI

How to apply to come to the UK when you can’t travel safely to enrol your biometrics

Immigration enforcement interview at train station ruled procedurally unfair

Some appeals should still be listed for a hearing even where an unrepresented appellant has not asked for one

Court of Appeal finds it arguable that student did not receive Home Office email cancelling his leave

Work routes (27:18)

When is supplementary employment permitted and what are the rules?

Surge in sponsor licence enforcement: what immigration practitioners need to know  

Detention (30:50)

High Court clarifies the limits of electronic monitoring immigration bail powers

Human rights (31:45)

Grandmother to remain separated from her family after Home Secretary success in deportation case  

Successful challenge to certification of human rights claim for gay man

Nationality (34:20)

What does the new law on deprivation of British citizenship do?

Upper Tribunal gives guidance on children’s best interests in deprivation appeals

Updated (35:30)

Briefing: what is the Common Travel Area and how does it work?

Briefing: “Hamid” disciplinary hearings for immigration lawyers

What is the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration?

Briefing: what is the ‘right of abode’ in UK immigration and nationality law?

Age assessments: what happens when a child arrives in the UK?

How to apply for a UK expansion worker visa