Student and Care-Worker Visa Numbers Plummet in Latest Home Office Data
Law Society Urges Fairness as ‘Earned Settlement’ Consultation Closes
Home Office Clarifies 20-Hour Supplementary Work Rule for Skilled Workers
Latest News
Universities Sound Alarm as January Study-Visa Intake Hits Four-Year Low
Only 19,800 international students applied for UK study visas in January 2026, down nearly a third year-on-year. University leaders warn that continued contraction will force course closures, job cuts and potential institutional mergers if policies on dependants and post-study work are not softened.
Dependants left in limbo under UK’s proposed ‘earned settlement’ income test
Oxford University researchers say the government’s draft ‘earned-settlement’ rules would bar many non-working or lower-earning partners of skilled migrants from permanent residence. Business groups warn the policy will deter global talent and disproportionately hit women, while ministers argue settlement should reflect economic contribution.
India-UK Young Professionals Scheme: February ballot dates confirmed
Guidance updated on 10 February confirms the first 2026 ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme will run 17–19 February. With 3,000 slots on offer, UK employers gain a cost-effective route to hire Indian graduates for up to two years without sponsorship obligations.
Home Office schedules February & March entry-clearance statistics releases
Official Home Office notices dated 10 February set provisional publication dates for the February and March 2026 entry-clearance statistics. Monthly visa data are increasingly vital for employers tracking processing times and planning global assignments.
Migration Observatory updates analysis on ‘earned settlement’ implications
An updated Migration Observatory commentary released on 10 February quantifies how the draft ‘earned settlement’ rules could delay permanent residence for up to 425,000 migrants. The analysis stresses the need for transition safeguards and flags retention risks for UK employers.
300,000 children could face decade-long wait for UK settlement, IPPR warns
A new IPPR study finds the Home Office’s plan to double settlement qualifying periods would trap more than 300,000 resident children on temporary visas for up to 10–15 years, raising welfare, education and HR costs. Cross-party MPs are demanding exemptions for families already in the system.
US Embassy in London steps up visa refusals over minor cautions, hitting UK business travel
According to the FT, the US Embassy in London is refusing visas for executives with decades-old cautions under an expanded Trump-era security policy. Corporations face travel delays, higher legal costs and the risk of cancelled US engagements, underscoring the need for early vetting and contingency planning.