SBV Law

13/07/2026

Home Office Introduces Priority Service for Nationality Applications

The Home Office has revised its guidance on the handling of requests for expedited nationality applications. The updated guidance, published on 6th July 2026, sets out the approach UK Visas and Immigration caseworkers should take when considering whether a citizenship application should receive priority consideration.

Applicants who choose this service must pay an additional £500 when submitting their application. Where an application is accepted for priority processing and no issues arise that prevent expedited consideration, UKVI aims to make a decision within 30 working days of the applicant enrolling their biometric information.
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10/07/2026

Immigration rules update

UK-born Children of Graduate Visa Holders Now Eligible to Apply as Dependants

Under the current Immigration Rules, dependants can only be granted permission on the Graduate route if they already hold permission as a dependant of a student. As a result, a child born in the UK to a parent who holds permission under the Graduate route has not, until now, been able to apply for permission as that parent's dependant.

From 3rd August 2026, this position changes. A child born in the UK to a parent with valid permission under the Graduate route will be eligible to apply for permission as a Graduate dependant.
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At SBV LAW, your immigration journey is our priority. Being regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), we ensure that you receive professional and trustworthy advice tailored to your unique situation.

25/06/2026

The Justice and Home Affairs Committee publishes its report 'Settlement, Citizenship and Integration Policy on 23rd June 2026.

The House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee has raised significant concerns regarding the Government’s proposed earned settlement reforms. In its report, the Committee rejects plans to increase the standard qualifying period for settlement to 10 years, with the possibility of even longer periods for some migrant groups.

It also stresses that applying such changes retrospectively would be fundamentally unfair and could give rise to legal challenges.
The Committee further recommends that any future reforms should be supported by robust evidence, improved migration data, and a clearly defined integration framework for England. The Government has been asked to provide a formal response within two months, although it remains unclear whether this time frame will be achievable.

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At SBV LAW, your immigration journey is our priority. Being regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), we ensure that you receive professional and trustworthy advice tailored to your unique situation.

23/12/2025

Bank Accounts at Risk Due to Immigration Status.

The Home Office has begun notifying banks and building societies to close current accounts held by individuals who do not have lawful status in the UK.

Under section 40G of the Immigration Act 2014, as amended by the Immigration Act 2016, banks and building societies are under a statutory duty to take action where they are notified by the Home Office that an account holder is “disqualified” due to their immigration status.

Once such notification is received, financial institutions are required to close the relevant current accounts.

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Our contact details are as follows;
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At SBV LAW, your immigration journey is our priority. Being regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), we ensure that you receive professional and trustworthy advice tailored to your unique situation.

21/11/2025

Following my earlier post regarding the current settlement proposals, please see the link below if anyone wishes to respond online to the consultation survey.

This consultation is open to anyone who would like to share their views, including individuals, organisations, and other stakeholders who may be affected by or have an interest in the proposed changes. The Home Office will also be carrying out separate targeted research during the consultation period to explore the potential impacts on those currently on a pathway to settlement.

Before completing this survey, the home office recommends reading the background information provided the consultation page: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement, which outlines the key proposals behind the reforms.

The consultation survey will remain open until 23:59 on 12 February 2026.

The survey should take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

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Our contact details are as follows;
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At SBV LAW, your immigration journey is our priority. Being regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), we ensure that you receive professional and trustworthy advice tailored to your unique situation.

20/11/2025

Important update

“Migrants who are in the UK legally could have to wait up to 20 years before they can settle permanently, under government proposals.

The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain will be extended from five to 10 years, and will apply to the estimated 1.6million who arrived since 2021.

The changes will not apply to people who had already obtained settlement.
Those who have claimed benefits for less than 12 months would have to wait 15 years - and those claiming benefits for more than 12 months would have to wait 20 years, under the proposals.

Mahmood said becoming part of the UK is "not a right but a privilege - and one that must be earned".

Currently, most work and family visa holders can apply for settlement after five years.

But some groups, including those who arrived on post-Brexit health and social care visas, the criteria will be increased to 15 years, with the additional penalties for those who have claimed benefits.

Under the proposed changes the new baseline will rise to 10 years.
The proposals will be subject to a formal consultation process, and the government will consider feedback before implementing any final changes.

A consultation on the planned changes will run until 12 February”.

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Our contact details are as follows;
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At SBV LAW, your immigration journey is our priority. Being regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), we ensure that you receive professional and trustworthy advice tailored to your unique situation.

22/10/2025

Much needed action:

Government to seize millions from fake immigration ‘lawyers’
Rogue advisers illegally posing as lawyers will be stripped of their dirty money under new crackdown.

“Sham immigration lawyers who look to cheat the system will have their cash confiscated under new powers. Under proposals set out by the Home Office today, new powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act will be extended to the Immigration Advice Authority, enabling them to seize the criminal profits of unscrupulous advisers.

The move will stop rogue advisers lining their pockets by offering unlawful immigration advice. For the first time, the IAA will be able to trace and freeze assets, claw back illegal earnings and bring offenders to justice, without relying on police support.

People illegally posing as immigration lawyers and advisers can make thousands of pounds out of their ‘services’. In one case, one bogus adviser raked in over half a million pounds by preying on desperate people. In another, 3 rogue immigration advisers pocketed over £3 million by targeting victims online and offering advice on visa applications and how to challenge deportations.

These new proposals would allow the IAA to go further and faster in recovering the cash from crooks.

Rogue immigration ‘lawyers’ often act as middlemen for those looking to abuse the immigration system or cash in by providing shoddy or outright fraudulent immigration advice.
This comes on top of new powers given to the Immigration Advice Authority under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which will see people posing as immigration lawyers facing fines of up to £15,000.

And as the bill progresses through Parliament, the government is stepping up operational action to secure our borders”.

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Our contact details are as follows;
Tel:0191 247 0417
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At SBV LAW, your immigration journey is our priority. Being regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), we ensure that you receive professional and trustworthy advice tailored to your unique situation.

22/07/2025

Comitted to Excellence

01/07/2025

“A complete reset of the immigration system”

New rules to be laid in Parliament which will see skills and salary thresholds rise, overseas recruitment for care workers end, and more than 100 occupations no longer granted access to the immigration system.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the changes will come into effect from 22nd July, and transitional arrangements have also today been set out for overseas care workers already in the UK.

1.raising the skills threshold for Skilled Worker visas, removing 100 eligible occupations

2.closing the social care worker visa route to overseas recruitment in response to widespread abuse and exploitation

3.only allowing time-limited access below degree level through a targeted immigration salary list and temporary shortage list, for critical roles only, with strict requirements for sectors to grow domestic skills

4.commissioning the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to conduct a review of the temporary shortage list including occupations, salaries and benefits

5.Workers in occupations on the temporary shortage list will no longer be able to bring dependants and will not be permitted salary and visa fee discounts.

6.The occupations included on the List are time-limited until the end of 2026 and will only remain beyond that date if the independent Migration Advisory Committee recommend it.

7.In time, the Government also plans to also abolish the immigration salary list.

Further changes to be implemented by the end of this year also include:
•raising the immigration skills charge
•uplifting language requirements across the immigration system
•unveiling a new family policy framework to Parliament

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Our contact details are as follows;
Tel:0191 247 0417
Mobile: 07551520961
email: [email protected]
website:www.sbvlaw.co.uk